The Dominion - NDP

Stuff White People Like: NDP Federal Convention

Geordie — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:14:50 +0000

Our friends at Rabble bring us news that the latest NDP convention in Halifax this August will be a pretty white affair.

As can be gleamed from the convention speakers: "7 out of 7 featured speakers at the convention are white; 6 of them are men. 9 out of 9 headshots are of white people. For that matter 18 out of the 18 people pictured on this page are white. Seriously?"

While appealing to people of colour has rarely been at the top of the NDP agenda it's pretty amazing to see them totally absent from a major NDP convention. Especially considering organizers were able to squeak in an NHL defenceman and his Carbon Neutral Challenge.

Housing a "Huge Issue" in BC Politics

Geordie — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 21:56:32 +0000

BC is currently in the midst of a huge election extravaganza. After the Federal Election this month, BC has faced two important provincial by-elections and will soon see municipal elections in Vancouver. A provincial election is set for next year.

Whew!

In the mean time, housing has been creeping in as an important issue.

The NDP made it a major part of their platform in the provincial by-elections calling it a "huge issue" for voters. Mayoral candidates are facing off against condos to address the lack of rental housing. Special groups are pushing for better tenants rights, similar to those in Ontario.

At the same time, the death of a homeless man who was one week away from assisted housing and homeless tent cities have drawn more attention to homelessness in Vancouver.

Tories on the Ropes?

Geordie — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:55:35 +0000

Could Conservative fortunes have run out?

The impending economic problems in the US have caused many Canadians to turn to other parties. While the Conservatives are still leading nationally, they are behind the 8-ball in Ontario for the first time in months. The Liberals are leading by nearly nine percent.

In Quebec, the Conservatives have slipped to third, just two percent ahead of the NDP. The Bloc are leading.

In BC, the Tories are in a dead heat with the NDP.

Montréal NDP candidate Dr. Samira Laouni attacked on 98.5FM

Anna Carastathis — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:03:01 +0000

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Dr. Samira Laouni, federal NDP candidate in Bourassa, Montréal (pictured above), was viciously attacked on Benoît Dutrizac's radio show, broadcast on September 10 on 98.5FM (a summary of the interview was published by the Montréal Gazette).

Laouni, termed "Québec's first veiled federal candidate" by mainstream media outlets, weathered Dutrizac's questioning with calm composure. Interrogated about her marriage, her religious beliefs, and her sexuality, with her measured responses Laouni revealed the deeply Islamophobic, misogynist presuppositions of Dutrizac's questions.

Following the interview, calls for Dutrizac's resignation came from the Canadian Arab Federation (CAF) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). The CAF is also filing a complaint with the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), urging a full investigation of Corus Radio Network (the media outlet that owns 98.5FM), based in Toronto.

Radio Regulations (Broadcasting Act, 1986) forbid the broadcasting of

any abusive comment that, when taken in context, tends or is likely to expose an individual or a group or class of individuals to hatred or contempt on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age or mental or physical disability.

From an Israeli to Jack Layton

Lia Tarachansky — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:06:43 +0000

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Dear Jack Layton,

I would like to commend you on your decision to participate in the Durban Review Conference in April 2009. Canada's boycott of this Geneva conference goes to demonstrate the government's recent change in foreign relations to Israel. It goes hand in hand with the recently signed Canada-Israel Free Trade agreement, and the Security Agreement between our two countries.

I am a Canadian Israeli and have previously lived in the West Bank in an illegal settlement (on Palestinian land). In spite of the fact that the entire world has again and again agreed the occupation of the West Bank, the building of Settlements, and the construction of the Wall are contradictory to international law, Israel has proceeded to ignore them. In spite of the International Court of Justice decision, and the annual voting by the United Nations on the Palestinian Refugee's right of return, Israel has been implementing racist, apartheid laws and enforcing them year after year.

As a former refugee from the Soviet Union, I remember not belonging anywhere, I remember the complete dire poverty, and the deafening fear of persecution. We have been faced with centuries of anti-Semitism in the former USSR and have lived through immense discriminatory violence within our lifetimes. That is why when we escaped to Israel we were at first blind to the political significance of our presence there and what our new nation was doing to its indigenous population. It took living in the West Bank as economic settlers to see the system of apartheid for what it really is.

Doing Jack for Haiti

Sat, 28 Jan 2006 00:57:11 +0000

Jack Layton campaigning in Halifax in 2004. photo: Rob Maguire

What would have had to happen in Haiti over the course of the election campaign to have compelled NDP leader Jack Layton to bring up Canada's shameful involvement in the plight of the western hemisphere's poorest country?

