Actually I think that to a "casual observer" it would appear either trivial or incomprehensibe to anyone who didn't have a degree in labour law.
Ontario NDP Leadership News
Fri, 2009-02-06 11:08
#52
Fri, 2009-02-06 11:31
#53
you make the mistake of confusing 'casual observers' with 'most ontarians'.
casual observers are the 24,900 or so people eligible to vote. i'm guessing there are about 100 or so people who are actually taking an active role in the various campaigns.
most ontarians would probably find it either trivial or incomprehensible. pretty much the same way they view just about anything the party does these days.
something from that article really stuck out in my mind...
SNIP
Tabuns noted that fellow New Democrat MPPs Peter Kormos and Gilles Bisson did not have executive assistants and the union did not file grievances in those cases.
UNSNIP
Red Herring. The issue is whether he laid someone off from one unit, then hired someone for another unit. Classic Palin-esque....ooops, sorry, Tabuns-esque truthiness and misdirection.
SNIP
"I've been in a situation where in order to contain my costs within my budget, I reduced my staff at Queen's Park," Tabuns said. "And the union wants me to increase my staff at Queen's Park ... I do my work; I open my own mail; I advise myself."
UNSNIP
Where in God's name does he find the time to open his own mail, advise himself AND single-handedly draft an environment policy. Is he hiding extra arms, a la Vishnu?
Fri, 2009-02-06 11:51
#54
"Where in God's name does he find the time to open his own mail, advise himself AND single-handedly draft an environment policy. Is he hiding extra arms, a la Vishnu?"
You could ask Bisson the same question since he apparently doesn't have an EA.
Fri, 2009-02-06 12:16
#55
The bargaining unit stuff is a lot older than Peter Tabuns. I can't pretend to be an expert on it, but the QP caucus staff have had a beef for quite a while, and not with any one MPP. It comes down to why Tabuns made the change, and what the new constit person is doing. If they are doing work that belongs in the other unit, the grievance is reasonable. If not, it is not.
Part of it is undoubtedly budget, but it isn't always the whole story. There are lots of good reasons for wanting more consit staff. In Gilles' case, he has a riding bigger than many countries. He needs staff in his constituency more than he needs staff in Toronto. Frankly, if I were an elected official, I would rather have feet on the ground than someone to hold my coat.
I think people need to let this one work its way through the system.
Fri, 2009-02-06 12:21
#56
i could, but i don't think bisson laid an EA off to put someone to work on his cam...at his constituency office.
and i also don't think bisson goes around telling people he single-handedly drafted policy, either.
and i doubt he goes around telling people he does his own work, as if that's somehow different from every other person on the planet who has a job.
Fri, 2009-02-06 12:31
#57
Here we go again. Give it a rest - lets discuss their policies and not what has happened in the past - especially when it comes from a media source like the Toronto Sun.
BTW, congrats to all the campaigns on a job well done signing up new members.
Fri, 2009-02-06 12:45
#58
"Where in God's name does he find the time to open his own mail, advise himself AND single-handedly draft an environment policy. Is he hiding extra arms, a la Vishnu?"
You could ask Bisson the same question since he apparently doesn't have an EA.
Very simple really. Mr. Bisson has never had an EA at Queen's Park. He has always used the extra staff in his geographically large riding, where he has multiple constituency offices. The reason why there probably isn't any grievance against Mr. Bisson is that he has never had that staff position filled at Queen's Park.
Fri, 2009-02-06 12:47
#59
just for the record, i want to say the tactic of shooting the messenger every time some leftie gets called out on their bs is completely lame, and something i sincerely think needs much more of a rest.
it's lazy and makes us look like we think our poos don't smell.
i should also note that the sun newsroom happens to be represented by CEP, so running down the source is like running down your brothers and sisters.
Fri, 2009-02-06 12:54
#60
This just in:
Fri, 2009-02-06 13:15
#61
i should also note that the sun newsroom happens to be represented by CEP, so running down the source is like running down your brothers and sisters.
