ONDY slugfest

Young Democrats.  Miss those days. 

Interesting. Shades of the British Labour Party circa 1982.

ghoris wrote:

Has 'Socialism' become a dirty word in Canada in the way 'Liberal' has become an epithet in the United States?

Has it become a dirty word in the NDP?

My own modest proposal:

1. ONDY Commitments

Whereas the doctrines of Liberalism, Neoliberalism, Pro-capitalist Reformism, McCarthyism, Gomperism, Capitulationism, Third-Wayism, Parliamentary Cretinism, Market Fetishism, and Opportunism run opposed to the principles on which the NDP and CCF were founded;

...

And whereas much of the history of the party has been characterized by handing control over to self-proclaimed "social democrats" who are in reality rightist enemies of the working class and subscribers to one or more of the doctrines aforesaid;

And whereas in many countries where these self-proclaimed "social democrats" have been in power, capitalist exploitation has proceeded apace, imperialist wars have been pursued with alacrity, and the environment has been plundered for profit;

And whereas New Democrats support a co-operative commonwealth in Canada that cannot be accomplished through patchwork reforms designed to maintain the power and wealth of the ruling class;

And whereas New Democrats believe that a co-operative commonwealth in Canada can be built through the co-operative struggle of people at all levels of society against the power and privilege of the wealthy owners of capital and the means of production, and not by trying to create utopian enclaves within capitalism that allow the iron rule of capital and the market system to remain completely unchallenged;

And whereas the doctrine of social democracy's capitulation to the unfettered rule of capitalism will ensure that a society based upon true democracy, equality, and empowerment of the working people can never happen;

Be it resolved that we in ONDY commit to the principles of socialism, in solidarity with the ideals of the founders of the CCF and the most progressive, anti-imperialist political forces in Latin America and elsewhere who are struggling to free the planet from the scourge of capitalism.

Be it further resolved that we in ONDY condemn the doctrines of Liberalism and the practices of red-baiting and McCarthyism, as generations of CCF/NDPers have and hopefully always will.

2. Liberalism

Whereas it is a longstanding tactic of liberals and other forces of capitulation to capitalism ever since 1914 to attempt to takeover and hijack social democratic organizations and turn them into impotent reformists and supporters of imperialist war;

And whereas it is often the case that liberal opportunists in ONDY vote as a block, having made their mind up on an issue before discussion occurs, to pursue their goals, and seek to crush and expel any and all political tendencies within the ONDY that advocate a socialist course for the NDP, because they recognize party democracy as a true threat to their own personal power and privilege, and socialism as a true threat to the capitalist order which they seek to preserve at all costs;

And whereas the tactic of red-baiting and expulsion of political opponents can be fatal to an organization, as was the case when the NDP drove the Waffle movement away and carried out numerous purges of socialists and activists in the 1960s and 1970s, clearing the way for an unobstructed takeover by Opportunists, Liberals, Capitulationists, Liquidationists, and other rightist tendencies;

And whereas ONDY encourages the discussion of measures to implement a kinder, gentler, form of capitalist rule, but does not tolerate the discussion of real social change because those viewpoints are not acceptable to the wealthy and powerful to whom we pledge undying allegiance;

And whereas the doctrines of Liberalism, Neoliberalism, Pro-capitalist Reformism, McCarthyism, Gomperism, Capitulationism, Third-Wayism, Parliamentary Cretinism, Market Fetishism, and Opportunism run opposed to the development of any serious socialist movement capable of actually taking power away from the ruling plutocracy;

And whereas there are many capitalist political parties in Canada where Liberals, Reformists, Opportunists, and other defenders of the capitalist system and opponents of socialism can find a home (think Bob Rae, Buzz Hargrove, Ujjal Dosanjh, and a whole rogue's gallery of other champions of "social democracy");

Be it resolved that the Ontario New Democratic Youth approves and applauds any move to root out and expose the treachery of the right-wing capitulationists who seek to destroy the ONDY and the NDP as forces for social change.