A brief summary of critical events in Haiti over the course of the long winter race for Parliament would indicate a foreign policy situation worthy of debate, if not strident denunciation. Haiti's slated January 8 elections were postponed, for the fourth time; the Brazilian commander of the United Nations mission died of an apparent suicide and was replaced by a Chilean general who participated in the overthrow of Allende and was trained at the notorious School of the Americas; Father Gerard Jean-Juste, along with hundreds of other political prisoners held by the de facto Haitian regime, languished in prison even after being diagnosed with leukemia.

Solidarity activists made a concerted effort, in particular, to encourage Jack Layton to use the election spotlight to call for the release of Father Jean-Juste, whom Amnesty International has declared a 'prisoner of conscience'. It is, incidentally, widely believed that Jean-Juste, if he were to be released and allowed to run under the exiled Jean-Bertrand Aristide's Lavalas banner, would win anything resembling a 'free and fair' election in Haiti today. At the same time as many progressive and concerned people looked to Layton and the NDP to raise the issue, an energetic campaign was being waged to punish Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew for Canada's support of the coup in Haiti. (Pettigrew was indeed defeated by Bloc Quebecois candidate, Vivian Barbot).

Despite all of this, Haiti did not warrant a mention from the national NDP communications team. Nor did, in fact, the issue of U.S. war resisters seeking sanctuary in the United States – another issue the NDP could have featured in order to both highlight a just cause and expose the hypocrisy of the Liberals' rhetoric against the war in Iraq. Until the last week of the campaign, when Layton made an important call for a debate in the House of Commons about Canada's new, more aggressive role in Afghanistan, the only thing resembling 'foreign policy' on the NDP website was a letter of condolence to the Israeli people regarding Ariel Sharon's failing health.

None of this to say that there are not a number of NDP candidates, members, and supporters who took the issue seriously, with some even joining in challenging Liberal incumbents at all-candidates meetings. Alexa McDonough, as the party's foreign affairs critic, and a handful of Members of Parliament, including the re-elected Libby Davies (Vancouver-East) and Bill Siksay (Burnaby-Douglas), have written letters critical of Canada's involvement in Haiti. With a minority Conservative government that will only, if anything, be more overtly supportive of suppressing Haitian democracy and self-determination, the 10 additional New Democrat MPs elected Monday can hopefully contribute to efforts to raise this and other vital foreign policy issues.

But there's no time like an election campaign to bring matters to public attention, and Layton and his handlers failed to bring up Haiti. And that failure represents a disservice to the people of Canada, a life-threatening disservice to political prisoners like the ailing Father Jean-Juste, and a disservice to the long tradition of movements against war and empire in this country.

Years ago, Tommy Douglas passionately denounced Canadian complicity in the war in Vietnam – which included arms sales and the development of the chemical weapon Agent Orange – and called that conflict "the greatest moral issue of our time."

Jack Layton often said he would hold Paul Martin's 'feet to the fire' on foreign policy matters. The feet may now be Stephen Harper's, but Canada's policy in Haiti remains one of the great issues of our time.

Ordinary people across this country, whose morality – in the real sense of the word, not in the nominal "God Bless Canada" sense of our PM-elect -- includes the principal that all human lives, no matter where they are lived, should matter equally, are voicing their outrage at Canada's involvement in the misery of ordinary Haitians. And, as people continue to learn the grim truth about Canada in Haiti, many more will join in saying loud and clear: Not in our name. One can only hope, perhaps in vain, that Jack Layton will be among them.

Derrick O'Keefe asks what it would take to compel NDP leader Jack Layton to bring up Canada's involvement in Haiti.

Liberals "Parachute" Former NDP Politicians into BC Ridings

Fri, 25 Jun 2004 16:59:35 +0000

In an election campaign ad airing on BC television, Shirley Chan (former top aide to Mike Harcourt), Ujjal Dosanjh (former NDP premier), and Dave Haggard (union leader)--all formerly of the New democratic Party--walk through Stanley Park in support of their new Liberal party political home. This switch, or "parachuting" as some call it, has managed to raise eyebrows. Some Liberals say it shows disrespect for the democratic process, while some non-partisan observers believe the party-jumping will result in harm to the Liberal party.

Dr, Norman Ruff, associate professor of political science at the University of Victoria, thinks the ad won't have the effect the Liberals are intending–to possibly sway NDP voters to the Liberals, to follow the "star" candidates. Ruff says, "I think, for NDP voters, it has a kind of reaction. They all see it, and they see that these are the three sell-outs. So, I don't think it's likely to shift the core NDP support."