It has nothing to do with the Union that represents them, it has to do with the Sun being the source of constant NDP bashing.
Edited
Fri, 2009-02-06 13:26
#62
just so we're clear...
anyone who dares to write anything critical of the ndp or its members are, in your words, the 'source of constant ndp bashing.'
i'm with the program now. the ndp and its elected members are above criticism. anything critical written about other parties is absolutely true. in the event anything critical is written about the ndp or its elected members, then it shouldn't ever be believed, because the source of that material is part of some shadowy right-wing media conspiracy to keep us down.
everything is their fault and we've never done anything wrong before in our lives. why are they so mean to us?
Fri, 2009-02-06 14:02
#63
For the record, I, like thousands of New Democrats, campaign staff/volunteers/members/etc. have been calling for up-to-date email communication for years. One of the main reasons why we don't know anything that comes out of the central (Toronto) party is because they don't communicate that well with the grass roots. Kudos to Peter's campaign for taking this initiative to letting everyone into the loop. It's this type of leadership that has been moving us in the right direction, I am glad to see some other candidates are starting to do this as well. I will note that not everyone in our party comes and reads rabble, not everyone is even aware that there is a leadership race happening right now. This communication helps to engage the membership, perhaps they see something that connects to them in those email updates and they decide "hey thats interesting, I'm going to read more about this candidate". All I can say is keep it up, and I would highly encourage all the leadership candidates to do the same, if they aren't already doing so. It is very important to the grassroots membership to be involved with the campaigns, it allows us to own it just like the people in Toronto own part of this campaign. That is where the disconnect happens, the grassroot has no control and is left outside of the universe of Toronto.Thank you Peter, for keeping us informed.
Fri, 2009-02-06 14:03
#64
I agree with Peter3 that Gilles should not be taking a knock for the fact that he has been around so long. The fact is that he's built up his own riding and won re-election not because of, but inspite of, the current party structure. That's why he's been running on party reform as one of his major planks. He realizes that if we are going to be successful as a party in every riding across the province, that's going to involve changing how we do our own business internally.Not to disparge Gilles work in his riding but I think it's farcical to say his re-election efforts were "in spite of" Hampton and the NDP. Did he reject the extra resources that came with being a "prority"? Nope. Did he tell Hampton "Don't come to Timmins this campaign? Focus your efforts in new ridings?" I don't think so.
Fri, 2009-02-06 14:07
#65
just for the record, i want to say the tactic of shooting the messenger every time some leftie gets called out on their bs is completely lame, and something i sincerely think needs much more of a rest.
it's lazy and makes us look like we think our poos don't smell.
There are generally two reasons that messengers get shot. The less frequent follows from the actual message. More commonly the people on the receiving end just don't like the mode of delivery.
You might want to give your own butt a sniff.
Fri, 2009-02-06 14:16
#66
I agree with Peter3 that Gilles should not be taking a knock for the fact that he has been around so long. The fact is that he's built up his own riding and won re-election not because of, but inspite of, the current party structure. That's why he's been running on party reform as one of his major planks. He realizes that if we are going to be successful as a party in every riding across the province, that's going to involve changing how we do our own business internally.Not to disparge Gilles work in his riding but I think it's farcical to say his re-election efforts were "in spite of" Hampton and the NDP. Did he reject the extra resources that came with being a "prority"? Nope. Did he tell Hampton "Don't come to Timmins this campaign? Focus your efforts in new ridings?" I don't think so.
Sunday... That wasn't what I was getting at. What I was saying that if anything, the central party isn't what has won that seat for Mr. Bisson time after time. Does that mean that Central party didn't help? No. But does that mean they are the reason why he won? No. My point is that if Mr. Bisson had been left to solely depend on Central Office for all of the resources that he needed, he wouldn't have had the success that he's had over time. He had to build up that riding in order to be competitive under those circumstances, and I believe we can all agree on that.
Fri, 2009-02-06 14:19
#67
Well I knew Kormos wouldn't be supporting Prue...
