Jack Layton and Malcolm Allen Talk About the Economy in Niagara

Layton was the first leader to visit the Niagara Region during the campaign.

Meanwhile, in Provincial Politics....

The NDP is still leading the polls in Nova Scotia. The most recent numbers from CRA were published yesterday.

Nova Scotia
NDP 36%
Tories 33%
Liberals 28%

Newfoundland and Labrador
Tories 78%
Liberals 14%
NDP 7%

New Brunswick
Liberals 49%
Tories 34%
NDP 14%

Michael Prue and Separate School Funding in Ontario

NDP leadership candidate Michael Prue made his campaign relevant for five seconds before promptly withdrawing his comments on separate school funding... sigh.

But he quickly ran into a bit of hot water by suggesting the NDP's policy supporting public funding of Catholic schools should be reviewed.

Prue says he thinks "it is time" that the party takes a look at the issue.

As handlers tried to stop the news conference, Prue insisted he wasn't trying to re-open the debate about religion and schools that caused so much trouble for Conservative Leader John Tory in last year's election.

And he insisted it would be up to someone else to bring forward the idea of changing the policy on school funding at the NDP's leadership convention next March.

Any candidate who is willing to champion this issue will carve out a pretty decent chunk of support. Do any of them have the political will?

Michael Prue to Run for NDP Leadership

First Bisson, now Prue. This NDP leadership camapign is shaping up to be the most boring contest in Ontario political history. We can expect announcements from Peter Tabuns and Andrea Horwath shortly, but that won't help much in my view. Among the four, Tabuns should be considered the front-runner.

Why Gilles Bisson's Campaign for the NDP Leadership Will Falter

Gilles Bisson, NDP MPP for Timmins-James Bay is the first candidate to announce his intention to replace Howard Hampton as Ontario NDP leader. He has little chance of winning. He should be considered a token candidate from the North. Why can't he win?

1. He's too much like Howard Hampton (male, tied to the Rae government, and from Northern Ontario).
2. Despite being at Queen's Park since 1990, he has little name recognition. This won't help in a OMOV election.
3. He voted against the Endangered Species Act.
4. I can't imagine he will muster much, if any, support from the party's tiny caucus.

Petition Calls on Ontario NDP to Lower Leadership Race Entry Fee

Ontario New Democrats may be interested in signing this petition. A $15,000 entry fee seems a bit high given that the federall party only required $7,500 to enter the leadership race that elected Jack Layton.

Nova Scotia NDP Majority on the Horizon?

The Nova Scotia NDP has been close to majority territory for over a year now, hovering between 35 and 39% in provincial polls. The most recent poll has the NDP at 38% while the Liberals have 30% and the governing Tories have the support of just 27% of the electorate. Nova Scotia has seen its share of minority government in recent years, but could the NDP's first majority government in Atlantic Canada finally be on the horizon?

Vote for Morgentaler

Abortion rights activist Dr. Henry Morgentaler will receive the Order of Canada. The Globe & Mail is asking its readers what they think. I can't think of anyone more deserving. Vote online here.

Ontario NDP Leadership Convention: Delegated or OMOV?

The last Ontario NDP leadership convention in 1996 was a delegated convention, but I’ve heard from several people that the party has adopted a one-member, one-vote system for the 2009 convention. I haven’t been to an NDP convention in years. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

The format would almost certianly have a strong effect on the result. I doubt Hampton could have won a OMOV contest in 1996.

Kormos Coy on NDP Leadership Bid

From the Niagara Falls Review:

Asked if he'd be throwing his hat in for the party's leadership, Kormos repeated, "There's going to be all sorts of competent people putting their names forward, and I'm sure the people of Ontario will be excited by the campaign for the leadership of the New Democratic Party."

Ontario NDP Leadership: The Odds are In

Who Will Run for Leader of the Ontario NDP?

Here are the odds…

(2 to 1) Peter Tabuns. In actual fact, his leadership campaign started months ago. This former Greenpeace bigwig brings green credentials to the NDP and much of the Layton machine in Toronto Danforth will be supporting this charismatically-challenged MPP.

(3 to 1) Joe Comartin. This Windsor area MP was first elected in 2000 and finished with a disappointing result in the 2003 Federal NDP leadership race that crowned Jack Layton. Comartin clearly has leadership aspirations and will likely appeal to those who think the party needs someone from outside Queen’s Park to lead the team. The fact that he is from an area that is dominated by the Liberals provincially will make him an appealing candidate in a party with a tiny caucus with members who are not interested in stepping aside for a new leader.

(4 to 1) Micheal Prue. Prue has been rumoured to be interested in the job for some time, but it’s not clear which camps in the party he can appeal to and how he can differentiate himself from the other candidates. In a field of relative newcomers, he could argue that he is the most experienced, having served both provincially and municipally for many years, but that argument is unlikely to get him that far.

(4 to 1) Andrea Horwath. Elected in a 2004 by-election and re-elected in 2007, Horwath is still relatively unknown at Queen’s Park. However, the Hamilton area MPP’s name keeps popping up in leadership discussions. She is the most likely woman to run for the job.

(5 to 1) Cheri DiNovo. She seems like the perfect candidate. Urban, articulate, female, a fighter who overcame a smear campaign to beat the Liberals and what was considered a safe Liberal seat. She is relatively new, but has impressed many folks in and around Queen’s Park. Problem is, there is no evidence that she is actually interested in the leader’s job. She is more likely to endorse Tabuns than run herself.

