Background
On December 21, 2024, delegates to the 2025 Convention of the Ontario NDP opened an email to find an announcement that effectively cancelled the convention:
At the recommendation of the campaign director and election planning committee chair, the top officers unanimously voted to postpone the upcoming provincial convention.
As we understand, the sequence of events that led to this decision was as follows:
The campaign director and the chair of the election planning committee went to an administrative committee of the Provincial Executive to request a postponement of the convention, citing various challenges.
The administrative committee cancelled the ONDP Convention, completely bypassing the provincial Executive.
The Problem
As activists hoping to participate in a grassroots campaign to defeat the corrupt and anti-worker Ford government, we believe this decision was wrong for multiple reasons.
Conventions build the movement
At its best, the NDP represents and speaks for working-class people. Conventions provide opportunities to bring activists together, decide on policies, and build a unified platform. This is a great launch pad for an election campaign. Postponing the convention cost the NDP this opportunity.
Failure of governance
The steps that led to the ‘postponement’ violated the constitution of the ONDP. In particular, ignored is the fact that the sole authority able to set the timing of the convention is the Provincial Council. This power resides with the Provincial Council because the Provincial Council is elected and is representative of the whole party. By not seeking the approval of the Provincial Council, in the first place, the ‘administrative committee’, a body not mentioned in the constitution, thus acted arbitrarily and undemocratically.
Not a government in waiting
Ontario NDPers are going into 2025 with provincial and federal elections in the offing. The last-minute and chaotic manner in which this convention cancellation decision was made and executed will do little to build confidence that the NDP should be considered a serious contender for government.
Focus on the election
Facing the prospect of two elections, every member of the NDP needs to be laser focused on defeating the corrupt (Ford) or crony (Crombie) big business parties who agree that the role of government is to tax workers to pay for corporate handouts. Every activist in the party needs to focus on building their riding association capabilities and run the best campaign possible. At the same time, activists need to be mindful of internal party matters that ought to be addressed, including the reinstatement of Hamilton Center MPP Sarah Jama who was undemocratically excluded from the NDP legislative caucus at Queen’s Park primarily for her pro-Palestinian views.
Next Steps
A committee will be formed soon to examine the party’s governance. It will report to the convention.
Schedule the 2025 Convention as soon as possible
Ideally, the decision to postpone the convention should be reversed, and a convention should be held to prepare the party for the upcoming 2025 elections. Depending on when the general elections occur (which may be many months from now) this may be administratively difficult. But what is the value of working class democracy? Is it not inseparable from our goals that aim to change society fundamentally?
Reboot the party administration
We believe the errors that led to this situation are structural. It requires a reboot and transformation of the party’s administration and culture. In effect, the party’s administration is less than the sum of its participating individuals – who tend to be highly talented. Somehow, this has created a technocratic and top-down decision-making process that is the opposite of a democratic organization in which decision-making power resides in the grassroots membership. This reboot should be a significant topic at the next convention.
We are also concerned about the separation of powers between the party as a grassroots organization and the role of the Leader’s office.
Take advantage of available technology to foster a grassroots re-organization
Much of the membership discussion about restructuring can occur before the convention using modern technology – essentially a virtual members’ assembly – to engage the membership and refine the questions and options to be presented to convention openly and democratically.
If you want to advance the perspective outlined above, please contact the NDP Socialist Caucus at 647-986-1917.
