(Hamilton) The New Democratic Party (NDP) convention was again disrupted by pro-Palestinian activists on Saturday afternoon. A few hours earlier, Chairman Jagmeet Singh had passed a confidence vote with flying colors with 81% approval.
Published at 10:49 am. Updated at 4:41 p.m
An activist took to the microphone to complain that delegates had lost their accreditation after a demonstration in support of the Palestinian people in a hallway at the Hamilton Convention Center. This stunt, which brought together a few dozen people, previously took place in the corridor outside the room where Mr Singh gave his speech.
The NDP justified the withdrawal of accreditations based on its anti-harassment policy and the need to create “a safe space” for delegates. An activist continued to shout slogans about liberating Palestine as MPs Heather McPherson, Jenny Kwan and Peter Julian looked on in dismay as they prepared to take part in a panel discussion on stage.
“They don’t even realize what the Palestinian people are going through,” complained Shiam Abdella, vice-president of the Oakville, Ontario riding association. Just that would have been enough for me. »
“The world is dangerous and scary right now. Members of our party learned a week ago that members of their family had been murdered,” Ms. McPherson recalled.
PHOTO PETER POWER, THE CANADIAN PRESS
NDP delegates chanted slogans about the liberation of Palestine.
Emergency resolutions in response to the war between Israel and Hamas are to be debated late on Saturday afternoon. At least two other resolutions condemn war crimes on both sides. The exchange was initially scheduled for Friday and was then postponed. The debate is limited to 30 minutes and delegates were still wondering early Friday afternoon where they could view these proposals.
Singh condemns the violence of Hamas and Israel
Hours earlier, Jagmeet Singh condemned the violence of both Hamas and the Israeli state in his speech.
“Nothing can justify the torture, murder and sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas,” Mr. Singh said. And we must demand an immediate end to the massacres of innocent civilians in Gaza. The world cannot stand idly by as the people of Gaza are left behind. »
The approximately 900 delegates gathered in the hall rose to applaud.
“New Democrats have always been those who have a desire for peace, even when there have been calls for war,” he added.
However, in a press conference he refrained from calling the Israeli state’s bombings in the Gaza Strip a war crime.
81% support
Mr Singh passed the activists’ vote of confidence with flying colors with 81% support. This result is the lowest he has achieved since he took office at the helm of the party in 2017. He sees this as a sign that the New Democrats want to achieve more within the agreement that binds them to the Liberals.
“I have received a strong mandate and the New Democrats are telling me to move on and work harder. That’s what I will do,” he said after the results were announced.
PHOTO PETER POWER, THE CANADIAN PRESS
New Democratic leader Jagmeet Singh received 81% support in a confidence vote.
He said he wanted to take “concrete action to help people” struggling with the housing crisis, the affordability crisis, rising food costs and the cost of living in general.
Delegates passed a resolution on Saturday to build 3.5 million affordable housing units within ten years. According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, this is the number needed by 2030 for rents to become affordable again.
The result was announced without much fanfare early on Saturday afternoon. According to the party, the NDP convention gathered only 952 delegates, as opposed to the 1,200 people registered.
It is Jagmeet Singh’s third confidence vote since he was elected NDP leader in 2017. Members must indicate at each party conference whether they want to hold a leadership contest, according to the party’s constitution. In 2018 it reached 91% and in 2021 it reached 87%.
Shortly after the result was announced, delegates passed a resolution changing the confidence vote to avoid confusion. In the future, members will decide not whether they want a leadership race, but whether they want their leader to remain in office.
The agreement with the Liberals was called into question
Jagmeet Singh also defended the deal that allows the liberal minority to govern as if they were the majority.
“The reality is the Liberals only act when the NDP forces them to,” he said in his speech.
According to a long-time activist, this agreement is not to the advantage of the New Democratic Party. Barry Weisleder wanted a leadership race to take place.
“I think it was a bad idea from the start,” says the man who leads the NDP’s socialist caucus and has been active in the party for 55 years.
“Not everyone agrees with me, but we can now make a final assessment: it is a failure,” he adds.
Vice-chair Alexandre Boulerice tried to convince delegates that the New Democrats had succeeded in using their balance of power under this agreement.
“For the first time, we managed to introduce ten sick days for employees,” he remembers. He also mentioned the dental insurance program as well as the upcoming drug insurance program and the upcoming anti-scab legislation.
“They need to get tougher on the government, but even better is to end this pact and say, ‘We will support bills one at a time if it is in the interests of the working class,’” argues Barry Weisleder.
He particularly disagrees with the NDP’s support for federal budgets, particularly the 2022 budget, which included $8 billion in new spending on national defense after the outbreak of war in Ukraine.
“We need air tankers, not fighter jets,” he summarizes, referring to the wildfires that hit many communities across the country over the summer.
Delegates on Saturday rejected the idea of making the deal between the NDP and Liberal parties contingent on anti-strike legislation being introduced within three months. They are expected to vote later this afternoon on an emergency resolution to terminate the agreement if the Liberals’ drug insurance bill does not provide for the creation of “universal, complete and fully public” insurance.
She is supported by 28 constituency association presidents. It has been prioritized and should therefore be discussed first in the 30 minutes dedicated to emergency decisions.