Erin Weir To Represent The CCF Party In HOC

Magoo:

As far as I know, if he's not part of the NDP cuacus, and doesn't have anyone else joining him in another party, he can only sit as an independent. So I assume that's what he's doing, and just using the informal "CCF" designation as a publicity stunt.

Weir obviously wants back in to the NDP. Not a bad strategy. 

NorthReport wrote:

Weir obviously wants back in to the NDP. Not a bad strategy. 

A lot of people, especially Baby Boomers and older, are accustomed to seeing the conjoining "CCF/NDP" in political writing. So this might be a good way for Weir to advertise that his values are still the same as the NDP, without sitting as a caucus member.

That is, assuming it doesn't give rise to a lot of snickering along the lines of "Yeah, right, declare yourself a member of a party that doesn't exist, loser. I want what he's smoking."

Good for Erin. It's a statement that social democracy is not defined by some Leader and his secret cabal of handlers. In Canada, it means something greater.

Quote:

I think it was a smart move. He is reminding people of his politics, bringing attention back to it.

Do you mean "bringing attention back to it" because he "affilitated" himself with the CCF a year ago?

Quote:

If this is the case then maybe bringing back the CCF would be a good idea and then maybe people will be able to express outrage again at what is going on in Palestine and Gaza.

You could certainly bring the CCF back right now.  Not that people cannot "express their outrage" without that.  But at least Weir wouldn't be claiming membership in a club that no longer exists.

Mr. Magoo wrote:

Quote:

I think it was a smart move. He is reminding people of his politics, bringing attention back to it.

Do you mean "bringing attention back to it" because he "affilitated" himself with the CCF a year ago?

No, I mean back to his political beliefs and off the harassment topic.

They have already edited the CCF Wikipedia page to reflect his declaration:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Co-operative_Commonwealth_Federation

Not so sure about the alleged connection to Ryan Meili (his election is a very welcome change IMO) but here is some interesting background on that photo upthread, and why Weir might  still consider himself member of a party:

https://www.mjindependent.com/opinion/2018/5/9/rhinos-ramblings-the-pira...

I was wondering over the past few days when the riding association might say something about this.

voice of the damned wrote:

CBC wrote:

The CCF was the NDP's predecessor. Founded in Alberta in the 1930s to represent labour groups and farmers

That makes it sound as if the CCF was founded specifically as an Alberta party, which then spread to other provinces(like Social Credit). But my understanding is it was founded as a national party, and the founding convention just happened to be in Calgary.

Correct.

Misfit wrote:

Didn't Mulcair remove all traces of socialism from the NDP at a convention before the 2015 election in order to appeal to Quebec?

If this is the case then maybe bringing back the CCF would be a good idea and then maybe people will be able to express outrage again at what is going on in Palestine and Gaza.

The one good thing Singh has done is his condemnation of Israeli’s murder of Gazan demonstrators.  He could be even bolder, but then you can say that about the party as a whole.

Maybe because they wanted to keep up their support levels in Quebec because they won all those seats in the Orange Crush.

yes it would have be nice to gain seats elsewhere in Canada, especially in Ontario, but holding on to Quebec which has historically been partial to the Liberal party with a few exceptions like Diefenbaker's and Mulroney's sweeps of Canada, and with the Bloc not a major threat, the Liberals were their main opponent in Quebec.

i can see it, but it was not for Quebec exclusively, but Quebec certainly did factor into it in a major way.

This designation is essentially meaningless as the CCF isn't a registered party. Its the same as how some senators retained the Progressive Conservative designation after the parties merged into the Conservatives.

Essentially an independent by a name he chose, which I suppose is his right. In anycase I think he sees the writing on the wall and that the door for coming back into caucus has closed.

Got this in my email tonight.

Thank you to everyone who has reached out to express sympathy and encouragement for MP Erin Weir and his staff since his expulsion from the federal NDP caucus. We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support!

Join Erin in two weeks for complimentary hotdogs, veggie dogs and drinks at our third annual constituency office BBQ from 12pm to 2pm on Saturday, May 26 at 2024 Albert Street, just north of the 13th Avenue Street Fair.

The CCF Returns to Parliament

As it happens, the BBQ date – May 26 – will be the 86th anniversary of the formation of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) parliamentary caucus.

As reported by CBC and Postmedia, the Speaker has recognized Erin as a CCF Member of Parliament, reflecting his continued commitment to social democratic principles and to rejoining the NDP caucus.

This past week, he was back in the House of Commons representing the people of Regina–Lewvan. On May 10, his member’s statement related the Saskatchewan Transportation Company to the same coalition of farm and labour interests that animated the CCF.

On May 8, he proposed that the federal government extend its carbon levy to the carbon content of imports from countries that do not price emissions and rebate it on Canadian-made exports. Such border adjustments would reduce emissions without pushing facilities like Evraz Steel and the Co-op Refinery to relocate to places with weaker environmental standards.

You can watch videos of these and other interventions on Erin’s Facebook page.