Be it further resolved that the Ontario New Democratic Youth will de-charter and dismember all Liberal and other right-wing "entrists' who seek to subvert and prevent the development of any real alternative to the horrors of capitalist waste, destruction, exploitation and war, and will actively seek to reverse the takeover of ONDY conventions and councils by these Quislings.

3. Educational Exercises

Whereas we in ONDY believe that platitudes about "local control" are just an excuse to avoid questions about how any real large-scale challenge to the present political and economic system can be effectively mounted, and that talk of democracy, human dignity, responsibility, solidarity and collective love is meaningless unless it is accompanied by the political will to bring about fundamental change in society;

And whereas we in ONDY believe this vision of Canada can only happen if citizens begin practicising (or better yet, practising) more effective ways of mobilizing masses of Canadians around pressing issues of social justice, environmental protection, opposition to imperialist war and the militarization of society, and taking political power;

Therefore be it resolved that ONDY conventions and councils include educational exercises designed to motivate and inform the membership around the key political issues of the day, with a view to creating an activist movement that participates in the struggles of ordinary people around the aforementioned issues.

4. The Scourge of Social Democrats

Whereas the removal of the doctrine of Liberalism and Right-wing Opportunism from ONDY and its abuse of power and poor treatment of people would be a great stride toward the resurgence of the ONDY and the NDP as genuine leaders of movements for social change, as they once were, but have not been allowed to be for the past several decades;

Whereas ONDYites are eager to put an end to co-operation with the ruling elites and the sham of "social democracy" and to learn of how we cannot do this without radically changing our present society, soon:

Be it resolved that the ONDY convention refrain from passing meaningless resolutions in support of abstract concepts like "co-operation", completely decontextualized from the real issues and struggles of the working people of Canada, and instead reaffirm the principles of the Regina Manifesto that were articulated by the founders of the party and, sadly, ditched over the years by successive generations of opportunist party bureaucrats and politicians.

While I don't think it's a revelation to suggest there's not much about the NDP these days that we could call 'socialist', especially when we look at the record of recent NDP governments, I believe if we air-brush away any reference to socialism as a guiding principle that we aspire to, we will have lost any real reason to carry on as an independent political party. 

To use a different example to illustrate the same principle, New Democrats similarly understand that while we're a long way from eradicating poverty in Canada, we would never abandon our commitment to working toward that goal.    

I won't comment on the merits of the dispute, because I don't know enough of the facts.  I'm sure we'll learn more at Provincial Council.  Regardless, ONDY's resolution is not just wrong, it is a rejection of our collective history. (Can I still say 'collective'?)  Socialism must remain our ultimate goal for Canada, even if it is as far away as peace on earth, a clean environment, or a decent standard of living for everyone on the planet.  Go big or go home, I say.

Hello, I am currently an undergraduate at the University of Toronto-Scarborough as well as a member of CUPE 3902. I am also a member and supporter of the Toronto Young New Democrats, as well as a supporter of Fightback Magazine and thought to just update the comrades, brothers and sisters in this forum on the progress we've made at convention. Please note that this is a rough draft of the resolutions that have passed so far barring any personal errors or slip-ups on amendments, but overall these resolutions have passed in near original form.

Next on the Agenda:

Policy Resolutions - 1) G20 2) Justice Must Be Done

Elections for the 2010-2011 Ontario New Democratic Youth Executive

-We have confirmed the "Slate for Democratic and Activist ONDY" list, as we've managed to build a coalition of Socialists, Social Democrats, and Marxists who have agreed in principle with the T.Y.N.D. model of city-club organizing and activist orientation, while re-asserting the autonomous nature of the Ontario New Democratic Youth in allowing us to pursue policies we feel speak to working-class youth. On this basis we assert our intentions to build grassroot campaigns on ONDY specific policy within working-class neighbourhoods and build support for these policies through social movement activism, membership drives, as well as free and democratic discussion forums on how to strategize and orientate the party to these perspectives.

