Canadian Action Party Proposal

He spoke of the stranglehold that NAFTA and FTA have on our ability to make independent decisions about our economy, social programs, protection of our environment and our resources, and spoke with passion about the looming loss of Canada as an independent nation which he anticipates will happen unless political control can be wrestled from the Liberals. As much as he admires Jack Layton, he did not feel that the NDP alone would have the strength to do that, while on the other hand a large broadly based party would have a chance of winning the next federal election if it was fought on the independence issue. He also believes it is a unique opportunity for Jack to become Canada's real leader at this critical point in history - a win-win proposal for Jack, the NDP and for Canada. Keynote speaker Walter Pitman, former president of Ryerson Polytechnic University and former deputy-leader of the NDP, congratulated CAP members on passing the resolution. "It is not only Canada which is at a crossroads, it is the planet earth," he said, "and an independent Canada will have the opportunity to really influence world events." Just six days earlier, in his stirring address to the Federal Council of the NDP (see e.ndp), Jack Layton spoke of building the national alternative. "Here's a hunger out there for an alternative", he said. "It's something Canadians feel." His detailed criticisms of Paul Martin left no doubt about where he expects Martin to take the country - weaponize space, put Star Wars bases on Canadian soil, conditionally support Kyoto (all the while saying we could get out of our obligations if required), support for the Iraq war, no help to achieve and defend human rights, kiss up to the White House .., adding that "Paul Martin has done more to implement the Alliance's vision for Canada than Preston Manning, Stockwell Day and Stephen Harper put together". "We are going to reshape the political debate in this country. We're going to throw out the old way of thinking that says that public services don't create prosperity; that we have to choose between protecting our jobs or protecting our environment." "We must infuse ourselves with a sense of community - local, national and global - in which capacity to decide our destiny is within our hands, and we can suit development to our needs. ." He promised that "we are going to build the national alternative that's going to turn Canadian politics on its head. Everyone I've spoken to across this country has said the same thing - that they're hungry for a national alternative to Paul Martin. They're desperate for a credible, national alternative." "We're going to invite them to join us and build that national alternative; to be part of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fundamentally change how this country looks at politics." Comment Jack's vision of a national alternative appears, at least on the surface, to be a bigger and stronger NDP. No where did he suggest merging with CAP or anyone else, but neither did he rule out any such idea. On the other hand he said everyone he has spoken to across the country is hungry for a national alternative to Paul Martin, and "We're going to invite them to join us and build that national alternative; to be part of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fundamentally change how this country looks at politics." It is not to be expected that those affiliated with other parties will come flocking to the NDP just because they are invited, but if they are approached in a way which recognizes their feelings and allegiances it might be possible, together, to bring it off and create that political force we so desperately need. It does not mean the demise of the NDP, only a transformation - no different from what took place when the CCF was transformed into the NDP. Infusing ourselves with a sense of community "in which capacity to decide our destiny is within our hands" will only work if we rid ourselves of the yoke of FTA and NAFTA, and we will only be able to do that if we have the political power. I urge all NDP members to ask their riding associations to support the proposal put forward by CAP, or at least to ask Jack Layton, our federal caucus and our Federal Council to consider it seriously and to act on it quickly. Richard Priestman Please note: comments/responses with regard to the content of this email should be directed to mhurtig@telusplanet.net.