New Democrats are in Toronto for today's opening of their leadership convention, where a successor to the late Jack Layton will be chosen. Tonight there will be a tribute to the former leader. Local MLA's Pam Birdsall, Vicki Conrad and Gary Ramey are attending. Birdsall tells us, Layton was very familiar with the South Shore and its politics. She says "he was connected to small communities right across the country. He was at one point the president of the Canadian Union of Municipalities so he really understood how it all worked and how municipal government plays into provincial government and into federal government. I think thats something a lot of people don't understand." The perceived front-runner in the race to succeed Layton is Montreal M-P Thomas Mulcair, a former Quebec Liberal who has the most support from the party's caucus. Critics say though, Mulcair is too abrasive, and wants to move the party from the left to the centre. About 130-thousand party members are eligible to vote for the new leader, in person, by mail, or by email.
