Thomas

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Saturday, April 9, 2016 Mulcair and the NDP head into couples therapy at convention Whatever the outcome of this weekend's vote on Tom Mulcair's leadership, it's already apparent that the NDP is a party deeply divided Ñ not just over whether he deserves to stay in the job, but over where the party needs to go. One can't be separated from the other. Mulcair, as we already know, led the New Democrats to a devastating result in the 2015 election. The party lost votes, over half its seats and its status as the Official Opposition in the House of Commons. Worse still, the Liberals vaulted over the NDP in large part because Justin Trudeau out-performed Mulcair during the campaign. But there's a growing sense inside the party that the Liberals really usurped the NDP as the party of choice among progressive voters, with the most obvious example being Trudeau's willingness to run deficits to invest in infrastructure, indigenous communities and health care. Heading into the weekend, the list of those who want a change at the top includes the party's youth wing, its socialist caucus and the president of the Canadian Labour Congress. In a letter released this week, the youth wing urged NDP members to support "a new direction and new style of leadership." It complains that young New Democrats were forced in the last campaign to argue against legalization of marijuana, against Mulcair's participation in a debate on women's issues and, well, on a host of other issues that ran counter to what young people believe. (Continued: CBC) http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mulcair-chris-hall-leadership-ndp-1.3525911 Canada, politics, leadership, NDP, new democrats, Thomas, Tom, Mulcair, convention, Justin Trudeau, sex, appeal

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday, April 9, 2016

Mulcair and the NDP head into couples therapy at convention

Whatever the outcome of this weekend’s vote on Tom Mulcair’s leadership, it’s already apparent that the NDP is a party deeply divided — not just over whether he deserves to stay in the job, but over where the party needs to go.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Saturday April 2, 2016 Mulcair campaigning ahead of convention Tom Mulcair is no stranger to political campaigns and there is one thing that is clear ahead of the NDP convention next week: he is actively working to keep his job in wake of the party's devastating election results. The level of blame placed on Mulcair's shoulders and whether he will be turfed by his own party, will be tested as rank-and-file members congregate in Edmonton and decide if he should stay or go. NDP President Rebecca Blaikie has suggested 70 per cent is likely the threshold of support needed for Mulcair to stay on, though the party constitution only stipulates a leadership race must be held within one year if asked for by a convention vote of at least 50 per cent plus one. It is a critical moment for New Democrats, who are still very much reeling from the pain of crushing results that reduced the caucus to 44 seats and third place in the Commons. Progressives gathered Friday in Ottawa for the Progress Summit Ñ an annual event sponsored by the institute that is the brainchild of former NDP leader Ed Broadbent. Mulcair, who has spent months meeting party supporters to hear post-election feedback, said some key lessons have emerged in his discussions. "For me, as a party leader, that's been fantastic," Mulcair said Friday. "It is rare for a party leader to be able to sit down with a candidate from a single riding and a small core team. You learn so much about the strength and depth of our team on the organizational, communications, policy side." The NDP now needs to bring more people into the fold, he said. "I want to make sure we throw the doors and the windows of the party wide open ... let in a lot of fresh air and a lot of sunlight, let in a lot more people," he said. "We have to take a much more open-door approach from now on." On the sidelines of the summit, some party members are not convinced Mulcair is the appro

April 2, 2016

One can’t be separated from the other.

Mulcair, as we already know, led the New Democrats to a devastating result in the 2015 election. The party lost votes, over half its seats and its status as the Official Opposition in the House of Commons.

Worse still, the Liberals vaulted over the NDP in large part because Justin Trudeau out-performed Mulcair during the campaign.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Saturday March 19, 2016 Mulcair at risk of ouster by crush of new critics Tom Mulcair doesnÕt come across as the kind of person whoÕd spend much time looking over his shoulder, even if he had to. But these days you have to wonder whether the NDP leader, who celebrates his fourth anniversary as head of the party next week, is taking the time to look both ways before he crosses any political streets between now and his partyÕs convention next month. It would be wrong to say rumblings over MulcairÕs future with the party began only last week. Those rumblings have been a staple of the NDPÕs background noise since its dismal showing in the Oct. 19 election. But with the exception of a well publicized sortie by Ontario NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo in January, and complaints last month from a newly minted Montreal-area riding association president, any I-told-you-sos had been uttered off the record, if only in apparent deference to the panel the party convened to autopsy why things went horribly wrong during the last campaign. Given that the panelÕs findings compelled Mulcair to write a letter of apology to the partyÕs rank and file and take full responsibility for the NDPÕs return to third party status, it wasnÕt entirely surprising to hear the volume turned up last week on the complaints over MulcairÕs leadership. It started when Sid Ryan, former head of the Ontario Federation of Labour, told the Globe and Mail last week that MulcairÕs Òoverbearing personalityÓ made it necessary for the NDP to seek out new leadership. That was followed by letters published in Le Devoir and the Toronto Star this week that didnÕt mention Mulcair by name but may as well have spray painted it in day-glo orange across its text as three defeated MPs and nearly three dozen party activists complained the NDP had come adrift from its ideals and purpose. That missive was quickly followed by a far more specific slam against Mulcair by NDP s

March 19, 2016

But there’s a growing sense inside the party that the Liberals really usurped the NDP as the party of choice among progressive voters, with the most obvious example being Trudeau’s willingness to run deficits to invest in infrastructure, indigenous communities and health care.

Heading into the weekend, the list of those who want a change at the top includes the party’s youth wing, its socialist caucus and the president of the Canadian Labour Congress.

Thursday April 16, 2015

April 16, 2015

In a letter released this week, the youth wing urged NDP members to support “a new direction and new style of leadership.”

It complains that young New Democrats were forced in the last campaign to argue against legalization of marijuana, against Mulcair’s participation in a debate on women’s issues and, well, on a host of other issues that ran counter to what young people believe. (Continued: CBC news)