Les Campbell, returning from the NDP convention in Winnipeg, makes the argument that little was accomplished in Winnipeg that moves the NDP closer to being a credible carrier of the modern social democratic message. On the contrary, the structural changes adopted at the convention were timid, at best, and, while the leftward move of the New Politics Initiative was defeated, the vitality of that movement left little doubt that the left vs. centre-left debate within the NDP will go on. A version of this commentary was posted on the NDProgress listserv.

Like others, I'm trying to catch up on the rest of my life after a hectic convention, but there is no doubt in my mind that there is much more to be done within the NDP for those interested in modern social democratic policy

I came away from convention wanting to believe that we had accomplished something, but as the days go by my enthusiasm is waning. Yes -- the NPI was defeated but one has to admit that they brought a certain level of enthusiasm and commitment to the convention and that they achieved a respectable vote -- we'll hear much more from them. One Member One Vote (OMOV) was passed but the predictable compromise, while OK for insiders, will be perceived by the public (which should be our communications target) as a complicated mess which does little to break the hold of self-interested party elites. In short, to paraphrase Alexa McDonough, while 100% of the NDP delegates may have voted for
change, most will be 100% disappointed when they find out that there
was no change.

Peter Holle, President of the Winnipeg-based Frontier Centre for Public Policy, writing an article for the Winnipeg Free Press, saw it this way:

"Les Campbell and like-minded modern social democrats faced an enormous task at the November NDP convention in Winnipeg. While a resolution supporting the "New Politics Initiative",a faction dominated by union activists and others who vilify the market economy, globalization and biotechnology, was narrowly defeated, many in the NDP continue to see a move to the left of the political spectrum as desirable.

He observed afterwards, "There was a tentative move to more party democracy, as the party adopted a "one member one vote" system for choosing the next leader,which should generate more memberships for the party and add new political blood. A last minute compromise setting aside 25% of votes for union members, though, will dilute the effect and may not break the stranglehold of organized labour and other special interests within the party."

With the NDP convention dominated by structural issues and backroom feuds, the promised policy debate between modernizers and the left mostly ended
up in committee, tabled for future discussion and more study. Campbell feels strongly "that the debate must continue because never has policy modernization been more important -- the future of the party and a Canadian institution is at stake."

The fault lines that were developing in the party will continue to develop -- the NPI and a coalition of interest groups agitating for their own party, and modernizers sniping from the sidelines. Two shoes have yet to drop -- the CLC will give an indication of their vision of the party in June and, presumably, Alexa McDonough will decide whether to stay or go.

For now there is some common ground between NPI and NDProgress (or some within NDProgress)-- Duncan Cameron's call for a separate federal party is interesting and potentially useful, and, of course, both sides will be interested in a leadership change. NDProgress should work hard to ensure that the 25% union OMOV set-aside is based on paid party membership within locals.

For my part, my commitment to an NDP molded along the lines of the European social democrats has been strengthened. In a speech given by Kofi Annan to the National Democratic Institute's annual Democracy Award dinner on November 28, Annan set out a vision quite distinct and different from the version of international affairs put forward by Svend Robinson and the NDP. The upshot --even the UN, the body the NDP seems to think would take a radically different path in the world today, has left the NDP behind in an outdated world that exists only in the heads of a few influential NDP members. I spoke to the international secretary and a minister from the (governing) Portuguese socialist party after the dinner and they commented on how surprised they were at the unreconstructed nature of the NDP's socialist politics -- reminding me that the NDP is almost alone in the world of social democracy in developed countries in failing to come to terms with the role of the free market, international trade and globbal institutions in achieving the goals of social justice.

The convention changes little, as I see it, and I look forward to
strategizing about the way forward.

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