NDP convention disrupted again

(Hamilton) The New Democratic Party (NDP) convention was once again disrupted Saturday afternoon by pro-Palestinian activists. A few hours earlier, leader Jagmeet Singh had passed a confidence vote with flying colors with 81% support.

An activist complained on microphone that delegates had lost their accreditation after a demonstration in support of the Palestinian people in a hallway at the Hamilton convention center. This stunt, which brought together a few dozen people, took place earlier in the corridor outside the room where Mr. Singh was giving his speech.

The NDP justified the withdrawal of accreditations under its anti-harassment policy and the need to create “a safe space” for delegates. An activist continued to shout slogans about the liberation of Palestine, as MPs Heather McPherson, Jenny Kwan and Peter Julian looked on in dismay as they prepared to take part in a panel on stage.

“They didn’t even recognize what the Palestinian people are going through,” lamented Shiam Abdella, who is vice-president of the Oakville, Ontario riding association. Only that would have been enough for me. »

“The world right now is dangerous and scary. Members of our party learned a week ago that members of their family had been murdered,” recalled Mr.^me McPherson.

Emergency resolutions in response to the war between Israel and Hamas are to be debated late Saturday afternoon. At least two other resolutions condemn war crimes on both sides. The exchanges were first scheduled for Friday, then were postponed. The debate will be limited to 30 minutes and delegates were still wondering early Friday afternoon where they could view these proposals.

Singh condemns Hamas and Israeli violence

Hours earlier, Jagmeet Singh condemned the violence committed by both Hamas and the Israeli state in his speech.

“Nothing can justify the torture, murder and sexual violence committed by Hamas,” Mr. Singh said. And we must call for an immediate end to the massacres of innocent civilians in Gaza. The world cannot stand idly by while the people of Gaza are left behind. »

The approximately 900 delegates gathered in the room rose to applaud.

“New Democrats have always been those who nourish the desire for peace, even when there are calls for war,” he added.

However, he refrained from describing the bombings of the Israeli state in the Gaza Strip as war crimes in a press briefing.

81% support

Mr. Singh passed the campaigners’ vote of confidence with flying colors with 81% support. This result is the lowest he has obtained since he took the helm of the political party in 2017. He sees it as a sign that the New Democrats want to obtain more within the framework of the agreement which binds them to the liberals.

“I received a strong mandate and the New Democrats are telling me to go ahead and work harder. That’s what I’m going to do,” he said after the results were revealed.

He said he wanted to obtain “concrete actions to give a helping hand to people” who are struggling with the housing crisis, the affordability crisis, the rising cost of groceries and the cost of living in general. .

Delegates adopted a resolution Saturday to build 3.5 million affordable housing units in ten years. This is the number needed by 2030 for rents to become affordable again, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

The announcement of the result was made without fanfare early Saturday afternoon. The NDP convention brought together only 952 delegates, unlike the 1,200 people who had registered, according to party data.

It’s Jagmeet Singh’s third vote of confidence since he was elected NDP leader in 2017. Members must indicate whether they want to hold a leadership contest at each convention under the party’s constitution. He obtained 91% in 2018 and 87% in 2021.

Shortly after the result was revealed, delegates passed a resolution to amend the vote of confidence question to avoid confusion. Members will decide in the future not whether they want a leadership race, but rather whether they want their leader to stay in office.

The agreement with the Liberals called into question

Jagmeet Singh also defended the agreement which allows the minority Liberals to govern as if they were the majority.

“The reality is that the Liberals only act when the NDP forces them,” he said in his speech.

This agreement is not to the advantage of the New Democratic Party, according to a long-time activist. Barry Weisleder wanted a leadership race to be held.

“I think it was a bad idea from the start,” says the man who chairs the NDP socialist caucus and who has been active within the party for 55 years.

“Not everyone agrees with me, but we can now make a definitive assessment: it is a failure,” he adds.

Deputy leader Alexandre Boulerice tried to convince the delegates that the New Democrats had thus succeeded in using their balance of power within the framework of this agreement.

“For the first time, we managed to introduce 10 sick days for workers,” he recalled. He also mentioned the dental insurance program as well as the upcoming drug insurance program and the upcoming anti-scab legislation.

“They need to be tougher on the government, but even better end this pact and say ‘we’re going to support the bills one by one if it’s in the interest of the working class’,” argues Barry Weisleder.

He especially disagrees with the NDP’s support for federal budgets, particularly that of 2022 which provided for 8 billion in new spending for National Defense after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.

“We need air tankers, not fighter planes,” he summarizes, referring to the forest fires that affected many communities across the country during the summer.

Delegates rejected the idea Saturday of making the agreement between the NDP and the Liberal Party conditional on the tabling of an anti-scab bill within three months. They are expected to vote late this afternoon on an emergency resolution to tear up the agreement if the Liberals’ drug insurance bill does not provide for the creation of a ” universal, complete and entirely public.

She is supported by 28 constituency association presidents. It has been prioritized and therefore should be debated first during the 30 minutes devoted to emergency resolutions.