Evaluating the distinctions

NDP leadership candidates differ by shades of gray.

by Ish Theilheimer

With the federal NDP leadership race coming down to the wire and so many of the candidates in "violent agreement" with one another in nationally televised debates, the differences between them remain fuzzy to many observers.

To attempt to help, Straight Goods News recently contacted the campaigns of the five leading contenders (with apologies to Martin Singh, who has run a good race but cannot be considered a contender) to ask what them to differentiate themselves on issues, strategy and general approach.

Policy differences slight 
On a range of policy issues, the known differences between the candidates is truly slight. On decriminalization of sex trades and marijuana, for instance, there is a general consensus in support, although Nathan Cullen, surprisingly perhaps for a BC candidate, showed the most caution on decriminalizing drugs. While Thomas Mulcair hasn't talked about the sex trades, the website endprohibition.ca reports he answered a survey on the drug issue with typical caution: "Mulcair said he strongly supported access to medical marijuana… he proudly supported InSite, and had endorsed an initiative to open safe injection sites in Montreal. Mulcair indicated his support for "decriminalising the possession of marijuana" but worried the advocates in reportedly saying "It's been 40 years since the landmark LeDain Commission, the more potent versions of drugs such as marijuana have to be the object of new study."

Even on the Middle East, there was relatively little difference among candidates, most of whom support an end to Israeli building of settlements as a precursor to a two-state solution. Mulcair, who has been criticized by some for being too pro-Israel, is more cautious, saying in a policy paper that, "Israeli settlements in the West Bank have been one of the chronic impediments to peace and constitute a violation of the 4th Geneva Convention… Israel must withdraw from territories occupied in 1967 in exchange for an end of conflict and acknowledgment of its right to exist in peace and security within recognized borders, free from threats or acts of force…"

Cullen was cautious on this too, saying "I don't think we get to dictate the terms. What we do is we work alongside Israel and our Palestinian allies, when we have them again, to be actually able to imagine the peace that everyone claims to want.

Taxation has been a main focus of debates. Brian Topp has taken the lead on this, saying taxes should be raised on upper income earners as well as corporations. Most candidates have generally agreed corporate taxes should be raised, with some variance of opinion on individual incomes taxes. Again, Mulcair is an exception, refusing to get confirm any talk of tax rises until "seeing the books" and taking in the effect of other possible revenue sources such as carbon taxes.

On the oilsands/tarsands issue, there is fair consensus among all candidates that existing environment regulations should be enforced more vigorously and that any expansion of extractive activities should not proceed without further study. All oppose shipping unprocessed bitumen out of Canada.

Gun registration offers some slight variation. None openly support the gun registry introduced by the Liberals, but all want to see some new form of gun registration introduced through provincial consultation — with rural-based Cullen and Ashton least bullish.

Main differences are personal and strategic 
With all the violent agreement on policy, the main differences are over style and approach.

Proceeding alphabetically:

For Niki Ashton, the youngest contender in the race, her greatest difference is her youth. "Statistics show that, if young voters voted in the same proportions as other voters, Canada could well have an NDP government," she toldStraight Goods News. "We simply must engage young people. I believe that, as the youngest candidate in this race and as someone who was the youngest woman elected to Parliament at the time I was first elected, I have a unique perspective on this question." With the exception of gun registration, a point of contention in her northern constituency, most of her positions put her on the left side of the traditional NDP spectrum.

Ashton said her top priorities for an NDP government are:

• a more inclusive economy;
• promoting peace, diplomacy and global solidarity;
• building bridges between regions;
• a smarter, more sustainable economy; and
• restoring the faith of people who have given up on politics.

Nathan Cullen, with his keen sense of humour, is the most "Jack-like" of candidates, and also, as he says, "the only candidate that's truly lived the urban and rural experience." And, of course, he has presented the most challenging idea — enabling joint NDP-Liberal nomination meetings in Conservative-held ridings. Party membership and fundraising reports indicate lots of new money and people coming into the Party to support him, and he's considered the wild card in the race by observers like Alice Funke in Pundits' Guide. He prides himself on being "one of the few candidates that actually has an economic plan, one that is more balanced than Brian's" and for understanding energy issues more fully because he "lives on the front lines of the biggest energy issue facing this continent," the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline.

His campaign policy priorities have been:

• an economic plan;
• food and farm security;
• ocean stewardship and Arctic policy;
• "trade that works for workers and the environment";
• democratic reform; and
• climate change and energy policy.

Paul Dewar believes his uniqueness lies in the kind of grassroots political approach he learned around the dining room table of his mother, legendary former mayor of Ottawa and federal NDP President Marion Dewar. His experience in teaching, union activism, social justice and international volunteering give him special insights, he says.

