Matt Toner: New Democrats need the courage to go with our convictions now more than ever
On the night of May 14, it’s fair to say that New Democrats were stunned by the reversal of our fortunes in a provincial election where we were widely expected to take 50 or more seats. It was a historic setback—and it showed on virtually every NDP face that night. We had been beaten.
But had we been defeated? That is a very different question.
Some within the party—and, increasingly, in the media—are now suggesting that we may allow Christy Clark to run uncontested when she seeks a byelection, a concession that would give her a clear path to the Legislature. I bridle when I hear this line of reasoning.
In my view, if we allow Christy Clark to swan into the Legislature unchallenged, then we have been defeated. This choice would confirm the consensus that is emerging from the smouldering wreckage of the 2013 campaign: the NDP is a glass-jawed opponent, incapable of throwing a solid counter-punch.
In terms of the optics alone, we absolutely need to start changing that narrative today. But there are also principled reasons for doing so.
To my mind, it is inherently undemocratic for us to step away from those people who live in whatever riding Christy Clark fastens her gaze upon. Even in a district that voted predominantly for the B.C. Liberals, people living there did not necessarily vote for Christy Clark. They deserve a credible choice.
What’s more, in an election with a staggeringly low voter turnout, there are no doubt many who awoke the next morning shocked at how the night had unfolded. If they are offered another chance to express their preference by way of a byelection, we as New Democrats should not deny them this opportunity, meekly tugging our forelocks as the leader of our political adversaries takes her seat.
If anything, it is our duty now to oppose—so we had better get back in the habit of being a muscular, well-informed, relentless opposition.
And we should remember that we are good at it: it was no accident that our party stood so high in the public’s mind before the actual campaign began. This stature was due in no small part to the tireless efforts of people like Shane Simpson and Jenny Kwan, who were able to highlight the countless flaws of the years of BC Liberal governance.
There are many who say that the NDP failed on May 14 because we suddenly lost this ability to crisply define our opponents. Let’s not miss the chance to do so now, especially when offered such a rich target.
For those of us newer to the fray, this will mark a change in tactics. We joined the New Democratic Party because of what we stood for—but now we must learn to define ourselves in terms of what we oppose.
For my part, I oppose the continued disintegration of our province’s once-world-class creative industries. I oppose an economic strategy that seems to only offer “pipeline, baby, pipeline!” as the basis for our collective economic future. I oppose budgetary mathematics that are high on fancy and light on facts. And I oppose the idea that a province as rich as ours is also the one of the frontrunners nationally when it comes to child poverty.
So I oppose Christy Clark, not as a person, but as the embodiment of these things. When she decides to elbow her way into some hapless riding after the May 27 vote count, it is my view that New Democrats must stand ready to offer a spirited byelection campaign.
Comments
24 Comments
xnexus
May 21, 2013 at 1:38pm
" I oppose the continued disintegration of our province’s once-world-class creative industries."
And I sir, will continue to oppose having governments try to decide which industries are worthy of success or failure. I'm sorry, but I have yet to see a reasonable rationale as to why the movie industry is any more worthy of big tax breaks than our manufacturing industries, our agriculture, even our video game industry. We ramp up our tax breaks, Ontario undercuts us, Virginia undercuts Ontario, and on it goes. Time for someone to stop the race to the bottom.
ddollar
May 21, 2013 at 2:25pm
Interesting and ironic you mention the race to the bottom. That is exactly what this election was about. The race to the bottom is the one race we can be assured to win with another 4 years of Lib. government. Oh sorry, I forgot BC is going to build x number of LNG plants and we will all be rich and comfortable in 25 years. Beautiful....
RUK
May 21, 2013 at 3:36pm
Cost of MLA byelection is roughly $250,000 according to this article.
http://www.taxpayer.com/commentaries/mla-departures-ding-taxpayers-again
So, you beat Crusty and she has to do it again.
You could do the math, and calculate the amount of illwill that this would incur.
Oh but what am I saying? Asking the NDP to understand numbers....!
rp
May 21, 2013 at 3:50pm
The NDP lost because they were on the wrong side of the issues that mattered to voters. Simple as that...
Will
May 21, 2013 at 5:22pm
The Liberals wasted 6 million of tax payers money on Virk and Basi. So what's an other million to let Crusty know that we can live with the liberals for an other 4years but we don`t what her as Premier.
bobo
May 21, 2013 at 5:33pm
This whole article pretty sums up the problem with the ndp. Toner says "the new democrats need the courage to go with our (their) convictions". But then he doesn't bother to articulate exactly what those convictions are. If he doesn't know, how can the voters? Then he goes on to show the true purpose of the ndp by stating that he is "opposed" to a long list of various things. No wonder Mr. Dix became Mr. No. I ran into Spencer Herbert a few days before the election when he was handing out pamphlets on the street corner??. I asked him why the ndp would want to deny people voting on union membership the secret ballot - after all, the secret ballot is a cornerstone of our democratic process. I said that the only reason the unions would want this is to intimidate people. His immediate response was that "well, business uses intimidation tactics also". So his immediate gut reaction to a reasonable question was to go after business - you know, those people who give union members their jobs. All I heard throughout the election was what the ndp was against - not what they were for. That was always "under review". Here's some news for the ndp - People want to feel hope and promise from their politicians, not constant negativity. The ndp sounds like the tea party.
SDGreen
May 21, 2013 at 6:15pm
The major problem with the NDP is that they are seen as a group of fractured groups mostly special interest, whose objectives are to please all of them to the detriment of the majority of British Columbians. This socialist attitude was clearly demonstrated in both NDP regimes of the past.
The NDP of today led by Adrian Dix and company, in their platform did the exact same thing and clearly rejected any policies that would benefit the majority. It is obvious the NDP tried to de-emphasize industry and development, injected mediocre band aids to major issues, then proceeded to say 'we will study' the rest of the problems. Frankly the NDP platform was totally a disaster.
On leadership, Adrian Dix and his crew ONLY pandered to the core NDP membership, but even then a good number of union members were disgusted at the notion that good potential jobs would be terminated. The NDP simply did not have a plan.
It is telling that after so many days after the NDP defeat, that Labour Movement has basically abandoned any comment. BC Fed Jim Sinclair must be livid.
Fact is the NDP really had zero clue on how to mount any effective electoral campaign, knew not how to use media, and clearly did not enumerate their apparent support.
The NDP were not a group prepared for governance, but rather a group who are so incredibly fractured any goal they might have had just does not resonate with the public.
The NDP failed, not for the first time, but for the THIRD time, the NDP are totally rejected.
Toner is clearly not in tune of why the NDP utterly failed. Toners only solution is for the NDP to continue its useless 'whining dictum' as a solution. The problem is the NDP does not have any acceptable solutions to present.
My real sense is that the NDP is finished, is a dead party of misfits who are unable to fit in with the realities of the 21st Century. The NDP is not viable.
dave19
May 21, 2013 at 6:19pm
WTF NDP NFG.
More Arts Funding
May 21, 2013 at 8:01pm
The NDP lost because they're too conservative and too much in the pocket of big business. We need more anti-corporate types who are appropriately disdainful of business--in this way, and only this way, can business and capital learn what it owes to the intellectuals.
Working Man
May 21, 2013 at 8:19pm
I think it is time for private sector union leadership to reach out to the government. The NDP no longer represents workers and is lead by anti development, environmental zealots who do not want us to work and support our families.
This government could at least give us a seat at the table and would stay in power for 20 years