Candidates vying to be Canada's next Opposition leader are coming to Toronto this week, but a Scarborough NDP MP says he already knows which one should get the job.

Dan Harris, who represents Scarborough Southwest, is backing Thomas Mulcair for the leadership of the federal New Democrats.

While he feels Parkdale-High Park MP Peggy Nash, also a candidate, would make a good leader, Harris said Mulcair, a Quebec MP, "presents the best alternative to Stephen Harper" and will continue to expand the party's base, as its late leader Jack Layton did.

"Nobody is going to be able to replace Jack Layton," but all the candidates have different strengths, Harris added this week.

A debate between leadership candidates starting at 7:30 p.m. this Wednesday at Bloor Collegiate is the only one scheduled for the Toronto area.

Feb. 18 is the deadline for new memberships that would guarantee a vote during the party's March 24 convention in Toronto.

Rathika Sitsabaiesan, Scarborough's only other New Democrat MP, said she is staying "neutral" and won't declare support for any leadership candidate.