During the campaign, the federal Liberals have tried to distance themselves from the provincial Liberals--in particular, from BC, Ontario, and Quebec--due to these governments' unpopular moves such as social program cuts and tax increases. NDP leader Jack Layton offers that there is no such separation, recently commenting, "If you like what Gordon Campbell's doing, vote for Paul Martin. If you love what Gordon Campbell's doing, vote for Stephen Harper." (Seven Oaks)

» Seven Oaks: Election Coverage

Canada in Review

Sun, 18 May 2003 03:59:04 +0000

As the Canadian winter thaws in some parts of the country, and a bizarre confluence of international controversies recedes from the national press organs, Canadians find themselves with a dire lack of "news". Canada's contribution to the post-war Iraq and the Toronto centred SARS outbreak seem suddenly unimportant despite the fact they remain far from resolved. Our attention is drawn elsewhere, for better in the cases where light is now shone onto events of significance, for worse where shadows are now elongated covering moments of importance.

John Manley: funded by a laundry list of lobbyists and corporate backers.

Canada's only national moderately progressive political party, and its newly minted leader Jack Layton, have unveiled their first campaign since opposing the war in Iraq stopped scoring any political points. The New Democratic Party (NDP) announced a campaign to bring Proportional Representation (PR) to Canada. The NDP announced that it will bring a bill before Parliament to hold a referendum on changing the electoral system to a PR system. While the bill is unlikely to succeed (few Private Members Bills do) the subtext is clear – to position other parties as being against Democracy, a tough sell. The NDP's campaign is in clear juxtaposition to the Liberal Party's coronation ceremony and handled effectively will position this as an election issue in a year to a year and half when the next federal election should be held.

That very same Liberal leadership race is proceeding with all the purpose of a three toed sloth on land. Former Finance Minister Paul Martin is "challenged" by John Manley and Sheila Copps. While Prime Minister Chretien would have it otherwise there seems to be little doubt as to the outcome. In fact, little has been interesting since Manley's comment that few consider Copps "a real challenger", except for disclosures of the candidates' financial backers. When Manley revealed his backers they read like a laundry list of lobbyists and corporate backers. Democracy Watch, a public interest group, says of Manley's disclosures, "many of the donations place the Deputy Prime Minister in an apparent breach of ethics rules." Democracy Watch noted that Martin and Copps continue to offer their donors the option of contributing anonymously through blind trusts.

The financial square dance of the Liberal Party's leadership candidates comes as a split opens the party over election finance reform legislation. Liberal Party President Stephen LeDrew, recently visited opposition parties in an effort to amend the bill. The Bill would see corporate and labour union donations to national political parties banned and limited to $1,000 to individual ridings. LeDrew claims this would put the Liberal Party in severe financial constraints, despite provisions in the bill which would provide public funding to make up the shortfall. Several Liberal MPs oppose the bill, but like LeDrew, they are supporters of Martin whose public spat with the PM continues to harm the public work of Parliament. The bill will likely pass even without full Liberal support in the Commons as it is broadly supported by both the NDP and Bloc Quebecois.

"While the [NDP's] bill is unlikely to succeed (few Private Members Bills do) the subtext is clear - to position other parties as being against Democracy, a tough sell."

Campaign finance restrictions are also making news in Manitoba where the NDP government is seeking re-election in the first provincial elections since major restrictions on campaigning were imposed. While it appears the NDP will win a second straight majority government what is most striking is the tenor of the campaign. With restrictions in place on corporate and union donations, as well as on campaign advertising, the campaigns of all three parties are less visible. Most hurt by the new law seem to be the provincial Tories, who are reportedly $400,000 in debt.

In the midst of all this politicking, other movements are afoot. Economically, Canada's position is clouded in the face of stumbling US economic trends forecasted for years. The Canadian dollar hit more than 73 cents US for the first time since 1997. This predictably sent investors scrambling and vacationers cheering. Employment and price indicators remain steady in Canada with only small increases in unemployment and the price of consumer products.

"This week the Liberal government joined the US in its WTO challenge of European rules that ban the import of Genetically Modified Foods. Essentially, Canada's position is now to dictate the European diet."

Naturally ignoring eco- nomic news, the Liberal party seems set to announce major changes to the criminality of marijuana. Two of the most prominent features of the Cannabis Reform Bill are the decriminalization of driving while under the influence of marijuana and differentiated, lower fines for young people caught in possession of marijuana.

The government has also announced changes to some international policy. This week the Liberal government joined the US in its WTO challenge of European rules that ban the import of Genetically Modified Foods. Essentially, Canada's position is now to dictate the European diet. Additionally, Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham announced, Canada would seek to join the US in pursuing a missile defense shield. This ends long speculation that the government's initial policy was in fact not a policy, but merely a position, to be changed.

As these stories disappear in a haze of smoky backrooms, tinged green, we should not forget that the insurance industry has started to deny life insurance to Canadians traveling to Asian countries with suspected SARS cases. And we thought the SARS scare was over.

Noel Baldwin