A NEW LEADER FOR THE NDP YV Introduction

On January 25, 2003, at the party’s What are the main issues the NDP Focus national convention in , NDP will present to under This month’s News members took a huge leap of faith in Layton’s leadership, and how will they in Review story focuses on Jack selecting to replace Alexa differ from those of the other political Layton, the newly McDonough as the NDP leader. Win- parties? As an urban politician, Layton chosen leader of ning an impressive first-ballot victory feels strongly that the cities of the federal New over his opponents, Layton was imme- need more federal financial assistance Democratic Party. diately catapulted from the municipal in order to deal with problems such as We focus on his political scene as a well-known city homelessness, poverty, a decaying entry onto the federal stage and councillor in Toronto to the national infrastructure, and affordable housing. what it may mean political stage. Layton’s triumph was He will also press for a speedy imple- for Canadians. We remarkable for a number of reasons. mentation of the Romanow Report on also examine his First, he decisively defeated all chal- health care, which advocates a far role in the chang- lengers for the leadership, including greater level of government spending. ing face of Cana- dian politics prior two long-time NDP MPs. He also Layton has a solid background in to the next federal convinced a solid majority of rank-and- environmental advocacy and will push election. file party members that a new image the Liberals not only to ratify the Kyoto and a break with the past were neces- Accord on global warming but also sary if the NDP was to regain the actually implement its major provisions. YV Sections support of Canadian voters. He has already spoken out against any marked with this symbol indicate Layton assumes the NDP leadership Canadian participation in a United content suitable for at a time of great political change in States-led military attack on Iraq and younger viewers. Canada. Both the governing Liberals will reach out to the growing peace and the Progressive Conservatives are movement in this country for support. to choose new leaders in 2003 as Prime One of Layton’s main goals will be to Further Research Minister Jean Chrétien and attract more people, especially the The health-care leave office. The official opposition young, to become more involved in the challenge was recently profiled in party, the , also has a political process and overcome the “A Prescription for new and so far untested political leader, cynicism and disillusionment they have Health Care” in the . When the next federal sometimes felt toward it. His advocacy December 2002 election is held, probably early in 2004, of major electoral reforms such as issue of News in Canadians will be offered a number of changes to the way campaigns are Review. It can also be accessed at new faces to choose from in the race for financed and the introduction of a new www.cbc.ca/ prime minister. The NDP is hoping Jack system of proportional representation newsinreview. Layton’s fresh, bilingual, media-friendly may appeal to those who have felt left image, his strong track record in munici- out of politics in the past. pal politics, and his ability to articulate Jack Layton is indeed a new face on issues of concern to many voters will the political scene in Canada, both for raise their party from a decade-long his own party and for the public at slump. He is the best hope for the party large. For his many supporters, he since the disastrous 1993 federal elec- represents the hope that his energy, tion, when it crashed to a record low of charisma, and intelligence can rekindle nine seats and lost official party status. the left as a political force in this coun-

CBC News in Review • February 2003 • Page 19 try after a long period of right-wing He has stated he will run in a Toronto Definition dominance. To his critics, however, he riding in the next federal election. Proportional repre- appears to be a glib, Toronto-based Meanwhile he may have to watch the sentation is an electoral system politician with little grasp of national political drama of 2003 unfold from the whereby parties are issues and a strident left-wing message visitors’ gallery in the House of Com- assigned seats in that is not in tune with the times. mons while he seeks to raise his na- proportion to the One of the major obstacles he will tional profile and address the issues he number of votes have to overcome in the months to feels so strongly about to Canadian cast for them. At come is his lack of a seat in Parliament. voters. present in Canada, the candidate with the most votes in a To Consider riding is declared 1. Why did NDP members take a “leap of faith” in choosing Jack the winner. This is Layton to be the party’s new federal leader? called the “first past the post system.”

2. What are the main issues the NDP can be expected to present to Canadians under Layton’s leadership?

3. Why is the election of Jack Layton part of a greater process of political change currently underway in Canada?

4. What advantages and disadvantages does Jack Layton bring to his position as the new federal leader of the NDP?

5. At this time, what is your personal opinion of Layton? Explain.

CBC News in Review • February 2003 • Page 20 A NEW LEADER FOR THE NDP YV Video Review

This video review Part A: While Viewing the Video offers both a Please respond to the following questions as you view the video. You may viewing and post- need a few minutes after viewing to complete these questions. viewing activity. Part A should be 1. Who is the new leader of the NDP? ______completed while students view the 2. What was surprising about his victory? video. Part B can be completed later.