-Speaking as an individual, I feel that the fact we've been able to build a broad-left coalition in favour of genuine activism and democratic space for the wider left, shows the potential for synthesis of all ideological stripes on the political left in broad labour based party tents, and shows a potential alternative in the way we organize our party for the 21st Century. To this I speak of models like Quebec Solidaire, Die Linke or the Workers Party of Brazil - parties that have formalized ideological tendencies and weigh executives and policies based on a tendency's proportionality in membership. To this I strongly believe that the democratic process should reign supreme and will serve as the best innovator of ideas on how to fundamentally bring about socio-economic change that we fundamentally believe in - though we might disagree on the pace and extent of that change.

"The definition of what socialism is, whether socialism is our position, what kind of socialism etc. has also been part of our DNA as a party and ONDY has often been the appropriate place for such debates. That is simply democracy at work. We are a big tent party with room for many different opinions and robust dialogue." Rev. Cheri Dinovo, MPP Parkdale-High Park

Free Education

Because accessibility to higher education has reached critically low levels for the majority of youth both provincially and nationally

Because tuition fees are at levels which prevent large numbers of youth from attending post-secondary institutions, and those that do are saddled with crippling student debt averaging $30,000 per student

Because the membership of ONDY overwhelmingly approved the policy of free education, and prioritized it as the single most important policy for the whole of the provincial youth wing

Because we believe that access to education, like healthcare, is a right, not a privilege, and that we must put action behind what we believe in

We resolve that the ONDY reaffirm its policy of calling for universal quality education, the complete abolition of tuition fees, and proper government funding to institutions of higher learning

We further resolve that the ONDY launch an active campaign for free education to popularize the demand throughout the student movement, labour movement, and wider population.

NDP as a mass movement

Because the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) was founded as a diverse federation of different social movements, united by a democratic structure and striving for common goals

Because the CCF merging with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) to form what became today's NDP was a step to continue, deepen and entrench the organic links between the Party and the working class, the youth movement, and the wider left

Because in order to win, the NDP must encompass, include, and unite all shades of opinion amongst the workers’ and youth movements, and the broader left

We resolve to make the Party the concrete representation of the collective will of the mass movement, where all shades of opinion (for example: union, environmentalist, socialist, anti-war, anti-oppression, etc.) are welcomed and encouraged.

We further resolve to actively seek to use the inclusive, open, and dynamic democratic structure of the Party to provide a space for dialogue, debate, and democratic decision-making for the working class and youth movements, in order to make the NDP more than just a political party, but rather a mass movement unto itself

G20

Because the G20 protests in Toronto in June represent an important event for the Party and the labour movement as a whole

Because it is vital that the NDP take a position of leadership in fighting against the G20’s agenda of austerity

We resolve that the ONDY steadfastly oppose the agenda of the G20, which seeks to pay for hundreds of billions of dollars of bail-outs to the wealthiest banks and corporations by attacking the living and working standards of workers and youth

We further resolve that the ONDY views the brutal police and government response to the protests as being both a blatant breach of democratic rights and civil liberties and, more importantly, the inevitable consequence and logical extension of the economic attacks on workers by the capitalist system.

We condemn the arrest of over 1,000, the largest mass arrests in Canadian history, and call for the release of all political prisoners and the dropping of all politically-motivated charges. We call for a labour-led enquiry into the events of the G20, the police, the role of the so-called Black Bloc, and agent-provocateurs and infiltrators in the demonstrations.

Oppose Police Brutality and Defend Youth Rights

Whereas police harassment is a regular occurrence in working class and immigrant communities across Ontario, and particularly in Toronto.

Whereas there have been several incidents of police killings of youth during the last few years, often in very suspicious circumstances.

Whereas misconduct on the part of police have been recognized and even admitted during the past in relation to incidences of police killings and brutality.

Whereas it is evident that police engage in the profiling of youth, workers, and immigrants. Evidence has even come out in the corporate press establishing this fact.

