Federal NDP convention opens with apology for harassment
OTTAWA — The federal NDP kicked off its national convention in earnest Friday with a sober apology from the party’s president to all those New Democrats who have suffered harassment or discrimination.
“There are women within our party — volunteers, staff, MPs — who have survived unacceptable and unwelcome behaviour from peers and people who wield power over them,” Marit Stiles told the nearly 2,000 delegates gathered in a convention centre not far from Parliament Hill.
“They have been embarrassed, demeaned and violated. And in too many cases saw those in powerful positions ignore that conduct or worse, sometimes excuse it.
“Let me say on behalf of all of us, your party, we are sorry. You were failed, and we apologize.”
The mea culpa was the latest response to the anger and frustration over sexual misconduct that birthed the #MeToo movement and has triggered upheaval across Canada’s political scene ever since.
The NDP has not been spared: former Nova Scotia MP Peter Stoffer, long a party stalwart in Ottawa, has faced allegations of sexual misconduct from several women, while the party has launched an investigation into allegations of harassment against current MP Erin Weir.
Stoffer and Weir have denied any wrongdoing, but the allegations have shaken the foundations of the third-place party, which espouses to be a champion of equality and inclusiveness.
Stiles promised the NDP would do better as she introduced a proposed, party-wide policy “to renew and deepen our commitment to end discrimination and harassment and create an environment that is safe and welcoming for all.”
The question of how to better safeguard against misconduct is only one challenge facing the party during this weekend’s convention, where New Democrats are hoping to build momentum heading into next year’s federal election.
Delegates will spend much of the weekend debating and voting on dozens of proposed policy resolutions as they seek to better define the party’s identity in a variety of different areas, including the environment, economy, and foreign affairs.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh waded into one such debate on Friday, in which he pleaded for a re-opening of the Constitution to fix what the resolution called the “historic mistake” of repatriating the document without Quebec’s approval.
“I believe the Constitution should be something that brings the population together,” Singh said in French.
“So all nations, territories, provinces of a country must be included. But right now Quebec is excluded, and the First Nations. We must have the courage to change things.”
The resolution was eventually adopted by a majority of delegates, along with another that urged the introduction of a single tax return administered by the Quebec government, which would then transfer the federal portion to Ottawa.
The resolutions build on the NDP’s previous affirmation that a simple majority of votes in a referendum is enough for Quebec to secede from the rest of Canada, and come as the party looks for ways to shore up its support in la belle province.
The party enjoyed a massive breakthrough in Quebec in 2011 that helped push them into Official Opposition status for the first time, but lost significant ground in the last election.