Fri, 2009-02-06 14:20
#68
NDP hopefuls all sound the same
Ontario NDP leadership candidates met for a debate yesterday at the University of Toronto Mississauga.
By: Julia Le
February 6, 2009 08:52 AM - Three of the four candidates vying for the leadership of Ontario's New Democratic Party debated the best ways to produce and save energy, how to manage the rising cost of university and college tuitions and how to best provide post-secondary school funding last night in Mississauga.
Peter Tabuns, Andrea Howarth and Gilles Bisson are all hoping to replace long-time Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton when he steps aside as NDP leader next month. They were at the University of Toronto Mississauga's Kaneff Centre last night for an open debate.
Just a handful of students turned out to see and hear the candidates duke it out in a debate that was hosted by the NDP student group at UTM. Instead, they heard similar viewpoints.
Fri, 2009-02-06 14:21
#69
SOMEONE is polling about the ONDP leadership! I got a "robocall" last night that asked me who i was going to vote for as my first preference - Press 1 for Gilles Bisson, 2 for Peter Tabuns etc...etc...
Interesting!
Fri, 2009-02-06 14:21
#70
Kormos endorses Horwath for NDP leadership
QUEEN'S PARK, Feb. 6 /CNW/ - Today, New Democrat Peter Kormos declared his support for Andrea Horwath in her bid for the leadership of the Ontario New Democratic Party.
"Andrea Horwath is experienced, smart, and hardworking. Ms. Horwath is committed to building NDP support across the province," Kormos stated. "She has good political instincts. People like her and trust her. Andrea is the leader we need to take the NDP into the next decade."
Kormos was first elected to the Ontario Legislature in 1988 and is currently the NDP justice critic, labour critic and House Leader.
The NDP leadership convention will take place in Hamilton during the weekend of March 6, 2009.
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2009/06/c6326.html
Fri, 2009-02-06 14:28
#71
I got the same call. No indication who it was for.
Anybody else?
Fri, 2009-02-06 14:57
#72
peterjcassidy
Its possible that " poll" may be a vote identifying tool from a leadership campaign-who else should have access to the membership list? Were the calls framed as an enquiry of the general public looking to a story "Most Ontarians prefer Candidate X" or were they geared to a party membership electorate "who will you vote for first ballot?"Any gneder age questions asked?
Fri, 2009-02-06 15:52
#73
There were just three questions.
Who for no. 1
Who for no. 2
What is most important, economy or environment.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"This just in:
And I wouln't think you could accuse P.Kormos of "sounding the same."
Fri, 2009-02-06 16:45
#74
Northwesternlad, Gilles works hard in his riding, no doubt, but I do find it a little ironic that someone who has benefited from the party's practice of targeting is suddenly such a critic. I think leadership candidates that want to see money spread all over should put their money where their mouth is and reject all of the extra resources they get in campaigns - money that's reditributed from other ridings.
On another note, this is embarassing:
As we all await the white smoke to emerge from Copps Coliseum next month, word comes that Peter Tabuns (who played Ross Perot's veep candidate Vice Admiral James Stockdale - "Who am I? Why am I here?" - in a past life) has a bit of trouble from the most important element within the Ontario NDP...
"Tabuns noted that fellow New Democrat MPPs Peter Kormos and Gilles Bisson did not have executive assistants and the union did not file grievances in those cases. "
For those of you who don't know much about politics, in opposition, an EA is an MP's most senior staffer - the one who is responsible for organizing the office, managing the other staff, providing the member with political advice and doing most other tasks on behalf of the boss.
It turns out that a third of the NDP provincial caucus has nobody doing that job - including two of the four leadership candidates. But so there is no confusion, this decision - to leave their offices rudderless - has nothing, I repeat nothing, to do with the union representing EAs.
Fri, 2009-02-06 16:55
#75
Kormos should put a jacket on in the legislature.
