Conservatives, New Democrats row over NDP’s leftist policy resolutions

It has recently come to my attention that the NDP will be voting on policy resolutions at their national policy convention this coming weekend.

Normally, I would not comment on such matters. But given the NDP’s position as the Official Opposition and the far-reaching nature of many of the proposals being considered, I am compelled to register my concerns publicly. Many of these NDP proposals would have a negative impact on the economy, stifling job creation and creating hardships for individuals, families, seniors and workers. While we have long come to expect the NDP to advocate for tax increases (which they do repeatedly through their policy resolutions – from a new tax on everyday financial transactions, eliminating popular tax credits for families, imposing higher personal income and business taxes, and much more.

Conservatives are desperate to change the channel away from their economic mismanagement. In his latest budget, this Conservative Finance Minister increased taxes for hard working Canadians on everything from iPods to bicycles. He’s been making private calls to Canada’s banks to increase mortgage rates and under his watch, Canada lost 55,000 fulltime jobs last month alone.

Unlike the Conservative Party, we do not muzzle our members, we do not muzzle our MPs. NDP members are free to bring forward resolutions for discussion as they see fit, but we do trust our membership to make the best policy decisions to help the party establish its priorities and offer a real, credible alternative to Stephen Harper’s Conservatives.

It’ll be up to members to decide. That’s how a democratic party operates, something lost on the Conservatives. And our members have served us well in the past, most recently by choosing Tom Mulcair as leader of the NDP.

1-94-13 Resolution on the work week

WHEREAS the Canadian work week is among the longest in the industrialized world, a situation proven
to cause increased stress, illness and lower productivity; and
WHEREAS tens of thousands of new jobs would be created if the work week was reduced appropriately;
BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP actively campaign to reduce the work week throughout Canada to 32
hours, without loss of pay or benefits to workers, and to outlaw mandatory overtime.

1-95-13 Resolution to Nationalize Big Oil and Gas

WHEREAS giant oil and gas corporations in Canada have reaped billions in profit, while despoiling the
environment and ignoring the urgent need to invest substantially in making the shift towards a new green
energy efficiency;
BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP actively campaign for nationalization of the energy industry, under
workers’ and community control, to guarantee domestic supply and to furnish the basis to rebuild industry,
and to create hundreds of thousands of jobs, especially in renewable energy and mass public transit.

1-96-13 Resolution to Nationalize the Big Banks and Insurance Companies

WHEREAS the giant banks are a central pillar of the failed world capitalist system, substituting lies and
manipulation for genuine production, squandering untold wealth and plunging millions into destitution and
misery; and
BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP actively campaign for nationalization of the big five Canadian banks and
major insurance companies (including life, home and auto insurance firms), to be operated under public
democratic control, with compensation to the former owners in the form of low-interest, long-term bonds;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that democratic management be exercised by an elected council of bank
workers, consumers, small business folk, family farmers and the labour movement as a whole.