Don’t get stuck in fights of yesterday, says Cullen
Since the outset of the NDP leadership race, the majority of political observers have placed Skeena-Bulkley Valley, B.C. MP Nathan Cullen, 39, on the contest’s metaphorical backbench. But through the months of campaigning, Mr. Cullen’s profile has increased and he has carved out a niche for himself as a progressive and new-age politician, with […]
Topp says he would go after Tories, but offer positives too
A race front-runner from the outset, former NDP president and perennial backroom boy, Brian Topp, 51, says although he’s never been elected, he’s been at the heart of the New Democrats’ political work for the past quarter of a century and has what it takes to lead his party federally. Mr. Topp has a lengthy […]
The not so boring race: why the NDP leadership challenge matters
HAMILTON, ONT.—Ever since the NDP leadership race began in earnest last fall, it hasn’t exactly been met with much fanfare. The one word most pundits have used to describe this competition has been “dull.” In particular, the debates have been diminished by the false bonhomie between the candidates and their general unwillingness to engage […]
It’s the economy, stupid: tale of two austerity hardliners
Conservative soulmates, Stephen Harper and British Prime Minister David Cameron, were in Davos, Switzerland a month ago lecturing Eurozone leaders on how to get their collective act together. As they have done since the G20 meeting in Toronto, both were preaching fiscal austerity as the solution to Europe’s, and the world’s, economic woes. Both […]
After electing a new leader, the hard work begins
OTTAWA—A friend said recently, “There are only two ways media describe leadership races: nasty or boring.” And while people outside the party have characterized this race as the latter, I think what really matters is how we’re regarded in what comes next. After Saturday night’s confetti has been composted and the thunder sticks have […]
Layton’s legacy is authenticity
OTTAWA—I’m a proud millennial. And like other Canadians, I’m concerned about the lack of interest most members of my generation have in politics. For too long, political parties have generally ignored emerging generations. Unfortunately, the effect has been an almost complete disconnection between Canadian millennials and their political system. On March 11, the […]
Learning from Jack: ideas for the new leader of the NDP moving forward
PARLIAMENT HILL—In responding to The Hill Times invitation to contribute some ideas for the NDP leadership race, I’ve pulled together a few key points from Jack Layton’s experience as a new leader in 2003—not to be prescriptive—but simply to share a few of the ideas that worked well for him and the party. […]
NDP about to elect leader to build on historic gains achieved under leadership of Layton
HALIFAX, N.S.—What is it that makes a great leader? This question was posed to me not that long ago by a reporter looking into my time as leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party, and more recently as the province’s first NDP premier. It is, of course, an excellent question, one I have […]
People behind leadership candidates campaign teams: lifeblood of any bid
The NDP will elect a new leader on March 24 at the Toronto Convention Centre, but behind the seven leadership candidates are the campaigns that helped to shape their fates. Robin Sears, a former NDP national campaign director and now a senior adviser at communications firm Navigator, said the brunt of this contest’s campaigns […]
Endorsements influential, but still comes down to one-member-one-vote, in the end
Endorsements from high-profile people have “significant influence” in the NDP, especially when it comes to the leadership race, says a former federal leadership candidate, but others say despite the number of top support, it all comes down to one-member, one-vote in the end. “I think it’s hard to win in any party if you […]