Reaction to the Expulsion

Hotdogs at our BBQ are not the only thing being roasted. Journalists and former MPs are roasting the extreme decision to expel Erin from the federal NDP caucus. Ten examples follow:

“Justice should be blind. It should also not be opaque. In the case of the ousting of Saskatchewan MP Erin Weir from the NDP caucus, neither of those fundamental principles was respected.” – Chantal Hébert, Toronto Star

“This case is sure to become Exhibit A of the #MeToo movement going too far.” – Robyn Urback, CBC

“‘The leader of the NDP had a press conference at the height of the publicity of the #MeToo movement and that made this a big national issue when it should have been handled internally,’ said Lorne Nystrom, a former Saskatchewan NDP MP for 32 years.” – Neil Moss, The Hill Times

“In the end, the crime was ‘not responding to non-verbal cues.’ Oh why did the world close Devil’s Island?” – Rex Murphy, National Post

“To smear Erin Weir’s reputation over a physical proximity issue is to demean the definition of real life sexual harassment . . . we’re talking about an investigation worthy of being seen as a witchhunt.” – Don Martin, CTV

“It appears it is the party condemning Weir for awkward personality quirks. . . . this is simply wrong.” – Murray Mandryk, Regina Leader-Post

“It is not really clear why Erin Weir was actually kicked out of caucus.” – Rosemary Barton, CBC

“NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s decision to kick Erin Weir out of his caucus Thursday was not the direct result of a report by an independent investigator.” – John Geddes, Macleans

“It does not make a lot of sense to me.” – John Ibbitson, The Globe & Mail

“This is completely a mockery of due process and of procedural fairness.” – John Gormley, CJME

Let me try to clarify. The NDP held 50 seats in Quebec. They wanted to maintain those seats in Quebec, and if they felt that removing "socialism" from the constitution was going to hurt their  position in Quebec they would not have deliberately sabotaged themselves by doing this.

Bekayne said in post 18 that it was done likely to appeal to Liberal voters. 

I agree with bekayne on this. It was likely to appeal to Liberal voters. They also had 50 seats in Quebec and the Liberal threat in Quebec were very real to the NDP.

so I mentioned QUEBEC ONLY BECAUSE THEY HAD 50 SEATS TO DEFEND AND THE LIBERALS WERE THEIR GREATEST THREAT.

but yes, what bekayne said is what I also believe. They wanted to get the Liberal vote all over Canada. But they also had 50 seats in Quebec.

robbie_dee wrote:

Got this in my email tonight.

Quote:

Thank you to everyone who has reached out to express sympathy and encouragement for MP Erin Weir and his staff since his expulsion from the federal NDP caucus. We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support!

Join Erin in two weeks for complimentary hotdogs, veggie dogs and drinks at our third annual constituency office BBQ from 12pm to 2pm on Saturday, May 26 at 2024 Albert Street, just north of the 13th Avenue Street Fair.

The CCF Returns to Parliament

As it happens, the BBQ date – May 26 – will be the 86th anniversary of the formation of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) parliamentary caucus.

As reported by CBC and Postmedia, the Speaker has recognized Erin as a CCF Member of Parliament, reflecting his continued commitment to social democratic principles and to rejoining the NDP caucus.

This past week, he was back in the House of Commons representing the people of Regina–Lewvan. On May 10, his member’s statement related the Saskatchewan Transportation Company to the same coalition of farm and labour interests that animated the CCF.

On May 8, he proposed that the federal government extend its carbon levy to the carbon content of imports from countries that do not price emissions and rebate it on Canadian-made exports. Such border adjustments would reduce emissions without pushing facilities like Evraz Steel and the Co-op Refinery to relocate to places with weaker environmental standards.

You can watch videos of these and other interventions on Erin’s Facebook page.

Reaction to the Expulsion

Hotdogs at our BBQ are not the only thing being roasted. Journalists and former MPs are roasting the extreme decision to expel Erin from the federal NDP caucus. Ten examples follow:

“Justice should be blind. It should also not be opaque. In the case of the ousting of Saskatchewan MP Erin Weir from the NDP caucus, neither of those fundamental principles was respected.” – Chantal Hébert, Toronto Star

“This case is sure to become Exhibit A of the #MeToo movement going too far.” – Robyn Urback, CBC

“‘The leader of the NDP had a press conference at the height of the publicity of the #MeToo movement and that made this a big national issue when it should have been handled internally,’ said Lorne Nystrom, a former Saskatchewan NDP MP for 32 years.” – Neil Moss, The Hill Times

“In the end, the crime was ‘not responding to non-verbal cues.’ Oh why did the world close Devil’s Island?” – Rex Murphy, National Post

“To smear Erin Weir’s reputation over a physical proximity issue is to demean the definition of real life sexual harassment . . . we’re talking about an investigation worthy of being seen as a witchhunt.” – Don Martin, CTV

“It appears it is the party condemning Weir for awkward personality quirks. . . . this is simply wrong.” – Murray Mandryk, Regina Leader-Post

“It is not really clear why Erin Weir was actually kicked out of caucus.” – Rosemary Barton, CBC

“NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s decision to kick Erin Weir out of his caucus Thursday was not the direct result of a report by an independent investigator.” – John Geddes, Macleans

“It does not make a lot of sense to me.” – John Ibbitson, The Globe & Mail

“This is completely a mockery of due process and of procedural fairness.” – John Gormley, CJME

Good to see.