What's the future for the NDP?

[BurlOak]

If Singth irks the far-left base, then I hope he is the one who wins the leadership.

Mulcair and Horvath also isked the parties left wing base as well. Did'nt help the party much.
The 2 problems for the NDP.

1. With a moderate leader they still don't have the credibility due to numerous far left members already in power.
2. With the Liberals moving far left both federally and in Ontario, all the NDP can offer is to be a more honest version of a left wing party. But for that constituency, being honest is not as important as being stylish and trendy.

 

[Midtown Urbanist]

Mulcair and Horvath also isked the parties left wing base as well. Did'nt help the party much.

I don't care for making the NDP win.

I care for the NDP being a viable alternative to me at the voting booth to expand my voting options from 2 to 3 and to ensure the other two parties are forced to do better. For that to occur, they need to swing to the moderate center.

 

[King of Kensington]

Jagmeet Singh, after playing coy for most of the last year, is officially in.

 

[TOareaFan]

Brampton MPP Jagmeet Singh looking more and more likely to jump into the race.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jagmeet-singh-ndp-leadership-profile-1.3982662

Does Singh resign his seat to run for this job? Would seem, if he doesn't, he would have a hard time representing his constituents at Queens Park while focusing on the job he wants.

 

[christiesplits]

Does Singh resign his seat to run for this job? Would seem, if he doesn't, he would have a hard time representing his constituents at Queens Park while focusing on the job he wants.

I don't think it's a huge deal if a member of another legislative body runs for another level of government. Their constituency offices are still open and they will be back for key votes.

 

[TOareaFan]

I don't think it's a huge deal if a member of another legislative body runs for another level of government. Their constituency offices are still open and they will be back for key votes.

I think it is a huge deal.....1) his focus right now is on himself.....not his constituents and 2) this is how we keep recycling politcal people....If, say, I wanted to run for the leadership of the NDP my employer would tell me (rightfully) that I have to resign because I can't focus on the job I am getting paid for....so I would have to decide if I could live without income while chasing the leadership....not sure why the people of Ontario should keep paying an MPP when for the next few months his focus is on chasing another job. Clearly the NDP see this because they made him resign his role as deputy leader of the Ontario party.

everytime a newspaper writes a report about someone (from any party) not being in attendance for votes...we are reminded there is a lot more to being a member of parliament than just being there for votes

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

I think it is a huge deal.....1) his focus right now is on himself.....not his constituents and 2) this is how we keep recycling politcal people....If, say, I wanted to run for the leadership of the NDP my employer would tell me (rightfully) that I have to resign because I can't focus on the job I am getting paid for....so I would have to decide if I could live without income while chasing the leadership....not sure why the people of Ontario should keep paying an MPP when for the next few months his focus is on chasing another job. Clearly the NDP see this because they made him resign his role as deputy leader of the Ontario party.

everytime a newspaper writes a report about someone (from any party) not being in attendance for votes...we are reminded there is a lot more to being a member of parliament than just being there for votes

Actually there is an even more important point - that political representation shouldn't be something you give up, chase at another level, fail and then gracefully falls back into as if nothing had happened.

AoD

 

[bigmansq]

What I am hoping for is that the Liberals and NDP manage to bleed the Conservatives down to a minority government. Or a minority Liberal government. In my mind, Canada works best when the politicians have to compromise. ps:taigamemienphichodienthoai.net

 

[JGHali]

Hang on. If Singh were a federal MP, no one would be suggesting he resign his seat. Certainly giving up leadership positions in the ONDP is reasonable, but there's no obvious reason why running for federal leadership in itself is a reason he can't be an MPP.

 

[christiesplits]

I wonder if the Bernie wave and Corbyn's recent strong showing in the UK could make NDP voters look for a far left option.

 

[Skeezix]

Hang on. If Singh were a federal MP, no one would be suggesting he resign his seat. Certainly giving up leadership positions in the ONDP is reasonable, but there's no obvious reason why running for federal leadership in itself is a reason he can't be an MPP.

Well, except that Jason Kenney also tried to have his cake and eat it too, holding on to his federal seat while basically spending all his time running for PC leader in Alberta. He was attacked for it from both left and right, and it obvious that for almost three months he was not spending a lot of his time on his duties as M.P. The whole controversy did not seem to hurt his chances at the leadership, though.

And, yes, no one would question him being a federal MP and running for the leadership. But at least he would be in the caucus that he was running to lead dealing with federal issues, as opposed to focusing primarily on a contest to lead a completely different caucus in a different city for a different level of government facing mainly different issues.

If Singh wants to hold on to his Queen's Park seat, his supporters will probably forgive him that. And while Canadian Taxpayer Federation criticism of Kenney had some traction among Tories, the CTF does not have the same sway among NDPers. But there is no way he would be doing his job as an MPP while also campaigning nationally for a leadership role. Anyone who pretends otherwise is just naive, or really into Singh.

 

[Skeezix]

I wonder if the Bernie wave and Corbyn's recent strong showing in the UK could make NDP voters look for a far left option.

Undoubtedly. The party left was already trying to take the party "back".

 

[Avenue]

Well.. Corbyn is left, Bernie is sorta remotely left. Definitely neither are "far left" and nor will the next NDP leader be.

 

[TrickyRicky]

I think that the Liberals are vulnerable on the left because of the increasing inequality that has accompanied economic and social reforms over the last few decades. As much as Liberals can be for social programs, debt financing, and greater individual freedoms, they are still reluctant to tax wealth. I think that is where the NDP should go. Propose to get as many people hooked on entitlements and goodies but have the stones to tax wealth effectively at the same time to pay for it. Stop being socialism apologists. Stop pretending you support free international trade.

 

[BurlOak]

I think that the Liberals are vulnerable on the left because of the increasing inequality that has accompanied economic and social reforms over the last few decades. As much as Liberals can be for social programs, debt financing, and greater individual freedoms, they are still reluctant to tax wealth. I think that is where the NDP should go. Propose to get as many people hooked on entitlements and goodies but have the stones to tax wealth effectively at the same time to pay for it. Stop being socialism apologists. Stop pretending you support free international trade.

The income disparity did not exist in the last decade. If you look at the chart the growth since the great recession has been in all groups except for the 1%. This was not true in the decade prior, but maybe people are slow to adapt to changing facts (or they apply the situation in the US to Canada). I have not seen any data yet from the past year.

http://wpmedia.ottawacitizen.com/2015/09/0926-income-inequality-a.jpg?quality=55&strip=all