Fri, 2009-02-06 17:04
#76
Northwesternlad, Gilles works hard in his riding, no doubt, but I do find it a little ironic that someone who has benefited from the party's practice of targeting is suddenly such a critic. I think leadership candidates that want to see money spread all over should put their money where their mouth is and reject all of the extra resources they get in campaigns - money that's reditributed from other ridings.
Sorry, but gotta take issue with this idea that somehow Mr. Bisson has benefited from the current system. If the funding formula were at the 60/40 split that he has been running on, he would have been so much better off. The fact is his has run full campaigns with the vast majority of the money fundraised in his own riding. That's due to his and his team's hard work. Did they get some money from the central party??? probably, but it was hardly what made or broke his campaigns.
Fri, 2009-02-06 17:06
#77
peterjcassidy
There were just three questions.
Who for no. 1
Who for no. 2
What is most important, economy or environment.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That sounds like a leadership campaiign
Fri, 2009-02-06 17:07
#78
The fact that Kormos does not wear a Jacket in the legislature is reason for me to applaud him.
If the Jacket means that much to you, there are lots of Liberals, Conservative and New Democrats that wear them.
Mike Harris wore a Jacket. Good EH!
Fri, 2009-02-06 17:08
#79
I'm sure its one of the leadership campaigns. I can't see the Toronto Star or the CBC paying to conduct a poll of ONDP leadership preferences and in any case - no one outside of the four candidates would even have access to the database of phone numbers of party members.
Fri, 2009-02-06 17:23
#80
With regards to the phone poll one has to wonder which candidate has close ties to the power brokers with the keys to the NDP Kingdom. Follow someones record of behaviour and see what pops up.
Fri, 2009-02-06 17:29
#81
All candidates are given access to the list of party members and their contact info. You don't need any special "keys to the NDP kingdom" for that.
Try harder.
Fri, 2009-02-06 17:39
#82
I do find it a little ironic that someone who has benefited from the party's practice of targeting is suddenly such a critic. I think leadership candidates that want to see money spread all over should put their money where their mouth is and reject all of the extra resources they get in campaigns - money that's reditributed from other ridings.
As has been noted repeatedly, Gilles Bisson has been a consistent trench warrior willing to lend assistance to other ridings out of all proportion to other MPPs. You could not have picked a more inappropriate target for your criticism. Given the level of membership sales he has managed, you might want to consider the possibility that his campaigns have been net contributors to others, not a drain.
On another note, this is embarassing:
For those of you who don't know much about politics, in opposition, an EA is an MP's most senior staffer - the one who is responsible for organizing the office, managing the other staff, providing the member with political advice and doing most other tasks on behalf of the boss.
It turns out that a third of the NDP provincial caucus has nobody doing that job - including two of the four leadership candidates. But so there is no confusion, this decision - to leave their offices rudderless - has nothing, I repeat nothing, to do with the union representing EAs.
Actually, anybody who knows how these things work knows that the EA is the one job function an opposition MPP could most readily do without, at least if they possess any admin tools at all, and many consituency offices are badly understaffed because their staffing allocation does not account for their relatively heavy case load or extensive geography. Reallocating very limited resources to constituencies and opening their own damned mail is a decision I wish more MPPs would make.
Edited to replace "associations" with "offices"
Fri, 2009-02-06 17:52
#83
Has it never occurred to you that certain names will open certain doors both metaphorically and through influence. Why else would people want endorsements.
Fri, 2009-02-06 18:01
#84
Peter3, the only that exasperates me about you is the fact I'd like to shorten your handle when I address you, but it would be totally rude to lump you in with P3s.
In this case, I think you've misunderstood me. I'm certainly not the messenger here. A dues-paying member of CEP Local 87-M was the messenger I was referring to.
It's easy to complain about media bias. It's also lazy, since it basically suggests the subjects of allegedly-biased coverage are somehow passive victims. Everyone loves it when the Star or the Globe rip on McGuinty, but when the Sun rips on one of our own, we all get shirty.
For the record, the Sun is a conservative paper, and that's okay. But let's not confuse the editorial stance of the editorial page and the columnists with the very hard work the reporters do, under very difficult circumstances.