Whereas many of our members in the NDP youth, particularly in the working class districts of Toronto, have experienced police brutality and have even been targeted and arrested as a result of their community activism.

Whereas the issue of police brutality resonates with the experiences of many working class youth and immigrants, and has even sparked significant demonstrations and activism in the past years.

Whereas activists of the NDP, particularly those active in the TYND, have been able to mobilize considerable community support and even recruit party members on the basis of anti-police brutality activism.

Be it Resolved that ONDY take a clear stance in opposition to police brutality, harassment, and profiling.

Be it Resolved that ONDY take a public stance, and become actively engaged, in the struggle against police brutality, in defence of civil rights and the safety of working class people [possible amendment to: "all people", but cannot confirm at the top of my head if this passed].

Be it Resolved that ONDY firmly push the representatives and the leaders of our party to take strong, public and clearly-worded positions on the issue, particularly when such incidences occur.

Be it further resolved that ONDY also engage in campaigns to support party members who, through their civil rights and anti-police brutality activism, become targeted and arrested. This should include active mobilizing, awareness raising, public support, and [amendment: organizing] financial legal support to our party members and other activists.

City-wide clubs

Whereas the ONDY clubs have hitherto overwhelmingly been campus clubs,

Whereas the ONDY is an organization that should mobilize youth, including those who do not go to university, to fight for socialist goals,

Whereas the world crisis of the capitalist system means a wider interest of young people and workers in politics and the ideas of Socialism,

Whereas the Toronto Young New Democrats (TYND) has proved a fantastically successful model involving dozens of youth from all over the city and from communities that were never approached by ONDY before,

Whereas TYND has organized regular members meetings and numerous picket visits, leafleting and canvassing actions and a successful socialist summer camp,

Be it resolved that ONDY makes it a priority to organize city-wide clubs that include all working-class youth and those willing to fight for [amendment: progressive (socialist, social democratic etc.)] ideas,

Be it further resolved that these clubs be activist bodies that regularly meet and conduct their activities based on member-driven democratic principles, as this is the best way to mobilize youth and build the party from the grassroots level.

**I'd also like to note that a resolution calling for ONDY to put forth support for Universal Dental Care (not just for those under 18) has passed unanimously.

In Solidarity,

Alan Wai Kiat Tang

Toronto Young New Democrats,

Former ONDY Riding Youth Coordinator (2008-2009)

Toronto-Danforth New Democratic Party

"Freedom without socialism is privilege and injustice, &
socialism without freedom is slavery & brutality"

The Slate if it wins a majority has promised to immediately reverse the de-chartering process. Though it's too early to judge the results of the floor, from my estimation the slate enjoys 2/3s support of the convention. It is also important to note that this is the largest ONDY convention in my memory as a New Democrat, which is something we can all at least celebrate as youth ask tough questions and intellectually take ownership of their ideas and future aspirations as workers in tomorrow's workfroce.

Sometimes entryists have to be expelled from an organization for what they DO to the internal process, not for what they stand for.

But entryists have been part of the ONDP since the 70s. [And nationaly in the NDP, albeit spread even more thinly, via the Socialist Caucus.]

So the mere fact a chapter is predominately entryists does not in itself mean they engage in the kind of entryist behaviour that in my opinion any organization has a legitimate right and need to rid itself of.

KenS wrote:

I'm on record saying that I think that there can be reasons for expelling groups of people.

Given that membership in the NDP and its youth organizations is individual (isn't it??), that's one of the more frightening statements I've heard around here.

KenS wrote:

I'm on record saying that I think that there can be reasons for expelling groups of people.

Unionist wrote:

Given that membership in the NDP and its youth organizations is individual (isn't it??), that's one of the more frightening statements I've heard around here.

Talk about quoting me out of context. Here is what I said:

KenS wrote:

I'm on record saying that I think that there can be reasons for expelling groups of people. And that in principle, de-shartering a chapter is extreme but not essentially different. And it is not just a matter of just "disagreeing with people".

But that for me is a process question...

