Columnists

Can the NDP reinvent itself -- and save the country?

Canadians who maintain the dream of a more equal, democratic and civilized society may no longer be reeling from the death of Jack Layton. But they are surely stuck in a kind of political limbo, trying not to think of the damage Stephen Harper can do whenever he wants, at the same time as they try to imagine how this catastrophic situation can be turned around.

in her own words

Layton's state funeral could backfire on Harper

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's decision to give the late NDP leader Jack Layton a state funeral can be parsed two ways: a noble gesture or a Machiavellian political manoeuvre to further marginalize his original foe, the leaderless, languishing Liberals.

But no one, least of all Harper himself, could have predicted Canadians' week-long outpouring of emotion. Was it a fleeting historical moment? Or something more profound? If the former, political normalcy will return with the opening of Parliament Sept. 21. If the latter, the state funeral could turn out to be Harper's biggest political mistake yet.

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Layton's last letter calls forth the best in us

Canadians pay their respects to Jack Layton at Toronto City Hall, Aug. 26, 2011.
What explains this extraordinary week?

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Letter to Canada Jack Layton federal politics

Jack Layton: 1950 - 2011

Ottawa: The vigil for NDP leader Jack Layton, who died on Monday. Photo: ciao-chow/Flickr
babble forum discussion. What are your memories of the late Official Opposition leader?

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Solving the problem of citizen engagement

Hundreds of McGill University students take on the vote mob challenge, April 2011. Photo: Adam Scotti/Flickr
Participation could lead to big changes.

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progressive-dialogue progressive vote citizenship civil liberties federal politics
in her own words

The case for a women's party

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women's rights women in politics Stephen Harper federal politics
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