By Martin Kearns, man who has never voted NDP once in his life
This weekend the NDP chose Avi Lewis as their leader. And as much as it pains me, a Liberal commentator who loves Mark Carney and would never even consider voting anything other than Liberal or Conservative, to say: I believe they have made a terrible error.
Lewis wants to tax the rich to pay for increased social programs. He supports ending pipelines, sanctioning Israel for its genocide in Gaza, and opposing Donald Trump’s aggression more forcefully than the current government is doing. These positions are political suicide, supported by only 30-40% of voters. In a multi-party system the NDP simply can’t afford to take these absurd, leftist stances.
Voters do not want bold, socialist ideas put forward. They want Mark Carney’s ‘campaign from the centre, govern from the centre-right’ approach. I mean look how popular he is right now – a situation that will certainly not change between now and the next election.
If I were advising the NDP I would have encouraged them to go with a candidate that won’t alienate suburban moms, conservative immigrant communities or upper middle class professionals. Sure these groups have never voted NDP before, but maybe they would have this time around who knows?
Instead Lewis will undoubtedly play an ‘excite the base’ strategy that may play well on social media and in downtown Toronto/Montreal/Vancouver ridings, but that will only result in what? A 25-30 seat gain for the NDP at best?
I just don’t see the benefit in having a left-wing party that actually tries to stand apart from the Liberals. I mean, was being seen as the Liberals ineffective little brother for the last decade really so bad? I personally love my little brother. And I bet a lot of patriotic Canadians do as well.
Stay tuned for next week’s column: why the Green Party should stop harping on about the whole climate change thing.