As for butt-sniffing, I'm smart enough to know that what emanates from there will never be confused with freshly-baked cinnamon rolls.
I think you're smart enough to that too, but I don't think everyone is as smart as you.
Fri, 2009-02-06 18:41
#85
"Has it never occurred to you that certain names will open certain doors both metaphorically and through influence. Why else would people want endorsements."
If you're trying to imply that there is something corrupt going on and that some candidates are getting access to lists of party members and others are not. Please provide some evidence instead of spreading totally baseless innuendo.
The main reason people want endorsements is because they are influential on people. A lot of party members may not know that much about the candidates and they will pay attention to the views of people whose opinions they respect. When Ed Broadbent endorsed Jack layton for federal NDP leader, it was a coup because a lot of people in the party respect Broadbent and if he backs someone - it will make people look at that person in a different light. Beleive me, Layton didn't seek Broadbent's endorsement because Broadbent was going to slip him lists of party members that no one else would have access to.
Fri, 2009-02-06 19:25
#86
You misinterpret my point. I never mentioned membership lists. What I do believe is that some of the old guard has a vested interested in electing a candidate that will maintain the status quo, which obviously benefit them. That's just part of the reason we need a new leader with no baggage or entanglements.
Fri, 2009-02-06 19:38
#87
To alphasix: who would be the leader without any baggage or entanglements?
Fri, 2009-02-06 20:04
#88
As has been noted repeatedly, Gilles Bisson has been a consistent trench warrior willing to lend assistance to other ridings out of all proportion to other MPPs. You could not have picked a more inappropriate target for your criticism. Given the level of membership sales he has managed, you might want to consider the possibility that his campaigns have been net contributors to others, not a drain.I think we should be clear. All of the MPPs in the Caucus as near as I can tell have been pretty relentlessly hard workers. Gilles has done a lot of work in his riding and the neighboring riding, and God bless him for it, but the notion that he's a relentless trench warrior who cares only about others is laying it on a little thick. I remember Gilles equivocating on the MPP pay hike (some reporters claimed he was "privately for it") it didn't impress me.
I know his supporters claim he's signed up a ton of new members but I haven't seen any official sources produce the numbers. His donor list is available and of the 69 donors listed, 34 aren't people they're businessmen and lobbyists (Tory lobbyists like Len Domino and Chris Hodgson).
I actually think Gilles is a solid candidate - vastly prefer him to Tabuns - but I think you're overselling him.
Fri, 2009-02-06 20:51
#89
At this point what should be apparent that it's not just who we believe has no baggage or entanglements, but who the non NDP voter believes has nothing to come back and haunt them. The economy is a shambles and thus the next Provincial election will be our most important in decades. We need a leader who will win-over soft Liberals and soft Conservatives and bring them in not just as a vote but as members.
A leader with anything the press or opposition can dig up on them will never be Premier. Any whiff of scandal especially when it appears to demonstrate a hypocritical approach to any of the bulwarks of NDP philosophy will mean certain defeat in the next Provincial election.
I believe Michael has not had any labour or union problems.
Fri, 2009-02-06 21:11
#90
I know his supporters claim he's signed up a ton of new members but I haven't seen any official sources produce the numbers.
I actually think Gilles is a solid candidate - vastly prefer him to Tabuns - but I think you're overselling him.
Okay Sunday, if you want to doubt Mr. Bisson's membership numbers, do so at your own peril. The party is the only body with the precise numbers, and each of the campaigns have brand new membership lists. If you honestly want us to believe all of the campaigns, Mr. Bisson's include, haven't kept record of who they signed up, when they signed them up, how they signed them up and haven't verified that on the new lists they received from provincial office, then I would humbly and respectfully suggest that you are underselling and underestimating Mr. Bisson in this race.
Fri, 2009-02-06 21:42
#91
To the general public, it might actually be good to have once had some sort of conflict with labour. It would help defuse the stereotype that the NDP is "controlled by union bosses".
