The NDP is supporting the intelligence agencies/arms industry/US empire faction of Canada’s ruling class that is stoking tensions with China. The historically left-wing party has amplified childish Conservative attacks, ignored the views of party backers and supported provocative naval missions. The NDP responded to the Liberals’ special rapporteur on foreign interference report by amplifying Conservative... Continue Reading →
Mr. Singh, we don’t need to blindly follow US or Russia
If someone criticizes NDP foreign policy, do they worship Vladimir Putin? Jagmeet Singh says so. On the sidelines of the recent Canadian Labour Congress convention, I asked Singh “why the NDP supports the US empire’s position on China, the NATO proxy war, Iran and pretty much everywhere?” In response he twice stated that the NDP... Continue Reading →
NDP further to right than Macron over China
The French president’s recent statement on China ought to embarrass the NDP’s foreign affairs critic. But with the US empire’s perspective dominating Canadian media it’s unlikely. On a visit to Beijing Emmanuel Macron said Europe should distance itself from US-Chinese tensions over Taiwan. Calling for Europe to avoid being drawn into “block-to-block logic” or becoming... Continue Reading →
Canadian left sinks to a new low during Biden visit
What a state we’re in! The lowest point of the left since the 1950s. The Joe Biden visit proves it. Elizabeth May gave the US president chocolate. Jagmeet Singh and Charlie Angus labeled him a working-class hero. Unifor President Lana Payne wrote that “Pro-equality” POTUS deserved a “Standing O” while the National Chief of the... Continue Reading →
Why does NDP support US neocons’ position on China?
Does the NDP want war with China? Party officials would deny it, but they are promoting measures that increase the likelihood of an apocalyptic conflict. In recent weeks the NDP has jumped on the ‘China interference’ bandwagon. In dozens of statements Jagmeet Singh, Heather McPherson, Peter Julian, Alexandre Boulerice and other party officials have hyped... Continue Reading →
NDP condemns only one of three Latin America coup attempts
It’s good Jagmeet Singh and Heather McPherson criticized the failed 'Bolsonarista' coup in Brazil. It would be better if they also challenged the Liberals’ support for overthrowing governments in Peru and Venezuela. After Joe Biden, Justin Trudeau and a slew of global leaders expressed opposition to the rightist mob that ransacked Brazil’s presidential palace,... Continue Reading →
Heather McPherson praises Cotler, opposes Ukraine negotiations
The NDP foreign affairs critic recently lauded a notorious anti-Palestinian former Liberal cabinet minister. Heather McPherson’s celebration of Irwin Cotler follows on the heels of her maintaining a more hawkish position on Ukraine than the head of the US military. On Thursday McPherson tweeted about meeting Cotler. She wrote, “this afternoon, Professor Irwin Cotler and... Continue Reading →
Understanding the NDP’s Palestine policy
From refusing to mention “Palestinians” to being labeled “dangerous to Jews” for supporting their cause Jagmeet Singh has undergone a remarkable turnaround. The shift over the past 18 months has been propelled by internal party organizing, outside leftist criticism, growing Palestine solidarity and cynical party calculations. On August 26 Singh emailed a small number of... Continue Reading →
It’s not ‘progressive’ to label pacifists ‘Putin stooges’
Promoting a proxy war with Russia isn’t progressive and it’s time to challenge leftists supporting NATO’s dangerous escalation in Ukraine. Last week two protesters interrupted Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’ town hall to denounce her support for Washington’s proxy conflict with Russia. “You voted to send arms and weapons to Ukraine,” yelled Jose Varga. “You’re voting... Continue Reading →
Despite claims to support Palestinian rights Singh “celebrates” Israel
This week Jagmeet Singh attended a reception to promote a state Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the UN Special Rapporteur have all recently accused of committing the crime of apartheid. Even worse, the event was designed to celebrate an odious accord Donald Trump signed to recognize Moroccan colonialism in exchange for Rabat establishing diplomatic... Continue Reading →
NDP must withdraw from Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group
When challenging power, it’s imperative to celebrate victories. But it’s also important to understand the political dance is often two steps forward, one step back. In a victory for thousands of party activists, Jagmeet Singh recently released a statement that sharpened the New Democratic Party’s critique of Canada’s contribution to Palestinian dispossession. The NDP leader’s... Continue Reading →
Curious case of NDP exec attacking party leader on Palestine
Strange that a member of the NDP executive would echo an anti-Palestinian group’s attacks against the party. Weirder still, this executive who disparaged Jagmeet Singh for taking action on Palestine and attacked those saying Israel practices apartheid, has made similar claims in the past. In one of a half-dozen tweets, Ryan Painter shared a recent... Continue Reading →
Supporters of Palestinian rights should praise NDP’s dramatic policy shift
Has a leading Canadian politician ever shifted so dramatically on a major policy issue? Eighteen months ago, Jagmeet Singh refused to utter the word “Palestine” but on Aug. 26 he sent out an email announcing the New Democrats’ position on Israel. It says, “We believe Israel’s illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories is at the... Continue Reading →
NDP policy on Palestine much improved
Over the past year the NDP’s Palestine policy has dramatically improved. It could portend a decisive break from the social democratic party’s anti-Palestinian history. Recently NDP foreign affairs critic Heather McPherson sent a letter to foreign affairs minister Melanie Joly on “Canada’s position on Israel–Palestine”. The accompanying tweet read: “The NDP will fight for the... Continue Reading →
Letter to NDP leadership about foreign policy
Do you understand just how racist and colonial the NDP’s foreign policy seems to many? The party’s apparent racism is on display in its response to widely covered issues such as China and those largely ignored like Haiti. During the federal election campaign in October Jagmeet Singh said Canada should seek to join AUKUS, the... Continue Reading →
Party leaders all promote racist, mythical foreign policy
At the English language election debate Conservative leader Erin O’Toole claimed Canada “led the fight against apartheid” in South Africa. The absurd statement has gone largely uncontested, reflecting a racist, mythologized, view of Canada’s place in the world. Does anyone believe that Canada was a stronger opponent of White minority rule in South Africa than... Continue Reading →
NDP defence critic ignores party policy
Why does the NDP defence critic promote militarism and anti-Palestinian racism? Shouldn’t all critics promote their party’s policies? And if they don’t, what should the party leader do? Randall Garrison complained to the Hill Times that the government’s recent budget didn’t devote enough to the military. In “Opposition MPs say they’re worried about lack of... Continue Reading →
NDP votes for Palestine
On Saturday New Democratic Party members delivered a victory for Palestinian rights and a blow to the Israel lobby in Canada. Over 80% of convention delegates voted for a resolution calling for “Ending all trade and economic cooperation with illegal settlements in Israel-Palestine” and “Suspending the bilateral trade of all arms and related materials... Continue Reading →
Israel lobby’s bid to suppress NDP debate reflects their strength and weakness
At the upcoming NDP convention the social democratic party’s members should have the opportunity to vote on two widely endorsed pro-Palestinian resolutions. But Canada’s pro-Israel lobby groups are pressuring the party leadership to suppress debate regarding a resolution critical of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) anti-Palestinian working definition of antisemitism. They want to suppress... Continue Reading →
Challenging the NDP on Palestine during the election campaign
Last week I interrupted Jagmeet Singh at a public event to criticize the NDP’s suppression of Palestine solidarity activism. Holding a placard with the words “Jagmeet, Palestinian Lives Matter”, I demanded the NDP leader apologize for overturning the vote of members who elected Rana Zaman to represent the Dartmouth-Cole Harbour ridding because she defended Palestinians... Continue Reading →
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