Did you know . . . 3. How many candidates fought for the NDP leadership? ______The Progressive Conservative Party 4. Which two candidates were the major contenders? is also looking for a new leader? The PC leadership conven- 5. Briefly describe the major differences between the two major candidates. tion will be held in Toronto from May 29 to June 1, 2003. To learn more about the current list of candidates, 6. What is the name of the political party that preceded the NDP? visit www.pcparty.ca. 7. Who was and why is he considered important?

8. When was the NDP formed? ______9. How did the NDP fare in the electoral politics of the nineties? Why?

10. What does think are reasonable goals for the NDP?

11. Briefly state your personal opinion of the new NDP leader.

CBC News in Review • February 2003 • Page 21 Part B: After Viewing the Video In the rush to win media attention and voting support, most political cam- paigns design slogans to highlight the qualities of their candidate and stay in the minds of voters. View this list of campaign slogans for the individuals running for the position of leader of the . Use the organizer to record your responses to the slogans. Sloganeering NDP Style Candidate Slogan What it suggests My personal evaluation about the candidate of the slogan

Bill Blaikie Passionate, Respected, Ready

Joe Comartin Leadership with a Purpose

Pierre Ducasse Imagination, Solutions

Jack Layton New Energy, New Leadership

Bev Meslo For a socialist and feminist New Democratic Party Leading Change!

Which of the above slogans do you think was most effective? Why?

If you can, suggest a better winning slogan.

CBC News in Review • February 2003 • Page 22 A NEW LEADER FOR THE NDP A Brief History of the Left in Canada

The New Democratic Party has never cal protest party, Social Credit, which Did you know. . . formed the federal government in had been formed at about the same The origins of the Canada, yet both it and its predecessor, time. It was not until the Second World terms right and left wing are in the the Co-operative Commonwealth War that the CCF began to make real French Revolution? Federation (CCF) have exerted an inroads in provincial and federal poli- In the seating plan important influence on politics in this tics. In 1943, it came close to forming of the French country since the 1930s. Here is a brief the government of and two National Assembly, summary of the history of Canada’s years later won office in , those who wanted left-wing political movement, from its under the dynamic leadership of T.C. greater democracy and change tended founding to the present day. “Tommy” Douglas. The CCF’s call for to sit on the left In the summer of 1933, a new politi- the implementation of a social welfare while those who cal party was born when delegates met state, including family allowances, old preferred to main- in Regina to found the Co-operative age pensions, greater rights for workers, tain a strong Commonwealth Federation, or CCF. and a national public health-care system monarch and less change sat on the The CCF was Canada’s first federal found increasing support as the war right. Those in the democratic , and it ended. Recognizing their popularity, the centre were more emerged during the depths of the Great Liberals under Prime Minister willing to compro- Depression. Many Canadians at this Mackenzie King adopted many of the mise. In Canada the time were suffering from severe eco- measures the CCF had originally pro- CCF-NDP has gener- ally occupied a nomic hardship and unemployment and posed. King had always regarded the moderate left had become disillusioned with the old CCF as “Liberals in a hurry” and his position. political parties and what they regarded shrewd adoption of many of its ideas as their failed solutions to the country’s strengthened voter support for his own crisis. The CCF’s first leader, J.S. party while blunting the CCF’s social “Last century made Woodsworth, a former minister, leader reform demands. the world a neigh- of the 1919 General Strike, As the party’s fortunes outside its bourhood. This and socialist MP since 1921, committed Saskatchewan base declined during the century must make it a brotherhood.” his party to the ultimate goal of eradi- 1950s, many on the Canadian left — J. S. Woodsworth cating capitalism. He hoped to intro- believed that a new party had to be (1874-1942) duce a socialist “co-operative common- created, one that could recapture the wealth” with jobs and social and eco- imagination of voters across the coun- nomic security for all. try. In 1961, the New Democratic Party In the years that followed its creation, was formed at its first national conven- support for the CCF grew slowly in tion in . As a merger of the CCF Canada. Despite the Depression, most and major union organizations such as Canadians were reluctant to endorse the the , the party’s radical socialist solutions to it, NDP hoped to build on its traditional which included large-scale government Prairie support by reaching out to involvement in the management of the workers and middle-class Canadians economy, and public ownership of looking for a fresh political alternative major industries and utilities. The CCF to the Liberals and Conservatives. The also faced competition in its western new party also toned down much of the Canadian heartland from another radi- socialist rhetoric of its predecessor, no