(7 to 1) Peggy Nash. If this rookie Federal MP loses her Parkdale-High park seat to Gerard Kennedy in a federal election that takes place well in advance of the March 2009 Ontario NDP convention, she could conceivably run for ONDP leader as a consolation prize. She would have a great shot and lots of support, but this scenario is very unlikely.

(8 to 1) Marilyn Churley. This former MPP was no fan of Hampton. That’s why she left to take a stab at federal politics. She is still trying to break through as the current Federal NDP candidate in Beaches East-York. Besides, if she did win the Ontario NDP leadership, she’d have to ask potential leadership rivals Prue or Tabuns to step aside for her – an unlikely scenario. If a credible woman runs for the leadership of the Ontario NDP, expect Churley to endorse her.

(10 to 1) Peter Kormos. He ran for the leadership in 1996 and finished third, but his star has been rising in the party ever since. That said, Kormos has always maintained that the Ontario NDP needs to move beyond the Rae years and everybody associated with it. For better or for worse, Kormos was a controversial figure in the party during those years. Look for Kormos to be appointed interim leader sometime between now and the convention in March 2009 (especially if a credible left-wing candidate fails to emerge).

(50 to 1) Frances Lankin. This former MPP and current head of the Toronto United Way finished second to Howie in 1996. She was supposed to win. Will she answer the calls of the many New Democrats who are telling her that they won’t make the same mistake twice? Probably not.

(100 to 1) David Miller. The Mayor of Toronto is now a former New Democrat. However, re-joining the party would instantly make him the front-runner in this race. But why would he give up City Hall to be the leader of a third party rump at Queen’s Park.

Hampton To Step Down as Ontario NDP Leader

It took about a decade too long, but Howard Hampton has finally announced his intention to step down. The rumoured front runners to replace him are:

Beaches-East York MPP Michael Prue, Cheri DiNovo of Parkdale-High Park, Toronto-Danforth MPP Peter Tabuns and Hamilton Centre MPP Andrea Horwath.

You can read my old posts about this anticipated Ontario NDP leadership contest here, here and here.

Atheism in Canada

A recent poll reveals that roughly one quarter of Canadian do not believe in a god. Among young Canadians, 36% do not beleive in a god. Encouraging figures.

How Low Can He Go?

Dion's approval rating sinks to just 10%.

ADQ Loses Ground in Three Quebec By-Elections

Read all about it here.

Hull

Gaudreault, Maryse (P.L.Q./Q.L.P.) 45.24 %
Aubé, Gilles (P.Q.) 33.95 %
Clennett, Bill (Q.S.) 9.72 %
Gibb, Brian (P.V.Q./G.P.Q.) 7.20 %
Ruel, Jean-Philip (A.D.Q./É.M.D.) 3.23 %

The ADQ slid from third to fifth place in Hull, where Quebec Solidaire put in its only decent showing.

Bourget

Kotto, Maka (P.Q.) 40.54 %
Thériault, Lyn (P.L.Q./Q.L.P.) 32.04 %
McKay, Scott (P.V.Q./G.P.Q.) 11.26 %
Mondor, Denis (A.D.Q./É.M.D.) 9.44 %
Legault, Gaétan (Q.S.) 4.41 %

Former BQ MP Maka Kotto cruised to victory in Bourget, besting Green Party leader Scott McKay who registered an impressive vote total. The ADQ fell from second to fourth place.

Pointe-aux-Trembles

Léger, Nicole (P.Q.) 55.92 %
Dumais, Mélissa (P.L.Q./Q.L.P.) 21.74 %
Bellemare, Diane (A.D.Q./É.M.D.) 13.90 %
Daxhelet, Xavier (P.V.Q./G.P.Q.) 4.81 %
Pigeon, Marie Josèphe (Q.S.) 1.61 %

The result in this sovereignist stronghold was no surprise. The ADQ fell from second to third place.

Socialism is Good: Punk Rock Edition

A punk rock cover of the famous Chinese cultural revolution song.

Here are the lyrics translated into English:


Socialism is good, socialism is good!

In socialist nations, the people have high status.

Overthrow the reactionaries. Imperialism flees with its tail between its legs.

The entire nation is in great unity and has raised the socialist construction to a new height, to a new height.

The people protect the socialist system.

The popular capacity is solid, the resistance of click reactionaries is dedicated to failure.

The socialist society will definitely succeed, a communist society will definitely be achieved, will definitely be achieved!

The Communist Party is good! The Communist Party is good!

The Communist Party is a good leader for the people.

It holds its promises and works of any heart for the people.

Firmly anchored to the Communist Party, it is necessary to complete, complete the construction of our great fatherland!

The Communist Party is good! The Communist Party is good!

The Communist Party guides China on the way of the power.

The popular capacity is solid, the resistance of reactionary cliques is destined to fail.

The socialist society will definitely succeed, a communist society will definitely be achieved, will definitely be achieved!

Finally! Poll-By-Poll Results From Elections Ontario

Political junkies rejoice! You can check them out here.

International Workers' Day Event

International Workers' Day

Saturday 3 May 2008
Niagara Artists' Centre

Presented by the St. Catharines & District Labour Council, the Niagara Artists' Centre, and the Centre for Labour Studies at Brock.

7pm

Featuring Musical Guests:

Dave Bidini

Anne Feeney

Red River Rebellion

Also featuring a visual art exhibition and a silent auction

$5

MoveOn.org Launches McCain Attack Ad

"And you thought no one could be worse than George Bush..."

Triumph the Insult Comic Dog vs. Political Spin Doctors

This is from the 2004 Presidential campaign... hopefully we'll see a repeat in 2008.