Like 2,000+ other members across the country, I’ve been participating in the NDP’s convention over the course of the weekend. And with one day in the books, I’ll take note of a few of the differences between this and traditional in-person conventions – as well as the effects they’ve had
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Accidental Deliberations: Leadership 2017 Platform Analysis – Charlie Angus
While most discussion around the NDP’s leadership campaign has revolved around the ebb and flow of news cycles, it’s always worth a closer look as to what the candidates see as worth highlighting. So I’ll be taking a look at the policies on offer from the candidates, starting with Charlie
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2017 Links
The latest from the federal NDP’s leadership campaign. – Alex Ballingall reports on Guy Caron’s infrastructure and jobs plan which features both a large investment in public works, and substantial improvements in both wages and working conditions under federal jurisdiction. – Thomas Walkom criticizes Singh’s plan to roll Old Age
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: A place for discussion
Following up on yesterday’s column, I’ll expand somewhat on some of the decisions the NDP may want to consider as (or before) it elects new leaders. And since the recent federal convention has been treated by other commentators as everything from a shi…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On oversimplification
One could hardly design a more stark contrast between the complex realities of politics and the media’s tendency to portray them in appallingly simplified terms than Althia Raj’s report on the NDP’s conference calls with party members last week. But fo…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, with my take on the factors NDP members should take into account in evaluating Tom Mulcair’s leadership.For further reading…- I’ve written numerous previous posts on the future of Mulcair and the NDP which expand on the points made in the colum…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On rebuilding steps
I’ve posted before about the NDP’s strong progressive stance since the October election – which looks to be a positive move in terms of principles and politics alike. But there’s also a great deal of work to be done on the party side. And I’ll su…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On full responses
I’ll weigh in quickly on the controversy surrounding Jean-Francois Delisle – and start by noting that his comments yesterday reflected a desire to alter law to discriminate against a particular group that we shouldn’t accept from any political candidate or party. That said, today’s follow-up statement also signals that responsibility
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – David Climenhaga sees Jeremy Corbyn’s resounding victory in the Labour leadership race as compelling evidence that progressive hope can win over centre-right fearmongering, while Michael Laxer takes some lessons away for Canadian politics. And Paul Krugman notes that there’s a reason why
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, pointing out that if the Harper Cons have little idea what they’re doing in Canada’s federal election, it isn’t for lack of advantages over their opponents in planning out a campaign. For further reading…– Alice Funke offers a thorough look at the new strategic challenges facing all of Canada’s
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On party positioning
Leaving aside whether Stephen Harper’s previously-undisclosed media monitoring is actually right in substance, Brian Jean isn’t entirely wrong as to why he and other Con MPs are facing it: Conservative MP Brian Jean, who is on the list, said he’s not sure why he was flagged, but also said he
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: The Real Problem For BC Liberals
It’s not the low poll numbers or the ethnic voter outreach controversy, the real problem for the BC Liberals is that there are BC Liberals who want a problem. Considering it was just 2011 when the federal Conservatives’ ethnic voter strategy made headlines it’s more than obvious that the current
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 Lessons Learned – Party Edition
I’ll close off my discussion of the NDP’s leadership campaign with another lessons learned post – this one from the standpoint of the party in administering the campaign. For the most part, the campaign seems to have thoroughly served its purpose in allowing candidates ample opportunity to showcase themselves without
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Guest Post: On governing authorities
Dan Tan offers another guest post – this one responding to a bit of misplaced advice from Embassy with a helpful reminder as to how policy is formulated within the NDP: The foreign-affairs publication ‘Embassy’ recently published the following article: Advocates hope new Opposition leader shifts NDP position on Israel
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: The new baseline
In this year’s federal election, the NDP took 32% of the vote in Saskatchewan – but didn’t win a single seat as other parties dropped off the map and the Cons consolidated public support in all but one riding. And in last night’s provincial election, t…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012: Rulebook Review
As promised, let’s take a quick look through the NDP’s official leadership rules. On the whole, the regulations don’t look to particularly favour any one candidate – but they do include a few noteworthy twists which may help to shape the outcome.The So…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On comparative advantages
At least a few Canadian commentators have looked to Australia’s process for selecting party leaders – with the party caucus rather than its membership making the choice – as a model which we should emulate. Which makes it noteworthy that it’s Bruce Haw…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On learning experiences
Let’s close this blog’s discussion of #vancon2011 with one last post, this time dealing with the NDP’s constitutional preamble – which figured to be the convention’s main topic of interest until it was deferred for further consultation.There’s no doubt…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On maturing processes
Let’s take a look at a couple of final issues from #vancon2011, starting with the series of machinations around resolutions ruling out merger or non-compete agreements with the Liberals.As I noted at the time, the convention planners gave a prominent p…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On timelines
August 2009: The NDP’s federal convention in Halifax votes to have the party’s executive draft a new preamble to the NDP’s constitution.May 2011: The NDP achieves unprecedented success in Canada’s federal election, forming Canada’s Official Opposition …
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