NDP Leadership Change in 2011?

2010 was a shameful year for Canadian economics and democracy:

• G20 ‘police’ forces stomping on the rights of Canadian protestors.  Byron Sonne and many others remain in prison, despite the lack of real reason or threat.
• Untendered contracts being awarded for planes we don’t need
• The introduction of privatization of pension plans and the CPP
• Ongoing reductions in corporate tax rates while small businesses disappear
• Support for the destruction of this planet, starting with Alberta and its ongoing effort to hold the less-than-attractive position as the largest industrial project in history

The list goes on.  Add yours if you feel like chiming in.  I think we owe it to ourselves to keep a full and ongoing checklist of Harper’s injustices against Canada.

As Stephen Harper continues his reign over Canada, we will all continue to suffer.

Of course, he’s just doing what comes naturally to him.  However, as we all know, he was only elected by a few people in this country, so he needs help to keep his hold on power.

And he knows exactly how to play each of the leaders of the opposition in order to stay in power.

In 2011, he will turn again to Jack Layton.

Unfortunately, Jack Layton has already returned to the table with Stephen Harper, Jim Flaherty and the rest of the crew and will most likely help them craft a budget that will likely pass in the House of Commons early in 2011.  This action alone will ensure that the Harper Conservatives continue to desecrate this country’s reputation in 2011 and beyond.

However, there is another way.  Jack Layton and the rest of the NDP can begin to oppose the machinations of the Harper regime and reject their cynical and abusive politics.  They can stand up to the bullies in the classroom and actually defend the interests of Canadians.

This future would be a nice future and my prediction would fall flat.  If only that would happen, we’d all be better off.

However, I think Jack will get tricked again into supporting the Conservatives and when he does, I believe that he should be seen as abdicating his right as the leader of the NDP.  Negotiating and planning with potentially like-minded people (the Bloc, the Greens, the Liberals) should be a priority, along with do everything possible to get proportional representation implemented at the Federal level.  Playing nickel and dime games with Diamond Jim is a waste for all Canadians and, more importantly, runs contrary to the essence of the NDP belief structure.

But who would take Jack’s place?  The obvious choice is Thomas Mulcair.  He’s fluent in both languages, comes from Quebec, and he shares the Deputy leadership with Libby Davies.

However, I would suggest another option:  Gary Doer.  That’s right.  Gary Doer.  As the past leader of Manitoba’s provincial government, I believe he was singled out by Stephen Harper to serve his current appointment as Canada’s Ambassador to the United States with the specific intent of keeping him away from Federal NDP leadership.  That said, we don’t have to do what Stevie says and we can always pull him back to save Canada.

Of course, if Gary Doer is not available, we’re going to need some new names that will lift the NDP to a completely different stratosphere than the Liberals and Conservatives if they’re going to generate appeal for a massive chunk of population that is unimpressed with any of this country’s leaders.

Who do you think should be in charge if there’s a change in 2011?  Add your comments below.