Fri, 2009-02-06 22:19
#92
There were just three questions.
Who for no. 1
Who for no. 2
What is most important, economy or environment.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That sounds like a leadership campaiign
And the last question is exceedly stupid.
Fri, 2009-02-06 22:22
#93
And that's an understatment
Fri, 2009-02-06 22:31
#94
What ever lets you sleep at night.
Sat, 2009-02-07 02:04
#95
peterjcassidy
I also beleive that with Socalist Caucus and HESC backing, Michaell will win the floor fight.
What is HESC? Also, what floor fight? The rules are set and Canadian conventions don't have floor fights over things like accepting delegate credentials. Finally, I'm not convinced that having the Socialist Caucus fighting for you on the floor is a benefit - sadly, a lot of delegates roll their eyes when they see an SC person at the mic and vote against whatever they're for (and vice versa).
HESC is Hamilton East-Stoney Creek- the only non-incumbent riding the ONDP won in 2007. Most of our "leadership" is backing Prue.and we know how to win
Regardless of my own personal stand, firmly supporting our party positon on full funding , I recognize that there are many sisters and brothers in our party who genuinely and legitimately want to debate issues around funding religious schools and I am committed to doing what I can to facilitate that debate. I do believe in debate and democracy in our party and I have faith that our party will do the right thing when it comes to that issue or any other issue.
I would be happy to lend whatever time, skills or contacts I can provide, including working with the resolution commmittee on setting priorities for resolutions to be debated. We will have limited time at the convention to deal with policy and it would not be productive to waste it on floor fights.
Not necerssarily a floor fight, but a floor fight if necessary.
Sat, 2009-02-07 06:00
#96
I would think that, with the onward march of the Greens, popular sentiment around the schools' question last election, the rate of unemployment likely by leadership voting time and the possible position of the U.S. on the dirty stuff being shipped south out of the Tar Patch (we might know the fate of our "energy superpower" and its petro-dollar after Obama's Ottawa fly-by later this month), there will be lots to debate.
But, with what in mind? Polls? A party in position to do something (anything) by the time of the next election, some moons down the road would be nice.
The "economy/environment" catchall demands focus, specific proposals with the provincial budget and new industries in mind. What will be our main source(s) of energy if fossil fuels are out? How do we bring the new technology on stream - affordably. Budget in mind.
The person who gets up to a mike and talks in generalizations about "green industry" must be laughed off the stage.
I just wish we were not saddled with the albatross of an anti-nuclear stance for power. Not when we are left talking vaguely and dishonestly about the price of power for industry and homes in a fossil-fuel-free world.
The Greens lie through their teeth. We cannot honestly go there and promise the worker of this province a competitive power source.
(Just trying to eliminate
that false dichotomy of economy/environment).
And very frankly, if the universal, seemingly timeless deceit that holds we can do it all without changing our energy ways is not corrected in March, I am going to give up a fight of some 35 years.
Sat, 2009-02-07 09:49
#97
Socialist Caucus candidate calls for more corporate donors, lower corporate taxes.
This is so funny it's easy to forget how ridiculous it is.
At what point did the Socialist Caucus decide that ending catholic education (and dividing the working class BTW) was more important than, say.... socialism?
The article:
Prue wants NDP to start wooing corporate donors
Leadership candidate also wants party to open debate on touchy issue of separate school funding
Feb 07, 2009 04:30 AM Comments on this story 
(1)
Tanya Talaga
QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU
New Democratic MPP Michael Prue calls himself a "middle of the road" NDPer who hopes to recruit corporate donors to help dig the third party out of debt and he wants a frank discussion within his party on separate school funding.
Prue, the boy from Regent Park who grew up to be mayor of East York and then MPP for Beaches-East York, is one of four provincial NDP leadership candidates. He visited the Star's editorial board Thursday.
The leadership race will be decided at the NDP convention in Hamilton, March 6 to 8. Current NDP Leader Howard Hampton is stepping down but will remain the MPP for Kenora-Rainy River.
