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 Toronto, NDP will present to Canadians 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 Jack Layton 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 Canada 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 Joe Clark 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 Canadian Alliance, 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 Stephen Harper. 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 Tommy Douglas 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 James Laxer 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 New Democratic Party. 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 Lorne Nystrom 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 Ontario and two National Assembly, summary of the history of Canada’s years later won office in Saskatchewan, 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 socialist party, 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.