It's still quite early in the contest but, judging by the
March 12 televised leadership debate on the replacement of Tom Mulcair at the
helm of the federal NDP, the entire proceedings could become known as the bland
leading the bland.
Even the traditional iconic bright orange party colour has
been replaced by a washed out tangerine with an even duller gray background. Somehow
it all seems symbolic as the federal NDP fades into history.
There is no excitement. There are no headline-grabbing events. There is no attraction to the federal NDP for most Canadians.
As the party struggles to re-establish its credibility
with Canadian voters, it has to bury a few hatchets left over from Mulcair's
embarrassing loss to Justin Trudeau's surging Liberals in the 2015 federal
election. It became even more embarrassing when, after stating he wanted to
remain as party leader in the next federal election, Mulcair was defeated in
2016 in a confidence vote on his leadership; hence the current leadership
campaign.
Candidates have until July 3 to
file their nomination papers for the vote which is scheduled to begin Sept. 18. Whatever
possible gains the NDP might rack up during the leadership campaign, if the NDP
party faithful can't drum up anymore enthusiasm than what we have seen to date,
there won't be any NDP gains in public opinion -- or potential election poll
results.
There are currently four candidates vying for the NDP
leadership post but none of them appear to be establishing themselves as the
front runner.
In the March 12 televised debate Peter Julian, a 54
year-old community activist, the MP for Burnaby-New Westminster since 2004 ... Niki
Ashton, a 34 year-old environmental activist, the MP for Churchill-Keewatinook
Aski since 2008 ... Charlie Angus, a 54 year-old entertainer/journalist/broadcaster,
the MP for Timmins-James Bay since 2004 ... and Guy Caron, a 48 year-old
economist, MP for Rimouski-Neigette since 2011, were so polite, the event came
off as more of a love-in than a spirited debate.
Regaining voter support for the NDP across Canada presents
some formidable challenges as NDP provincial branches have moved towards
adopting the approach of the Leap Manifesto, seen by its opponents as
destroying resource-based job opportunities in almost every province.
In its simplest terms, the Leap Manifesto states strong
opposition to non-renewable resource exploitation, a position which, if
implemented, has been estimated by the BC Budget office would destroy up to
30,000 full time jobs in this province alone. It becomes an even thornier issue in British
Columbia where this province's economy is more resource-based than
much of the rest of Canada
but, until now, has offered strong support for the NDP in many ridings.
Combining the lack of charisma of the current candidates
for the federal NDP leadership with the even greater lack of sufficient funding
to conduct any effective leadership campaigns makes it difficult to understand
where the party is heading.
It's almost like a chess game where the opponents can
display tremendous intellectual capacity but can't rise above the inherent
dullness of the contest.
In short, there is little hope that the party can survive
the bleak weeks and months ahead with any confidence in the party's ability to
survive on a national level.
There will be no Jack Layton stepping forward to
invigorate and elevate the NDP's status as a legitimate federal contender.
There will be no Tommy Douglas bringing an almost
evangelical fervor to any campaign.
Most of all, there will be nobody left to invade the
hearts, souls and minds of young people who traditionally look to the socialist
war caries of the NDP to make their voices heard and to fuel their own youthful
rebellions.
Sandy Macdougall, aka The Sidewinder, lives in Maple Ridge
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