The unelected three person NDP vetting committee’s decision to block members’ right to choose who they want to lead has revitalized No Democracy Party claims. But if you read their rationale it gives oxygen to the No Activism Party descriptor.
In the largest international focused protest movement in Canadian history, there have been several thousand rallies/marches against Canadian complicity in Israel’s genocide over the past two years. NDP MPs barely attended a dozen of them. Former leader Jagmeet Singh didn’t join any and it doesn’t appear interim leader Don Davies has either.
Rarely have NDP officials defended the many thousands who’ve been arrested, fired or smeared for opposing Canada’s contribution to Israel’s holocaust. In fact, party representatives have repeatedly criticized grassroots activists. In the highest profile example, Singh followed the apartheid lobby in smearing protesters, claiming a Toronto march where Spiderman for Palestine climbed on a ledge “targeted” a hospital “because of its ties to the Jewish community.” It was total nonsense.
In another high-profile example, NDP MPs Heather McPherson, Leah Gazan and others echoed those suggesting all manifestations of opposition to Canada’s complicity in genocide was illegitimate. After activists rallied in front of foreign affairs minister Melanie Joly’s home in Montreal Leah Gazan posted “this is appalling full stop!”. For her part, NDP foreign critic Heather McPherson posted, “This is appalling. People do not have to agree with politicians and elected representatives, but to harass them at their private homes is completely and utterly unacceptable.” (Demonstrations at politicians’ residences are not that uncommon.)
In another similar instance, Avi Lewis labeled as “childish & gross” protesters who posted signs and slogans on disgraced anti-Palestinian BC NDP minister Selina Robinson’s riding office in February 2024. But even the police subsequently reported that everything “had been cleaned up and there was no physical damage located” at Robinson’s office.
The NDP vetting committee’s decision to exclude my candidacy oozes with hostility to activism. Drafted by lawyer Dimitri Lascaris and campaign co-manager Bianca Mugyenyi, the conclusion of our rebuttal notes:
“When you examine the totality of these accusations, a clear picture emerges. The message is that serious activism has no place in institutional politics. Every allegation of “intimidation” or ‘harassment’ turns non-violent, public accountability work (asking hard questions at press conferences, attending protests, joining demonstrations) into something suspect and illegitimate. In other words, what is being objected to is the very idea that ordinary people have the right to confront power directly.
“What makes Yves ‘unacceptable’ to this committee is precisely what makes him valuable to a great many members and social movements: he has been too forthright, too persistent, too willing to name Canadian complicity in war, racism and exploitation. The subtext of these accusations is that activism should stay within a narrow band of liberal respectability – carefully distanced from the people being bombed, occupied or impoverished by Canadian policy. Mr. Engler’s language is denounced as ‘too strong’ not because it is dishonest, but because it refuses to prettify realities like genocide in Gaza, NATO wars, or the plunder of Congo. Those who are comfortable with injustice will always find such clarity ‘unsafe.’
“This is a dangerous standard for any party that claims to represent workers, oppressed peoples and social movements. If showing up where politicians are, asking unwelcome questions, and refusing to make peace with colonial, militarist policy is redefined as ‘intimidation,’ then every serious climate striker, housing organizer, anti-racist campaigner or union militant will be next in line. The effect is a chilling message: you may canvass, donate and vote – but do not bring the truth-telling energy of real movements into the heart of politics.
“The Yves Engler campaign is built on a different premise: that the NDP should be a home for those who challenge empire, capitalism and racism in practice. The campaign slogan – ‘Activism. Socialism. Justice.’ – is a commitment to the idea that meaningful change comes when organized people confront organized power. The attacks on Mr. Engler’s record are, in substance, attacks on that principle. Rejecting this campaign on those grounds is not only unjust to one candidate – it is a warning shot aimed at activism itself.”
A simple message to those in the party who think banning my candidacy is a good idea: Be careful what you wish for.
Please email the NDP’s Federal Council to demand they overturn the three-person vetting committee’s decision to reject Yves Engler’s candidacy.
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