Matt Toner: Let's reboot the Old Democratic Party into something new for the 21st century

    1 of 1 2 of 1

      Elections have consequences.  And one would hope that one of the consequences of the staggering May 14th election will be a reboot of the B.C. NDP. 

      For what we discovered is really quite extraordinary: many mainstream voters cannot bring themselves to vote for the B.C. NDP, no matter how much they share our values or how wholly they distrust the incumbents. Throughout the campaign, I heard this reluctance many times—from many different people—whose resistance only stiffened as we approached May 14th. 

      This is no accident, by the way: our political opponents have spent years branding us as wild-eyed socialists from the '90s, determined to wreak havoc on the economy at the first opportunity. And in the closing days of a provincial election campaign—when the average voter truly focuses on the contest—the B.C. Liberals played this trump card with devastating effect. Again and again.

      And, honestly, we haven’t done much to blunt this line of attack.  So the label has stuck. How do we now remove it?

      Some are calling for new leadership, but, to my mind, such talk is not just premature, it suggests that we do not really understand the challenge we face. In 2013, as in the past, we had a good leader in Adrian Dix.Simply swapping horses now while leaving all else intact won’t do much to sway voters.

      It certainly won’t change the fundamental narrative crafted by our opponents: if anything, it reinforces their critique. Unless we want to repeat the mistakes of the past, we must acknowledge that the need for reform goes much deeper.

      And it goes beyond a simple rebranding. This may be a necessary step, but it is not sufficient. If the B.C. NDP is going to be relevant—not just in the 2017 election, but beyond—then we need to do more than just restate our social democratic principles with fresh buzzwords.

      To my mind, the B.C. NDP needs a reboot. This means recognizing that it is time to strip away stale elements from our offering and concentrate on those core concepts that are unique to our philosophy. We need to challenge ourselves to pivot from this foundation into the 21st century and begin speaking to a new range of issues that resonate with a new generation of voters...using language and media to which they respond. 

      Rebooting is a process that is more than just deep and searing: ideally, it should be somewhat public. It is not enough to simply tell voters about how the B.C. NDP has changed: we will need to show them that this is the case. Provided that it is orderly, such transparency will buy us credibility with voters and do much to rewrite the established narrative about our party—something crucial to any future electoral success.

      An obvious concern is whether the party membership would tolerate such a process, but I think we are more ready for such change than the established wisdom may allow.

      Since the election, I have had many spontaneous interactions with a surprising variety of NDP members. They have begun to look ahead to 2017 and the question on their mind is not who should lead us: they want to know if our party, as presently constituted, can win. It’s a fair question, because these folks have just endured a stark reminder that elections do have consequences and that there are few prizes for second place.

      We went into the 2013 provincial election talking about change for the better: we now  need to apply that thinking to ourselves. There will never be a better time. And if we have the courage to do so, the B.C. NDP can emerge from the wreckage of 2013 as a democratic party that is truly new.

      Matt Toner has run digital media startups in New York, Toronto and Vancouver and was the B.C. NDP candidate for Vancouver–False Creek in the May 14 provincial election.

      Comments

      16 Comments

      sonia

      Jul 11, 2013 at 11:02am

      great article that touches upon the real issues of the NDP, instead of just a blatant jockeying for power, as clearly intended by the other article in this paper by a former MLA. Lets hope the party can get its act together and move forward.

      Wattcher

      Jul 11, 2013 at 11:13am

      A good candidate with Dix? The man has the stink of Glen Clark all over him. Remember Glen Clark? The guy responsible for the NDP's near extinction?

      The whole lot at the top, Moe, Jim, Billy, Geoffie and Jan as well as Adrian need to be shown the door.

      Clueless.

      Neo-Cons F.U.D

      Jul 11, 2013 at 11:38am

      The Neo-Cons have stuck with their tried and true playbook from the far right wing elements of the US GOP.

      Create F.U.D., Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt and cause low Voter turn out via various well known tricks ensures that they get elected.

      Sadly most of the Voting Public are clueless on critical political issues such as the Economy, Health Care & Environment nor do they want to spend the time to research and educate themselves on them.