CBC News in Review • February 2003 • Page 23 longer calling for the abolition of tion in the House of Commons in a Further Research capitalism and instead supporting the series of elections, culminating in 1988 To learn more idea of a “mixed economy” with a role when the NDP won a record 43 seats. about the NDP, visit www.ndp.ca. To for both the public and the private But opinion polls putting the party in find out more sector. Its first leader was the dynamic first place in voter support prior to that about Canada’s Tommy Douglas, who left election had raised hopes among NDP major labour Saskatchewan for the federal stage. activists that it might be poised to organizations, During the 1960s, the NDP fought a become the next federal government. consider visiting number of federal elections under The NDP’s strong showing was still a the (CAW) at Douglas’s leadership. Despite his disappointment. www.caw.ca or the abilities as a speaker and increasing The 1990s proved to be disastrous for Canadian Labour public support for some of its policies, the federal NDP. Even though the party Congress (CLC) at the NDP was never able to make the had won provincial office in British www.clc-ctc.ca. breakthrough to major party status, Columbia and Ontario along with Labour lawyer, party activist, and Saskatchewan and , the elec- Toronto MP David Lewis replaced tion of 1993 proved to be a major Douglas as the NDP’s federal leader in turning point in the NDP’s downward 1971, in the midst of a serious crisis spiral. New party leader Audrey within the party. A radical left-wing McLaughlin conducted an unfocused faction nicknamed the “Waffle” group and poorly planned campaign. While had challenged Lewis and the main- the NDP was reduced to a paltry nine stream party organization by calling for seats two new political groupings, the a much stronger position against the Reform Party and the Bloc Québécois, American takeover of Canada’s established themselves on the federal economy. While group scene. While the party was able to brought many idealistic young 1960s regain some of its traditional support in radicals into the party, its strident the 1997 election, it suffered yet an- positions and rhetoric horrified the other reverse in 2000. The Canadian leadership, who feared that it would political scene became dominated by drive moderate, middle-class voters right-wing ideas like eliminating budget away. In 1972, Lewis led the NDP into deficits, reducing government spending, a power-sharing agreement with Liberal encouraging greater private enterprise, Prime Minister ’s minor- and cutting taxes. The NDP’s social ity government, an arrangement that democratic message appeared to be out lasted until 1974. During this time NDP of tune with the public mood. measures like the creation of a publicly Following the disappointing 2000 owned petroleum company (PetroCan), election results, many in the NDP called and a government agency to monitor for a serious round of soul-searching foreign takeovers of Canadian busi- within the party to re-evaluate its role in nesses (Foreign Investment Review Canadian politics. Some suggested a Agency) were enacted. name change, while others searched for replaced Lewis as NDP new policies and leaders. There were leader in 1975, following a setback the calls for the party to adopt the “Third party suffered in the 1974 federal Way” approach to government that election. A former mixed traditional social democratic core political science professor, Broadbent values with support for an innovative was able to raise the party’s representa- private sector. This stance had helped

CBC News in Review • February 2003 • Page 24 Britain’s win power under it now hold the upper hand. Whether . Still others maintained that the kinds of change in leadership, the NDP had to hold on to its socialist image, and policy that they have per- principles and join forces with the suaded the NDP to adopt will strike a growing popular movements against responsive chord with more Canadian corporate-led globalization and war. voters remains an open question. In any The party’s choice of a new federal case, Layton’s job of revitalizing the leader, Jack Layton, in January 2003, NDP and making it appear more rel- over long-time party stalwarts Lorne evant will be a major challenge for him Nystrom and signals that and his supporters in the months fol- the forces of renewal and change within lowing his sweeping leadership victory.

Responding 1. What were the main policies of the CCF and how successful was it in appealing to Canadian voters during its existence from 1933 to 1961?

2. Why was the New Democratic Party formed out of the old CCF in 1961? In what ways did it differ from its predecessor?

3. How successful has the NDP been in Canadian federal and provin- cial politics during the period from its founding to the present?

4. What are some of the main problems the NDP has faced in mak- ing its message more appealing to Canadian voters since the 1990s? What changes has the party made in order to achieve this goal?

