NDP Leadership Convention 2012

The NDP leadership convention, to NDP members, is like voting day for Canadians. Although on a smaller scale, the entire event is filled with like-minded people; all gathered in a large room, campaigning, debating and connecting. The whole event is non-stop excitement, especially with the seven diverse and exciting candidates this year. Each candidate had something different to offer the New Democrats, but also had the one thing that tied everyone together, being an NDP.

Paul Dewar
Paul Dewar was the candidate that wasnt bad enough lose, but not good enough to win. He had a good background in politics, as well as lots of experience in foreign affairs, something that would have been great for the NDP. However, he lacked the important skill of being bilingual, which seriously hurt his chances. Dewars speech at the convention was exciting and energetic. After several different introductions, he emerged, and made it clear to everyone watching that he was the man who had something to offer everyone. Although watching the speech felt more like watching a say no to drugs presentation for middle schoolers, it was entertaining.

Niki Ashton
Niki Ashton joined the race knowing that she had two great things going for her. One, she was a young female, something that is valued in the party, seeing as they have a monopoly on youth support. She also had her fathers (Steve Ashton, the Jack Layton of Manitoba) support, which would have swayed many voters to her. However, the one thing many members feared was that she was not experienced enough, and not ready to take on the position. Obviously, Ashton knew that many had felt this way, and so she decided to present her speech in the most professional and conventional way possible. She said things like new politics referencing what she must have thought, were different and fresh ideas in politics, but her speech sounded as if it was copied and pasted from the NDP website. Her ideas about corporate tax cuts, pensions, immigration, were all traditional NDP ideologies. She had nothing fresh in her speech, although it was a great one, just not suitable for her.

Nathan Cullen
Out of the seven candidates, Nathan Cullen was the one that had a strong group of supporters, and a strong group of critics. He brought on an experienced and diverse political background; however he also brought on the idea of working with the Liberals, a great, but controversial topic. Knowing that many of the NDP supporters go by strict socialist values, Cullens platform was bound to fail. Cullens speech failed to excite the crowd, but instead appealed to their emotion. Bringing up Jack Laytons legacy, he made everyone remember that a new leader was not the plan, and that Jack Layton was supposed to lead them. Cullen gave the impression that he was not there to replace Jack Layton, but that he would be a great leader in carrying on his legacy.

Brian Topp
Brian Topp entered the race as a clear frontrunner. Being well known among NDP members for being one of the reasons for Jack Laytons sweeping victory in 2011. He was seen as someone who would clearly identify with the NDP ideologies and could lead the party well towards future victories. His speech was also very livening, preaching party unity, social justice and equality the most used word in his speech. It got the crowd going, especially after mentioning the federal tax cuts. The excitement from his supporters didnt end there. Stepping into his campaign booth a couple of times, the room, which was filled with people, would stop every few minutes and someone from the crowd would yell out a supporting chant. They even came up with a campaign song We will, we will, Topp you and several chants for the voting. Brian Topp, who finished second in the race, led a strong and powerful campaign, and definitely made his way into the minds of all New Democrats.

Martin Singh
The supporters of Martin Singh, similar to Niki Ashton, were supporters because of the person, and less because of the platform. Martin Singh represented the multiculturalism and diversity the party supported and valued, and thus, helped him with the votes. He also used that advantage in his speech, in which he told his story, in a cartoon format, and then his support of the pharmacare program. His platform consisted of a few main topics that he would focus on, entrepreneurship, healthcare and the issue of leadership. However, he was not the strong all-rounder as some of the other candidates were, and himself knowing that, supported Mulcair early on in the race, before even dropping out.

Peggy Nash
With deep political roots in the NDP, federal politics, finance as well as workers unions, Peggy Nash seemed like the ideal candidate for NDP leadership. She brought a sense of comfort and trust into her speeches, but also assertiveness, all good leadership qualities. However, after the first ballot, it became imminent that she was to lose the race. But unlike many predicted, Nash did not drop out after coming in last place in the second ballot, but continued to campaign and energize her supporters, an admirable action. Her speech, although was not well timed, was filled with her story as well as stories of people who knew and supported her. She didnt over play the supporters nor did she overdo her story. Her campaign, her issue and her speech, seemed to have a good mix of herself as a leader, as well as supporters and New Democrats.

Thomas Mulcair
Having strong ties with the NDP during the Jack Layton era proved to be very useful, for both Brian Topp and Thomas Mulcair, who also had strong French-Canadian roots. Mulcair entered the race with a large group of supporters, and ended the race winning the fourth ballot at 57%. He was previously a member of the Quebec Liberals, and so Mulcair has deep political connections in Quebec, something that, after the 2011 election, the party has to try and keep. Overall, Mulcair was an all-rounder, with good, agreeable political ideologies and leadership material, someone the New Democrats could see as being the next Prime Minister. Although his victory speech was not the most

leadership like, focusing more on future issues than more party unity, which it should have been, he has proved to be an assertive and powerful leader in the House of Commons. Mulcair can definitely be someone Canadians see as Prime Minister one day.

The leadership convention 2012 was definitely an interesting one. Each candidate had something different and unique to offer, and it was very interesting seeing the many different levels of New Democrats in one room. Each person at the convention had their own opinions on the leaders, on their platforms, and on the party. However, the convention ended with smiles and cheering all around. Not because Thomas Mulcair had the most supporters, but because everyone in the room knew that the NDP had a new leader. Someone that even though differed from other peoples choices, was still a New Democrat, and could lead Canada in a few years.