The New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP) is holding a crucial policy convention in the city of Montreal from April 12 to 14.
In 2011, in a remarkable surge of support the social democratic party won enough seats to form the Official Opposition, despite the fact that the ruling Conservative party of Prime Minister Stephen Harper won a majority. It was however its best showing ever in Canadian history.
Much of the support for the NDP’s success came from the predominantly French-speaking province of Quebec which represented about two-thirds of its elected MPs.
A federal election is scheduled for 2015, and the NDP is planning to present a revised image of its policies.
The Montreal convention will deal with a wide range of policy resolutions and one of them is changing a basic approach of the NDP that’s in its constitution, its support for socialism. The constitution now says:
“The New Democratic Party believes that the social, economic and political progress of Canada can be assured only by the application of democratic socialist principles to government and the administration of public affairs.”
A constitutional committee is now proposing getting rid of a clear explanation of the kind of politics the NDP will represent, and suggests the future will be built on insights on the party’s past:
“New Democrats seek a future which brings together the best of the insights and objectives of Canadians who, within the social democratic and democratic socialist traditions, have worked through farmer, labour, co-operative, feminist, human rights and environmental movements to build a more just, equal, and sustainable Canada within a global community dedicated to the same goals.”
More information:
NDP constitution (pdf) – here
NDP 2013 resolutions (pdf) – here
NDP 2013 convention web site – here
NDP web site – www.ndp.ca
Canadian Press – “March towards 2015 begins with weekend of change in Canadian politics” – here
Toronto Star Opinion – “The NDP should stay true to its socialist roots” – here
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