The New Politics Initiative tests the Water: A report and reflections on the Federal NDP Convention - New Democratic Party, Winnipeg - Statistical Data Included

For a lot of people the recent Winnipeg convention of the federal NDP became "the best of times and the worst of times." It was presented and played out as a clash between "new politics" and "old politics." And at the Winnipeg Convention Centre, "old politics" dominated the scene as platform speakers, slick videos, and procedural wrangles ate up most of the delegates time.

The fact that so many people made the sacrifice to be there was a testimonial to some strength and diversity within the Party. The bleak prospect of Winnipeg winter weather in late November didn't deter more than 1200 (twice original estimates) from shelling out $1,000 or so in combined costs for registration, travel and hotels. Some were supported from Union coffers and Riding Associations but most got there on their own. This was not a "Chamber of Commerce" convention crowd. You could see the diversity of delegates in the hotel lobbies and restaurants where backpacks and overalls clearly outnumbered suits. Ages spanned from 15 to 95 and they were serious about their purpose. The dominant group were party loyalists and activists including long-time union representatives. But many were under-30 youth activists, already political veterans at their first, and potentially last, NDP convention.

This was to be the convention of "party renewal." A long process of meetings and consultations in the past year, involving an estimated 10,000 people, had produced a lengthy document. In it the party was asked to renew itself by reforming its structure and electoral procedures and by reaching out to work with, engage and recruit social movement activists. The document fell short of calling for a new party, but did not explicitly rule out that option. It was left to the New Politics Initiative (NPI) network to try to put the question of creating a new party squarely on a crowded convention agenda.

The expression of "new politics" energized the convention and came from several sources. It came, in part, from the official party renewal process where it was clearly recognized that the status quo was not viable and that the NDP had to become an integrated part of the anti-globalization movement. It came from the presence in the corridors of activist literature, music, posters and videos on issues stemming from sustainable environment and agriculture to the fight for civil liberties in challenge to Bill C-36 and the other anti-terrorism measures. Finally, and most importantly, it came from the NPI coalition at its nightly caucus meetings in which up to 350 people practiced inclusion, diversity and democratic process as they discussed the urgency and necessity of an activist coalition across the country - linked to the NDP and forming a broader political party on the left.

The Friday evening open forum of the NPI was without a doubt the highlight of the convention. It was a powerful coming together of diverse activists and long-time NDP activists from across the country in support of a common objective: to restore the left as a relevant and vital force in Canadian politics. There were MLAs and MPs including Jennie Kwan from British Columbia, and Svend Robinson and Libby Davies from the federal NDP caucus. Also speaking were longtime activists within and without the NDP like Mel Watkins, Merran Proctor, Murray Dobbin and Jim Silver, as well as potential coalition partners like Paul Helyer of the Canada Action Party. And there were energetic youth activists such as Louise James and Kim Fry.

The process of presentation and discussion at this forum was an expression of "new politics" as the moderator, Judy Rebick, alternated between speakers from floor mikes and the quieter voices speaking from their seats. Among the "quieter voices" who came through loud and clear on their support were a couple of CCF veterans from Manitoba, now in their 90s, who were delegates to the founding convention of the CCF. The session ended appropriately with a chorus of solidarity forever.

It's a sad irony that the 800 or so delegates who couldn't or didn't attend the Friday NPI open forum, really didn't discover what the proposal for creating a broader party o the left was all about. Convention procedures and "old poll. tics" effectively sabotaged any opportunity for a clear and articulate debate.

The convention rolled into Saturday afternoon and was still not clear whether the NPI's "New Party Proposition," which had been endorsed by over 30 Riding Associations, youth clubs and affiliates, would actually be debated on the convention floor. The resolutions Committee has placed it as the fourth resolution under party affairs. Under appeal, the Appeals Committee had shifted it to third. But the entire party affairs session was only slotted for 30 minutes and the whole agenda was running behind schedule.

In the end, there was a debate -- of sorts. It was ultimately quite destructive. It came only after yet another procedural skirmish about the agenda and the debate was quite chaotic and confusing. It was not a preplanned or organized debate in which the proponents and opponents could choose their speakers and present their positions coherently.

In contrast, in 1969 when the so-called Waffle resolution "For an Independent and Socialist Canada" and the Party's "For a United and Independent Canada" resolutions were jointly presented, the convention set 90 minutes aside and heard five pre-selected speakers from each side. It was an exciting historic debate and was broadcast live across Canada.

The NPI group had tried to organize their presentation by sending to the mikes the same diversity of speakers as had spoken at the previous evening caucus. But pro-microphones were held by members of the "socialist caucus" who presented their own particular version of the NPI challenge and managed to alienate many rank and file party loyalists. The NPI position came out as a demand that the party "make a sharp turn to the left." This was not given any clear context in terms of either policy or process. Party establishment supporters portrayed the initiative as an effort to dismantle and destroy the party with nothing to replace it. The plan for constructive mergers within a broader coalition was not clearly articulated.

The attack on the "mushy middle" set up M.P. Bill Blaikie to appeal to the party loyalists and support the federal caucus for their recent stands against the bombing in Afghanistan and Bill C-36 which were anything but the "mushy middle." The crowd roared approval and the debate was effectively lost. It ended on the wrong question. Opponents of the resolution were able to present it as an attack on the integrity of the present federal caucus and a dismantling of the party rather than seeing it as marrying parliamentary and community-based movements and merging in an open coalition toward something bigger and better. In the end, in spite of relative confusion and chaos around the debate, a vote of 685 to 401 was a powerful showing for the challengers and remains a hopeful base from which to build.

In the aftermath of the convention some good possibilities exist for building a broader left at the national level. The party renewal process at the federal level remains open to possible bridging with the social movements. (This is much less the case in Manitoba and Saskatchewan where the governing parties are fearful of the left.) The federal party leadership needs to figure out how to bridge with activist movements. Most of the NPI supporters remain loyal to the objective of building a broader left which includes the NDP as they carry out their work in communities. Those who are now party members are likely to remain so for the next phase of the debate. The NPI has agreed to work with the Federal executive and council as they consider the next stage in the renewal process.

The challenge will be to practice "new politics" at the community level and breathe life into federal riding associations which are otherwise dormant between elections. These riding associations can, with some effort, be linked more actively to the issues of the day. The point is not just to move the party "left" in terms of policies, it's to connect existing policies to people's everyday political agenda on issues such as the environment, trade, civil liberties, labour rights and sustainable agriculture.

Don Mitchell is currently a community development worker and long-time activist based in Moose Jaw. He has been an author, lecturer and greenhouse grower.

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