The contenders for the federal N-D-P leadership found some common ground last night at their debate in Saskatoon when they united to oppose Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall and Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister on carbon pricing.

Niki Ashton, Guy Caron, Charlie Angus and Jagmeet Singh all took aim at Wall for his strident opposition of Ottawa’s plan to put a price on carbon emissions.

Wall has vowed to go to court if the province is forced to adopt it.

The Timmins-James Bay MP said Wall fails to acknowledge the 20th century is over, noting that as N-D-P leader he would personally favour adopting a legislated carbon budget to reduce emissions.

For her part, Ashton came out swinging against Pallister, saying he doesn’t speak for her and many of the people in the audience.

Singh added that pricing carbon is necessary to fight climate change but a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work when it comes to implementing a carbon plan.

This was the fifth leadership debate — the next one is slated for August in Victoria and Montreal as well as in Vancouver in September.

Online voting in the leadership race will begin on September 18th, with the results to be announced in October.

Filed under: Charlie Angus, Local News, NDP Leadership