Mulcaire, the NDP, and PR

2012 03 25

This is the blog of an insider.  I joined the NDP for the first time in many years in order to participate in the election of its new leader.   I participated on line.  One of the highlights of the meeting for me was the success of Nathan Cullen, who rose during the campaign from near the bottom of the pack to third place.  Why did that happen?

Nathan had many fine personal qualities.  His French was good.  He was the master of the sound bite.  He had good up-beat energy and spoke with deep passion about the environment.  Nathan also took the risk of differentiating himself by inventing a way for parties in conservative-held ridings, if they chose to do so, to run a unity candidate to defeat the conservatives, with one goal in mind:  to implement a mixed-member proportional representation system of election in the 2015-2019 term.

Because he took that stand, I believe he was the beneficiary of votes from across Canada from everyone who joined the party to influence it towards PR.  His vote stayed rock solid on the third ballot because people wanted to send a message that PR is important. 

The real problem with the Conservative Government is not that they are acting like dictators.  We all know that power corrupts and that absolute power corrupts absolutely.  The problem is that our system allows someone to be a dictator.  First Past the Post takes away the necessity to listen to the people and to moderate one’s actions according to the larger will. 

The beauty of PR is that nobody has to give up their party identity or their cherished values and policies.  No one usually gets a majority but everyone is elected for who they are.  A Mixed-member proportional system would require any government – whether Conservative, NDP, or Liberal, to work together with other parties and to define policies that a majority of Canadians can support.  It is much more suited to Canadian values of respect, listening, compromising and peace-making.  Dictatorship is not our style and our voting system should not allow it.

I was disappointed to see that Nathan de-emphasized this position during the convention.  Mulcaire talked about making our votes count (A PR phrase) to attract youth, but didn’t actually talk about committing to a campaign for PR.  My hope is that the NDP will adopt this platform for the next election, and will allow some ridings to run “Unity Candidates” for one election with the goal of implementing PR in 20150-2019.    I’m not holding my breath.  If it is going to happen, it will be because we grass roots will continue to communicate to our new leadership that we want it,  expect it, yes -- even demand it.  And let us hope there is a strong contingent of liberals who will do the same thing.

My congratulations to Paul Dewar, Nicky Ashton, and Martin Singh for running fine campaigns.  You all had really strong speeches and the party is very lucky to have such fine talent as you.  To Peggy Nash, Nathan Cullen and Brian Topps, thank you for your great leadership over the long haul.  I hope all six of you will find strong roles in the party and help us to move forward toward a more democratic, peaceful and compassionate Canada.

Working Together

I am thinking about bunkers.  Enclaves.  We activists are all attached to something.  Elizabeth May is “the Green Party”.  Frances Deverell is CUSJ (whatever that is.)  Susan Berry is RODC. ??? We have the NDP and the Liberals.  We have John Howard and Elizabeth Fry.  We have Occupy Movement.  The Council of Canadians.  The Judges and Lawyers in the Smart Justice Network.  Lead Now coming out of Vancouver.  Avaaz Canada.  The Peace Movement.  The Rideau Club.  CCPA.

Who comes to who’s party?  Who leads?  How does this mish-mash of groups work together towards our common objectives?  Who do we follow and who do we ignore?  How do we consult with one another to encourage cooperation?  How do we support and encourage one another?  How do we invite new people in?  How do we multiply our impact? 

What will we do with a young man who feels so strongly that the young people of our country will be harmed by Bill C-10.  He feels so strongly that he has chosen to begin a hunger strike?   I heard Obert Madondo tell his story on the hill at Occupy Ottawa last fall.  He has been fighting to find a place in this country since he endured great difficulties to get here some years ago.  Madondo has a vision of freedom and respect and equality.  Canada presents itself to the world as the place where that exists.  He had expectations when he came here and we, as a country, have fallen short.

Do we have the capacity to embody the vision of justice and equality we all dream of by supporting the movement no matter where the initiative comes from.  What will it take to build that kind of trust and co-ordination?

Shall we support Obert Madondo and promote his hunger strike?  Or is this not the right action at this time and should we encourage him to be engaged in another way?

Rev. Frances Deverell

Canadian Unitarians For Social Justice

Co- Author of Finding Common Voice