A troubling aspect of our electoral system is that elections are becoming very complex, big money affairs. Are we heading toward an American-style system? Shudder!! As campaign manager for Irene Mathyssen, I experience first-hand how complex election campaigns are. A campaign requires quickly setting up a high-level organization with a budget of up to $80,000 …
Since the election of Doug Ford, we are getting yet another lesson in the nature of democracy. People like Ford (and Donald Trump to the south, and Stephen Harper in our past) take advantage of those who think democracy only happens at election time. Unfortunately, an ill-informed electorate, an unexamined populism and a healthy infusion …
In a country like Canada no one should be left without a roof over their head; but that is exactly what is happening in far too many of our communities. And the situation is only getting worse. With an estimated 350,000 homeless Canadians and the growing inability for people to find affordable housing, the problem …
Friends and partners The NDP is blessed with some really fine friends and partners. The London and District Labour Council; environmental groups; The Ontario Health Coalition; The Council of Canadians; many labour unions; organizations promoting issues like anti-poverty initiatives and childcare concerns; many ethnic communities; neighbourhood associations – on and on. If it is true …
For quite some time my secret plan for “saving the world” has been for women to take over. Imagine a Canadian Parliament entirely composed of women like Irene Mathyssen! Alas, despite how far we have come with respect to gender equity, that incredibly persistent and pervasive form of entitlement and privilege, patriarchy, is alive and …
Last fall the federal Parliamentary committee on Immigration and Citizenship issued a report which recommended a full withdraw of a horribly biased and oppressive government policy. Currently, this policy states if a potential immigrant or a member of their family wanting to come to Canada had a disability or significant medical needs, their application can …
New Democrats have been fighting for a national pharmacare program since Tommy Douglas introduced public Medicare in 1947. New Democrats refer often to the amazing vision that Tommy Douglas had – and his vision of a social system that is accessible to all. His fundamental belief guides us still today. It is a belief that …
Over 20 years ago, Canada entered into the North American Free Trade Agreement and although the federal Conservative government who negotiated the agreement, and the federal Liberal government who eventually signed the agreement, claimed Canada would see huge economic benefits, our manufacturing sector instead took a huge hit. We saw the loss of 400,000 good-paying, …