"I don't think it's a matter of mergers or Nathan's idea of joint nominations, which, I think, would actually divide people at the riding level, he told Straight Goods News. "We need to put our focus as the Official Opposition party, coming in second in 121 seats across the country, on connecting with people on the ground." He has staked his claim to the leadership on his plan to win "the next 70" seats by concentrating party resources on its local activists.

Dewar lists his priorities for and NDP government as:

• a greener economy, with invest in renewable energy, an East-West energy grid;
• First Nations reconciliation;
• improving the lives of the "bookends" — young people and seniors; and
• foreign affairs, emphasizing conflict resolution and peace-building.

Thomas Mulcair was not available to comment for this article, but his differences are starkly apparent. He came to the NDP most recently from the hated Quebec Liberals and, although he has shown loyalty to NDP policy, he has said he wants to get rid of traditional rhetoric and make the Party more broadly appealing. Like Nathan Cullen, many see him as moving the NDP to the political centre. He is the least traditional New Democrat of all contenders and also, probably, the one best known to Canadians in general, and especially Quebeckers. And as columnist Don Newman has pointed out, Mulcair is the only candidate whose character the Harper Conservatives have attacked (with leaked allegations he had asked them for a Cabinet seat), indicating he may worry them most.

In a fall interview with Straight Goods News, Mulcair talked repeatedly about the importance of policies that promote sustainability and that address concerns of the broad middle class. During the campaign, he has published policy statements on consumer protection, the economy, the environment, first people, foreign affairs, housing, labour rights, employment security and women's equality.

By contrast Peggy Nash is an NDP traditionalist, well known in the Party and labour movement for her people skills and toughness under fire. With views similar to Brian Topp's, in many ways she has the big advantage of having a seat in Parliament and demonstrated ability to win tough election fights. And in contrast with Paul Dewar, she speaks French fluently.

"I am the candidate who brings together all the qualities we need in a leader," she told Straight Goods News. "I am ready immediately in the House to take on the Conservatives, I'm fluently bilingual, I have a good base in Quebec, and I have the strongest record of grassroots activism," she said. She is particularly proud of the number of young activists she has encourage to take responsible positions in her campaign.

She says her priorities for an NDP government would be:

• proportional representation;
• lifting seniors out of poverty;
• greening our country;
• child care;
• a sustainable economy creating good quality jobs; and
• creating processing jobs rather than shipping out raw resources.

Brian Topp has framed himself as the brains behind Jack Layton's success and the choice of NDP true believers, descendants of those who sacrificed the bread off their tables to build the party. Differentiating himself from Mulcair, Topp told Straight Goods News, "I believe we should run as social democrats, as New Democrats. I think Tom is interested in experimenting with Blairite reframing of our party." With the backing of many of the NDP's top names, he claims that his political experience both with Jack Layton and with Roy Romanow in Saskatchewan, combined with his bilingual Quebec roots, more than compensates for his lack of a seat or electoral experience.

He said his priorities for an NDP government are to

• undo the damage to government done by Conservatives by reversing corporate and upper income tax giveaways;
• climate change;
• reducing income inequality.

Finally, we asked the contenders how they would broaden the reach of the NDP to include more progressive voters and end the disunity on the political Left.

Ashton: 
"The premise of the question is that voters can be neatly divided into centre-left and right, that voters are never torn between voting Conservative or NDP, and that if voters were unable to vote for one centre-left party, they would automatically vote for another. That simply isn't the case, particularly in Western Canada."

Cullen: 
His proposal around joint nominations speaks for itself regarding his response to the disunity of progressives. "I want to secure a mandate that New Democrats are ready for a new conversation," he told Straight Goods News.

Dewar: 
"Let's inspire Canadians again with a message that politics can be a positive force in their lives… When you talk mergers, joint nominations, that's all process politics, that concern an elite. What Canadians are looking for a is a clear message."

Mulcair: 
He has been criticized by other candidates criticizing traditional NDP language. "Is it possible that after 50 years of hectoring and finger-wagging and telling people what's wrong with their decisions that we're terrified at the prospect of being the ones who actually take the decisions?" he asked at a meeting with the Toronto Star editorial board. The NDP broke through in Quebec, he said, because "We reached out beyond our traditional base. We identified ourselves as progressives but we didn't stick with some of the 1950s boilerplate."

Nash: 
"I don't know that there's a a shortcut to doing the difficult work of earning the trust of Canadians… assuring them we have a better economic plan based on job creation, sustainability and strong social programs… we'll bring in proportional representation, we'll build a better country, that's the way to success."

Topp: 
"We have to unite the Left behind the NDP. There are no shortcuts… Cullen's proposal will actually elect more Conservatives," if Liberal supporters vote Conservative instead of NDP. Furthermore, allying with Liberals will alienate Quebeckers, he says.

© Copyright 2012 Ish Theilheimer, All rights Reserved. Written For: StraightGoods.ca