Lafleur: Reviving the socio-political movement called “The NDP”
February 6 | Posted by jlafleur | Opinion ColumnsNot long ago I discussed the importance of our party being a genuine activist movement over an election machine. It seems like a simple argument to advocate it, but saying that is one thing, how you get there is quite another. I also made my view clear that the party has become more of a political party and less of a movement. Though I didn’t explain that, this can wait for another day. The whole message was that if we expect to get the “Next 70” seats in federal parliament, or the 2nd coming of the Ontario NDP, we’re going to have to build intensely. Time is running out brothers and sisters.
There are several elements to reviving the political movement that was the NDP. Let’s go through a couple.
Organisational information
To the best of my knowledge there exists no organisational kits for units or even members of the NDP. Nothing exists to prime the newcomer to the party, nor does organisational kits exist for riding associations, youth and campus clubs, regional and community clubs.
This is dangerous. As many of you know, executive and riding association turnovers are often endemic, often coinciding with elections. A campaign builds up excitement, and as the election ends, a riding association struggles to collect that momentum and build from it. Far too often do people disappear and work gets lost.
Naturally, developing kits and guides to educate people on how to start membership drives, put on fundraisers, host events, and educate membership is necessary. Especially in Quebec and Rural areas of the country. It is difficult to find experienced people, even more so to them involved when they’ve burnt out, so they are not always a resource we can take for granted.
NDPstar, the grassroots organising platform calls for the establishment of a standing committee for organisation to create the tools needed to help these groups within the party. Thanks to the internet, putting this information together is inexpensive and easy.
Education of The Public
Back in the CCF and early NDP days, the party or at least riding associations would hold educationals, town halls, events, and advertise about the merits of our principles. We would talk about the benefits of co-ops, credit unions, public ownership in easy to understand language. We would also educate on the root causes of the problems our communities face, very often being those regarding conservative thinking. The obvious point was that if the public understood what could be gained by these things, they would be inspired to get involved or at the very least demand these things from their politicians, to come to the conclusion only New Democrats would provide these things.
It’s time to return to this. This can be a little more expensive, but pre-recorded videos can be quickly spread across the internet and shown publicly. If we can afford to get election videos made, we shouldn’t have much trouble making these educationals.
The point is to create campaigns. These will use our strengths and involve our elected members, involve our general membership, and modern technologies along with traditional methods. These educational campaigns are no doubt effective tools to help develop the party. They can be done affordably and should be done. To have an ignorant public is for us anathema. We cannot expect growth of our base if we aren’t doing anything to properly foster that growth.
NDPstar calls for the education of the public through campaigns. With the public on your side, it isn’t very hard to win elections. Educating Canadians is crucial to our growth as a movement.
In conclusion
Our party was never born to sit and stagnate between elections. Human greed is a powerful thing, and common sense can often steer us down the wrong path. If we aren’t persistent and striving to win this battle, and it is a battle, then we should never expect success, we should never expect to form government on our own terms, without watering down the principles that make us who we are.
If you’re interested in what I’ve had to say, I encourage you to look at NDPstar. This grassroots platform can’t be accomplished without you. Read the platform, learn about the resolutions, promote them in your riding association, union hall, and within the party.
Together we can bring this party to full strength and tackle the needs of Canadians to establish a society where no one is left behind. It can be done!