CBC News in Review • February 2003 • Page 25 A NEW LEADER FOR THE NDP YV Profiles of the NDP Leadership Candidates

Jack Layton ment, and international trade. He is Here are capsule Jack Layton was born in 1950 in currently the NDP House Leader and profiles of the candidates for the Hudson, , and raised in critic on parliamentary reform, justice, federal NDP leader- . He came from a political and intergovernmental affairs. Blaikie ship, providing family, with a grandfather who served has a long record of service in Parlia- background infor- as a provincial cabinet minister and a ment on behalf of his party and is very mation on each father who was a federal cabinet minis- familiar with the day-to-day workings and a quote that indicates his or her ter in the government of Brian of government. In the leadership con- views about the Mulroney. He received a Ph.D. in test, he cautioned the party not to opt direction the party Political Science from Toronto’s York for change for the sake of change, and should take in the University in 1983. A year before, he presented himself as a steady, reliable future. won a seat on and candidate who knew how to guide the was re-elected in 1985 and 1988. In NDP into the political future. 1991 he ran for mayor of the city but was defeated. He tried to win election Quote: “I’ve heard it said of the NDP as a federal MP for the NDP in the 1993 that we are too attached to the past, but and 1997 elections but without success. I tell you that it is our political oppo- Re-entering municipal politics in 1994, nents who are the Jurassic Park of Layton served from 2001 to 2002 as Canadian politics.” president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, helping to win him a Lorne Nystrom national profile as an advocate for Lorne Nystrom was born in Wynyard, Canada’s cities. Among the policies he Saskatchewan, in 1946. He first won a supports are greater attention to envi- seat in Parliament at the age of 22 in the ronmental issues, more government election of 1968, and was re-elected in support for health care, and action on every subsequent election until 1993, the crisis of . when he lost to the Reform Party. In 1995, he unsuccessfully sought the Quote: “The winds of change are cir- NDP federal leadership, losing to Alexa cling in the political skies, and they are McDonough. He won back his seat in about to fill our sails. Let’s hoist that the House of Commons in 1997 and mainsail!” was re-elected in 2000. As a leadership candidate, he appealed to the party to Bill Blaikie adopt moderate policies such as avoid- Bill Blaikie was born in Winnipeg in ing deficits and not ruling out tax cuts 1951. He became a United Church in order to appeal to a broad base of minister in 1978 and advocated a so- public support. But to many in the cially responsible Christian faith. In NDP, he was perceived as an establish- 1979 he won election to the federal ment candidate whose time had passed. House of Commons from Winnipeg, and has held a number of positions Quote: “We have to change the way the within the NDP caucus in Ottawa, as party sees itself. The party is not only a the party’s critic on health, environ- party of opposition or conscience. It is a

CBC News in Review • February 2003 • Page 26 party with a history of leading change 1998, one year after he ran unsuccess- and governing well, a party with a fully as an NDP candidate in history of making hard and difficult Manicouagan, Quebec. In 2000, he decisions in this country.” became associate president of the federal NDP and established his creden- tials as a party organizer from Quebec. Joe Comartin was born in 1947 in He is expected to run again in the next Stoney Point, Ontario, and before he federal election. Many within the party entered politics practised law in hope that he will help to raise its profile Windsor. In 2000, he won a seat in and gain more support for it in Quebec, Parliament, the only NDP candidate in where it has won few votes in the past. Ontario to do so. Since coming to Ottawa, he has served as the party’s Quote: “To have the results you’ve critic responsible for the environment, never had, you must do what you have natural resources, and energy. Comartin never done.” enjoyed considerable support from the powerful faction within the Bev Meslo NDP, including the endorsement of Bev Meslo was born in Trail, B.C., in , the president of the 1948. She has worked as an advocate Canadian Auto Workers. He supports a for the poor and homeless in her native strong commitment to government province and was active in the left-wing action to create jobs, especially in Socialist Caucus of the NDP. Her industrially depressed areas of the supporters presented her to the party in country. the leadership contest as the most committed socialist candidate, hoping Quote: “As a party, we’ve been too to return the NDP to its radical roots. cautious. Too often in the last decade, the citizenry of this country looked to Quote: “If the party is to survive, it us and said ‘what do you really stand must turn sharply to the left. It must for?’” return to its working-class roots and principles. It must abandon its failed experiment to be all things to all people, Pierre Ducasse was born in Sept- Iles, standing in the mushy middle ground Quebec in 1972. He gained a political while looking for a .” science degree from Laval University in

CBC News in Review • February 2003 • Page 27 Activities 1. Form groups with your classmates to discuss and evaluate the candidates for the NDP federal leadership. What do you think are their major advantages and disadvantages? If you were an NDP member, which of them would you have supported for leader, and why? Use the following organizer to gather your ideas.

Candidate Advantages Disadvantages Our Thoughts Bill Blaikie

Joe Comartin

Pierre Ducasse

Jack Layton

Bev Meslo

Lorne Nystrom

2. In your notebooks, write a response to each of the quotes from the NDP leadership candidates. State how you interpret what each quote means and your reaction to it.