      Therefore it is the Politicians that best promote their 'Message' i.e., Propaganda get the benefit of Voters.

      When faced with Attack Dog Politics the NDP need to be ready to fight Fire with Fire.

      New NDP Leadership Not from 90's

      First NDP New Leadership is a must that is well removed from the 90's era, Voters have made that clear already listen to them.

      NDP Need To Learn to Play Hard Nosed Offense.

      The NDP need to go on the Offensive and Attack the Lying Liberal Record and Scandals, NOW not only at Election time.

      There are many issues, Health Care & Hydro (Scandal of Billions of Off Balance Sheet Debt?).

      NDP Need to Bring Scandals to the Public

      The NDP need to thoroughly research & build Case after Case to bring to the Public of the Scandals of the last 12 Years.

      Mr. Eby recently elected in Pt. Grey for the NDP should be in charge of this he is an Accomplished Lawyer and Fighter of Injustice with a great track record.

      Time to Wake up and smell the Coffee Matt.

      Instead of just arguing loudly about Credits for the Film & Digital Industry which is pretty much all I recall from your Campaign as well as the Dog Jackets.

      Focus on the Liberals abysmal record and relate it to the average Voter.

      The NDP Leadership needs a Clear Break from it's 90's past.

      Mark Murphy

      Jul 11, 2013 at 12:18pm

      That dog won't hunt.

      Wild Eyed Socialist

      Jul 11, 2013 at 12:20pm

      My wild-eyed socialism is simple--power equals responsibility. Corporations and the rich have more power than responsibility in our society. Changing this would be GOOD for the economy.

      If the NDP is just Liberal lite—Toner's position—most voters will abandon them for Liberals--they'll just say the NDP is the Liberals without principles. Nothing in Toner's article here or his other position statements have shown him as anything but a milk-sop for a watered-down Liberal party. This is why I voted Green in 2013.

      The problem with the NDP is simple--they look too much like Matt Toner and not enough like an energetic, passionate, left-wing party that will engage in the economic redistribution necessary to make the economy work better. Go Greens!

      John Twigg

      Jul 11, 2013 at 12:22pm

      Matt is a breath of fresh air, even a potential leader, but he's either wrong or overly-clever in supporting the continued tenure of Adrian Dix. Yes Adrian is smart and talented but he let himself be a puppet to the cabal that got him the leadership through dirty tricks such as bulk sign-ups and he let the cabal construct a stupid and disastrous campaign strategy. Adrian is a nice and well-meaning person but he has become part of the problem.

      Chris

      Jul 11, 2013 at 12:32pm

      Well writen MAtt. Finaly someone who is looking at the best interest of the party. Im tired of all of the Mike Farnworth supporters just muddying the water so they can seize power. Mike Farnworth is part of the problem as uch as Dix. They have too many scandals. I find it hillarious to see Genters of the world talk about unethical and then turn around support someone who is just as unethical. They all want power!!!

      Alan Layton

      Jul 11, 2013 at 12:44pm

      Yesterday I saw a news report about the declining birth rate in BC - the lowest in Canada. Also we have one of the larger populations of 'older' people. The older you get, the more conservative you become. With more older people and fewer young people to fill in, the NDP's message is not going to ring very strongly for decades to come, regardless of the buzzwords. A shift towards the center may be their only hope.

      Kaleb

      Jul 11, 2013 at 2:15pm

      That was really well written. I do agree that the BC NDP could use a new image, however the NDP and the liberals need to address a greater problem. That problem is the lack of younger voters. If either party can attract the younger vote then they will win by a landslide. The political leaders and mlas need to find a way to make politics interesting again other wise nothing will change and everything will stay the same.

      Jeff

      Jul 11, 2013 at 2:48pm

      Where is John Horgan in all this talk? Have I missed his outright refusal to lead the party? We need someone like him with a fire in their belly and cajones like Dave Barrett. Someone who is willing to call a spade a spade and has no fear of confrontation wherever and whenever it's appropriate.

      The Lieberals are in your face and until someone with the juice to stand up and fight like a man or woman with courage we will always be ruled by them and their corporate masters.