Where I go on to ask if there are any reasonable grounds to see or fear for entryist disruption.

KenS wrote:

Sometimes entryists have to be expelled from an organization for what they DO to the internal process, not for what they stand for.

But entryists have been part of the ONDP since the 70s.

So the mere fact a chapter is predominately entryists does not in itself mean they engage in the kind of entryist behaviour that in my opinion any organization has a legitimate right and need to rid itself of.

Why don't these "entryists" do us all a favour and give up on the NDP and instead try to stage a hostile takeover of the Green party. It has such a small membership and is so disorganized that a small band of Trotskyists could stack an AGM in no-time and even change the party name from Green to Trotskyist within five minutes.

M. Spector wrote:

Good for Di Novo.

But does she really sign her political letters "Rev. Dr."? Does she expect others who write letters to her to use that form of address?

Why wouldn't she sign her correspondence that way?

She's ordained.  She has a doctorate.

The correct form of address when corresponding back would be:

"Rev. Dr. Cheri do Novo . . .

Dear Dr. di Novo:"

"This was totally in violation to the precedence set at every single previous ONDY convention, where young new members to the Party were allowed to sign membership cards and be granted full delegate rights at the door."

In other words, we'll just throw the whole thng open to anyone who has the money to round up busloads of whoever, and pay them a few bucks to go and vote for them. Blatant corruption is sanctified! (think of a guy named Mulroney for one of the more obvious recent examples of where this sort of thing can lead to - but there are other examples from both Bay St parties, and no doubt others...)

This does not give me much confidence in the "alternative" party .....

siamdave wrote:

Quoting the Fightback account: "This was totally in violation to the precedence set at every single previous ONDY convention, where young new members to the Party were allowed to sign membership cards and be granted full delegate rights at the door."

In other words, we'll just throw the whole thng open to anyone who has the money to round up busloads of whoever, and pay them a few bucks to go and vote for them. Blatant corruption is sanctified! (think of a guy named Mulroney for one of the more obvious recent examples of where this sort of thing can lead to - but there are other examples from both Bay St parties, and no doubt others...) 

That isnt what it is about. The norm is that you need to have an established membership to exercise your rights as a member. IF anything, IMO that period of time is too long. But virtually no one would argue that the doors should be just thrown open.

What is being said is that at ONDY Conventions, there is an established precedent that 'instant memberships' are allowed. I cannot speak to whether this is true, but the means exist in the ONDP constitution... and the idea makes sense of allowing the exception. The background assumption- obviously flawed- being that no one would try to pack an ONDY meeting the ay you can bet it will be occassionaly tried if the practice of instant members was tolerated and facilitated at nomination meetings or in leadership races.

Too late for this case. But while it may have had good intentions and been seen as harmless, I would say that discretionary power the Secreatry has should be removed from the Constitution.

The sentiment in the NDP against instant memberships is probably too strong for a leadership to think they can get away with this, but the constitutional means exists for them to turn a blind eye to blatant meeting packing at a contentious riding nomination.

Given the way the Convention Chair ignored the procedural rules during last summer's federal convention in Halifax in order to prevent a debate on the name change issue, it seems disingenuous of the party to protest about procedures not being properly followed this time around.  The selective application of rules and procedures by the party poobahs is hypocritical, to say the least.    

I think the fact that whoever set the table up left out the "(a) clause" of the Constitution tarnishes any real arguments about meeting packing.  After reading the blurb that AKA Mycroft posted I see things more from TYND's side (which I didn't before).

The YND is really a place for practicing politics and for those keen about youth specific issues.  Most youth migrate to the main party long before they reach the age limit.

Clearly having a regional convention (and Ontario is a big place) without allocating delegates is just asking for problems.  I wonder how the resource policy discussion went.

If it really only takes 50 people to pack an ONDY provincial meeeting- which would mean you only need to get 50 people to 'counter-pack' it- then, yes, thats pretty pathetic. 

More Keystone Cops than Machievelli.