CBC News in Review • February 2003 • Page 28 A NEW LEADER FOR THE NDP YV Choosing a Leader

In previous NDP federal leadership On January 25, after the last party Definition conventions, the only people who were members and labour delegates had A trade union is an able to vote for the new leader were voted online at the actual convention association of workers that band delegates attending the meeting. These site in Toronto, the results of the first together to press people were elected from their local ballot were announced. To the surprise for better working party riding associations, and came to of many, Jack Layton had scored a conditions and the convention either pledged to support dramatic victory, winning 53.5 per cent higher wages. a particular candidate or as undecided. of the total votes, far ahead of his In addition to delegates from riding nearest rival, Bill Blaikie, who won associations, NDP conventions also 24.7 per cent. Lorne Nystrom followed involved a large voting bloc of repre- with 9.3 per cent, Joe Comartin with 7.7 sentatives from the various trade unions per cent, Pierre Ducasse with 3.7 per affiliated with the party. This group of cent, and Bev Meslo with 1.1 per cent. votes could sometimes be very influen- Most observers had expected that none tial in determining who eventually of the candidates would win over 50 per became the party’s new leader. cent on the first ballot and that at least a For its 2003 federal leadership con- second ballot would be necessary to vention, the NDP adopted a new, “one- determine the winner. If this had hap- member-one-vote” method of electing pened, it might have been possible for the new leader. This meant that each of some of the candidates opposed to Jack the roughly 82 000 individual card- Layton to make a deal to prevent him carrying members of the party would be from becoming leader by agreeing to able to cast their votes for leader, either support one of his opponents. by mail or online before the convention The Canadian Alliance had already was held in January 2003. Along with used the one-member-one-vote method these party members, whose combined of selecting its leader in the race that votes would account for 75 per cent of pitted former party chief the total, were 1630 labour delegates against the eventual winner, Stephen whose votes would be worth 25 per Harper. It is expected that both the cent. Each one of these labour votes Liberals and the Conservatives will was equal to about 12 individual party adopt a similar method of choosing member votes. On their ballots, party their new leaders in 2003. Gone are the members were to indicate their prefer- days when a group of elected delegates ences among the six leadership hope- met on a noisy, crowded convention fuls, rating them from one to six. This floor to elect their party’s new leader. preferential ballot would have been Now every member of the political used if none of the candidates won 50 movement will have the right to cast his per cent of the vote on the first round or her vote for the candidate of their and more than one vote had been neces- choice, sometimes using the most up- sary to elect the new party leader. to-date technology to do so.

CBC News in Review • February 2003 • Page 29 Activities 1. As a class, discuss the merits of the one-member-one-vote method of choosing political party leaders as opposed to the traditional custom of elected party delegates voting at a national conven- tion. Use the spaces below for discussion notes.

2. Why do you think that the NDP grants 25 per cent of the votes in its federal leadership conventions to labour union votes? Do you think this practice is democratic for the party? Why or why not?

CBC News in Review • February 2003 • Page 30 A NEW LEADER FOR THE NDP Writing a Letter to the New NDP Leader

In his acceptance speech at the NDP Write a draft letter to the new NDP convention, the party’s newly leader, outlining your views, sugges- elected leader Jack Layton told tions, comments, etc. on one or Canadians that, “the NDP is inter- more of the following issues of ested in what you have to say.” concern to you and other Canadians:

1. Canada’s relationship with the United States (possible war with Iraq, war on terrorism, border security issues after September 11, etc.)

2. Environmental issues (ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, alterna- tive energy sources, recycling, etc.)

3. Canada’s health-care system (the Romanow Report, public vs. private health care, federal and provincial responsibilities)

4. Reforming the electoral system (changes to campaign financing, proportional representation, use of referenda, etc.)

5. The future of Canada’s cities (homelessness, decaying urban infrastructures, housing, etc.)

6. Economic assistance to regions of the country facing hardship (Prairie farmers, Atlantic Canada, etc.)

7. The role of government in the economy and society (social pro- grams, policing of corporate behaviour, taxes and spending, etc.)

8. Any other issue of concern to you

You can mail your letters to either address below:

Mr. Jack Layton Mr. Jack Layton Federal Leader, New Democratic Party Federal Leader, New Democratic Party House of Commons 802-85 Albert Street Ottawa ON Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6A4

Or e-mail your letters to: [email protected].

CBC News in Review • February 2003 • Page 31