Cooperation Between NDP And Green Parties Could Be Achieved For The 2005 Electio

<p>Here are the email addresses in full.<br><br> (broadcoalition@t..) = <a href="mailto:broadcoalition@telus.net">broadcoalition@telus.net</a> <br> <br> (coalition@s...) = <a href="mailto:coalition@shaw.ca">coalition@shaw.ca</a> <br> <br> Kevin Gagnon <br> <a href="http://www.kevingagnon.ca">www.kevingagnon.ca</a>

Why is Layton inconclusive when dealing with Hellyer? We need a big Unite The Left sort of thing to happen! I emailed Layton asking him what he thought about a union with the CAP. He didn`t respond to me. Time is not on our side. If Layton cares about Canadian sovereignty, as well as social and economic justice, then I think he surely needs CAP support! He should welcome it!

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Dave Ruston

He\'s a city councillor, the best mainstream bet we\'ve got, and has good views on healthcare, and the environment, but is a bit of a wussy peacenik, a \"Make love not war\" type. He\'s no Difenbaker, or MacDonald.

His views on cities are good, but he doesn\'t get Hellyer\'s economics...Hellyer keeps sucking up to Layton, telling us \"He understands that the banks shouold only print half our money....\" -I don\'t think he gets it.
He\'s another Ph.D. with zero real-world knowledge. At least he bugs Martin.

Yeah, you`re right. I think the NDP would have been better off if Joe Comartin would have been elected their leader. I would like to see Hellyer ditch Layton if Layton shows no interest, because I do think that the CAP has potential! Just we, as Canadians have to believe it!

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Dave Ruston

I don\'t know much about Joe Camartin, but I think Layton is still better, because at least Toronto is now paying attention, a bit.....Comartin may have been ignored.

As for CAP, they don\'t have a councillor yet in my riding, but I\'d consider voting for them if I did. That being said, I\'d feel stupid voting CAP if the NDP surprised us, but I see the Liberals conning the people in my riding again.

Personally, I think we should have P.R., and only have the names of the better candidates on the ballot, or even only the leaders....in the States, they have the leaders, although in practice the electoral college still doesn\'t let them vote directly for a leader, they must nominate people to elect the leader, as \"Paupers can\'t be trusted.\"

Heh.

I still think Hellyer has put forward the best overall plan, the most in depth ideas, he isn\'t vague. I like that, he\'s been around the block with some of those guys and I think he knows his stuff! He also answered my email, Jack never has, and I was really enthusiastic when he won the leadership convention, I watched the entire thing on T.V. and was impressed. But I hate it when my questions are not answered, most of them have staff to do just that, if he doesn\'t have time to do it personally. But truthfully, if a guy can\'t answer simple questions from the electorate, how can he expect to get their vote? If he doesn\'t respond now, why will he, if he gets the power, very few in power ever do? I get the impression Jack likes the media, but isn\'t too concerned with the little people.(Just my feeling)

For sure, Mr. Hellyer has answered my e-mails as well.And he does propose the best platform out of all of the other parties. He doesn`t beat around the bush (pun intended) he comes right out and says it! I`m tired of a watered down, wishy-washy, middle of the road NDP.I say let`s give the CAP votes. It all starts by getting them recognition. Even one or two seats to start with in Parliament. Or even in each riding, we find more and more people casting votes fot the CAP. THEN THE MEDIA CAN NO LONGER IGNORE! Then the Canadian public becomes aware and learns of the CAP vision! To hell with voting for \'our media designated best chance.\'

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Dave Ruston

Here, Here I agree with you. At the present time Jack nor the NDP appear to have what it takes to meet our goal of a one Big Party.

With Paul Hellyers help we can set up the one big party and start negotiations with the green party,David Orchard and his following, Bloc Quebecois leadership and members, NDP members that are for a One Big Party Concept, Progressive tories who are looking for a place to go, and back bench liberals who are looking for a place to go. We can also look to the unions and small business who are disgruntled with the NDP. If we do this right I am sure that we will get Candidates in all ridings for the next election. Maybe we could call this new party Progressive Canadian Party. We can make this a pro Canadian, environment, small business, and labour Party.

Instead of sitting back on our thumbs and having Jack Layton playing with our heads and making deals with other parties while we wait to see if he is interested in being part of a One Big Party Concept. If Mr Hellyer agrees: Lets rename CAP, write a new constitution and create a new image for the time. We could use the Progressive Canadian Party name which is short and says who we are. If Paul wants to open up the leadership as he offered it to Jack we could either offer it to the Green leader or open it so others can run. If Paul wants to remain as leader that fine with me.

The bottom line to all of this is lets get the merger whatever it is done before the next election.

How will we accomplish this? Is it \'pie in the sky\' to think we can create a party before the election? I think so. Not to be the negative one here, but if David Orchard and other progressives haven\'t even started conversations with Paul Hellyer on this idea. Then I can only assume the worse that there is not enough time.

I\'ve been reading James Laxer\'s books, if you haven\'t read them you should His NDP if I\'m not mistaking. www.jameslaxer.com

Whether the NDP is not moving forward with the OBP idea, or not. The fact is they are the only chance there is. If we split the vote now, it will accomplish nothing.

I know that the NDP isn\'t perfect, but I still decided to join as a member. I\'m not naive, and I understand that there is not enough time before election to create a new party and get interest across Canada. Something like that would take more time.

Kevin Gagnon
www.kevingagnon.ca

I believe that it possible to start a new party and get it done before the next election. We have the infrastructure already in place with both the NDP and CAP. So it would be fairly easy to bring both organizations together under a new name. I am sure that their are organizers out their who can make this happen. We also have the policy research orgs of both parties that can harmonize policies of both parties into a comprehensive policy platform for the new party. I know for a fact that their have been individuals in both parties that have presented policy ideas to both Mr Layton and Mr Hellyer for a new progressive party which we can utilize. We would just have to flush out a few policy areas. As far as a constitution is concerned, we take the constitutions from both parties and bring them together to form the principles of the new party. As more parties and groups join we can harmonize their policies and constitutions into the new parties. So really the parties coming together would not lose anything other than a name.

As far as the leadership goes we can have a leadership race which will probably bring us into the election with momentum on our side. Could you imagine a new party with Jack Layton, Paul Hellyer, David Orchard, Mel Hurtig, Linda McQuaig and Maude Barlow moving across Canada telling Canadians about our policies and what this new party is all about and what they can do to save Canada.

I think we would be able to catch the imaginations of Canadians. The bigger problem is how we do the same with ourselves to get the ourselves together. Getting the Canadian people to take interest is not the issue. They are waiting for a viable alternative. I do not think that it is good enough to say that the NDP are the only game in town so why not join them. One reason I say this is because the NDP for years and the Green Party more recently cannot win separately. The statistics show it and the sentiments of the Canadian people at the present time show it. We have to get at least 30% of the vote, 14% popular vote for the NDP and 5% for the Green party will not due separately. Together I believe that we will be able to meet the expetations of our members and certainly give Canadians the alternative they are looking for. United we will stand tall, divided we will certainly remain marginal parties. We need to be in the main stream, not the Back stream.

If everyone does their part and park the egos we can make this happen. This party could be the enviromental, labour and small business movement of this country. We need a strong National Party. Let\'s get this done and get it done.

It would be nice if anyone under 50 were involved......but for now, the oldies seem to know what they\'re talking about, so we can learn from them.....I\'d like to throw eric Krehm\'s ideas into the hat. That being said, we need fresh faces to sustain old, sensible ideas like monetary reform.