To the Canadians on here...what is the NDP, New Democratic Party

[La_Serpiente]

just wondering.

[LSparkle]

1. If it's anything like New Democrats or New Labour ...

it's just a jump to the right ...

[Spazito]

2. The New Democratic Party is left of the Liberals in Canada..

and a little right of the Greens.

[Newsjock]

3. All is answered here

NDP on the issues

Democracy and Human Rights
Respecting Aboriginal Treaty Rights
Equality for Persons with Disabilities
Gay and Lesbian Rights are Human Rights
Make Your Vote Count
An Agenda for Women's Equality

Infrastructure
Linking Canadians from Coast to Coast to Coast
A Commitment to Urban Transit in the 21st Century

Culture
A Strong CBC for all Canadians
Preserving Our Cultural Identity into the 21st Century
Media Concentration: Threatening Our Democracy

Health Care
First Nations Deserve First-Class Health Care
Fighting for Better Health Care
Privatization of Health Care
Homecare: Help for Families
Fighting to Lower Prescription Drug Prices

more

[LeftistGorilla]

4. a true leftist party...

they have a great leader in Jack Layton...
check em out!

NDP

[Maple]

5. The most left wing

socialist party in Canada.

It has sometimes been elected provincially...like a state govt....but has never been elected federally....even after 60 years of trying. It manages about 20% at that level. Canadians consider it too extreme.

Canadians are centrists, and aren't fond of either 'wing'...right or left.

It's current leader is a Jack Layton. Speaks English, French and Chinese...wears a moustache...could do well up against a govt expected to be somewhat right of center under Martin.

[LSparkle]

6. Wish we had such a party here

I love the Greens but I think sometimes they're a little too left (at least for popular consumption). To hell with the 2-party system -- we need to have 3 or 4 so we can all belong to a group that TRULY represents our views!

[Maple]

9. The NDP are the Greens

of Canada. And just as unelectable.

[Minstrel Boy]

12. oh, c'mon...

We've formed goverments in four of ten provinces plus Yukon territory, and have shaped policy in federal minority government.

I'm not saying we'll form the government next year, but we'll be making enormous gains, of that I've no doubt. Layton's the most media-savvy leader the NDP's ever had. The NDP campaign will be the most exciting to watch, and when was the last time we could say that?

The Calgary Herald, "NDP Could Form Next Opposition":

http://action.web.ca/home/ndpnpd/en_ndpinthenews.shtml?sh_itm=3360398ae6bcf8d9bafa799f0483cb4a

[Maple]

14. 60 plus years

Haven't won federally yet.

Chucked out of most provincial govts too.

The 'greens' of Canada.

[Minstrel Boy]

20. The Greens are the Greens of Canada

The NDP is the labour/activist party of social and economic justice.

[Minstrel Boy]

7. much of the reason that Canada

has a reputation as a socially progressive nation. Universal healthcare was an initiative of the NDP (and its forerunner, the CCF).

Tommy Douglas formed the first socialist government in North America when he was elected Premier of Saskatchewan in 1944. Douglas is a patron saint of the Canadian left.

He told a great story, "Mouseland," about a community of mice which keeps electing different colours of cats. One smart mice comes along and says "say, why don't we elect a mouse?" and the other mice say "Arrest him! He's a Bolshevik!" :)

Here's an audio clip of him telling the story, introduced by his grandson, Keifer Sutherland:

www.saskndp.com/av/douglas/mouseland.audio.html

[_Jumper_]

8. NDP on media concentration

"Media concentration is jeopardizing our democracy. One company, CanWest Global, now owns 40 per cent of our print media as well as television stations in 8 provinces that reach 88 per cent of English-speaking Canadians."

:wow:

[Maple]

10. Left wingers always complain

the media is right wing.

Right wingers always complain the media is left wing.

It is neither. The media supports whoever is in power.

In Canada, the party in power is centrist.

So both wings complain. :D

[_Jumper_]

11. CanWestGlobal

Are their newspapers liberal or conservative?

[Spazito]

13. conservative, very conservative

*

[Maple]

15. Canwestglobal

is owned by the Asper family...they are Liberals.

[_Jumper_]

17. Right-leaning Liberals?

Spazito believes they are conservative. Are they right-leaning Liberals?

[Spazito]

18. The Asper family are corporatists

they tried to destroy CBC, far from supportive of a liberal concept. The Asper family uses their media conglomerate to put forward their views on matters to the point of gagging editors on issues.

[Minstrel Boy]

19. The Aspers may be Liberals,

but their editorial policy is an apologia for continentalism and neoconservatism.

[_Jumper_]

16. nt

n/t