The provincial party is about $4 million in debt, and Prue said it needs to dig itself out to properly fight the next election. "We have to become more aggressive ... We need to do corporate fundraisers and $300-a-plate dinners – things we never do. We can't go into the next election with a debt."
It's time for an NDP leader from Toronto, said Prue, who feels his financial background as a former mayor gives him an advantage.
He would like Ontario to adopt an "enlightened" corporate tax policy that gives breaks to struggling companies about to lay off workers. "We should not be raising corporate taxes at this time. If we can reduce them to sustain or maintain business this would be the time to do it."
Sat, 2009-02-07 09:49
#98
Socialist Caucus candidate calls for more corporate donors, lower corporate taxes.
This is so funny it's easy to forget how ridiculous it is.
At what point did the Socialist Caucus decide that ending catholic education (and dividing the working class BTW) was more important than, say.... socialism?
The article:
Prue wants NDP to start wooing corporate donors
Leadership candidate also wants party to open debate on touchy issue of separate school funding
Feb 07, 2009 04:30 AM Comments on this story (1)
Tanya Talaga
QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU
New Democratic MPP Michael Prue calls himself a "middle of the road" NDPer who hopes to recruit corporate donors to help dig the third party out of debt and he wants a frank discussion within his party on separate school funding.
Prue, the boy from Regent Park who grew up to be mayor of East York and then MPP for Beaches-East York, is one of four provincial NDP leadership candidates. He visited the Star's editorial board Thursday.
The leadership race will be decided at the NDP convention in Hamilton, March 6 to 8. Current NDP Leader Howard Hampton is stepping down but will remain the MPP for Kenora-Rainy River.
The provincial party is about $4 million in debt, and Prue said it needs to dig itself out to properly fight the next election. "We have to become more aggressive ... We need to do corporate fundraisers and $300-a-plate dinners – things we never do. We can't go into the next election with a debt."
It's time for an NDP leader from Toronto, said Prue, who feels his financial background as a former mayor gives him an advantage.
He would like Ontario to adopt an "enlightened" corporate tax policy that gives breaks to struggling companies about to lay off workers. "We should not be raising corporate taxes at this time. If we can reduce them to sustain or maintain business this would be the time to do it."
Sat, 2009-02-07 10:23
#99
I'm sure the SC is perfectly capable of speaking for itself, but riddle me this...when did the lewis/solberg-controlled affiliate unions that are supporting tabuns decide these were the 'enlightened' sort of labour relations they want from their leader?
Sat, 2009-02-07 11:06
#100
I also beleive that with Socalist Caucus and HESC backing, Michaell will win the floor fight.
What is HESC? Also, what floor fight? The rules are set and Canadian conventions don't have floor fights over things like accepting delegate credentials. Finally, I'm not convinced that having the Socialist Caucus fighting for you on the floor is a benefit - sadly, a lot of delegates roll their eyes when they see an SC person at the mic and vote against whatever they're for (and vice versa).
HESC is Hamilton East-Stoney Creek- the only non-incumbent riding the ONDP won in 2007. Most of our "leadership" is backing Prue.and we know how to win
Regardless of my own personal stand, firmly supporting our party positon on full funding , I recognize that there are many sisters and brothers in our party who genuinely and legitimately want to debate issues around funding religious schools and I am committed to doing what I can to facilitate that debate. I do believe in debate and democracy in our party and I have faith that our party will do the right thing when it comes to that issue or any other issue.
I would be happy to lend whatever time, skills or contacts I can provide, including working with the resolution commmittee on setting priorities for resolutions to be debated. We will have limited time at the convention to deal with policy and it would not be productive to waste it on floor fights.
Not necerssarily a floor fight, but a floor fight if necessary.
Oh, I see, you were referring to a possible floor fight to get a resolution on school funding on the floor.
Sat, 2009-02-07 11:08
#101
There seems to be a pissing match between Prue, Tabuns and Bisson supporters going on here - meanwhile Andrea Horwath appears to be sneaking up the middle without much scrutiny.