Despite "over-whelming evidence" they do not work, the Conservative Party persists in applying policies that fail Canadians, Jack Layton told 1,500 delegates in his speech to wind-up the NDP's 50th anniversary convention, which was held in Vancouver June 17 to 19.

Canada now offers a big tent to welcome voters dissatisfied with Stephen Harper, it just happens to be orange, Layton said (an ironic invocation of the ill-fated big red tent image which had been dear to Michael Ignatieff). The convention voted its confidence in the NDP leader; about 98 per cent of delegates rejected the need for a leadership review.