Andrea Horwath’s NDP ignores its own principles: Toronto clique runs amuck



Were you inspired by Jack Layton’s 2011 general election campaign, and now consider support for Ontario’s NDP in the upcoming 2011 fall election?  I certainly did.  However, I am now reconsidering that support. Just after the last federal election, one such individual signed-up to become a member of the NDP in the Ottawa area. They were encouraged to do so by friends and other supporters. However, it seems that the Ontario NDP does not embrace the values, that it presents itself as having, to Ontario voters.

Local executives of the Carleton Mississippi Mills riding association insisted that one new member, who had also been inspired by Jack Layton's leadership, declare themselves to be a 'visible minority candidate'.  This new member declared themselves, back in early May 2011, to be a "visible minority candidate" in the Ontario NDP’s "candidate workbook", seeking to represent the NDP for the Carleton Mississippi Mills riding, upon the direction of local riding executives. That seems to be innocent enough, doesn’t it? But, the Ontario NDP’s “candidate screeners” began to stonewall that candidate, after they found out that candidate was a visible minority. Apparently Ontario NDP ’head office’ did not want that popular candidate to compete in what they described as a “non targeted”, and predominately white riding. One riding executive in Carleton-Mississippi Mills apparently told that candidate that the riding was not “targeted”.

Say, what?

Dear Ms. Horwarth... Isn't Ontario supposed to be an integral part of the dynamic and multicultrual society that Canada represents, in the 21st century?  How could your party, of all of Ontario's political parties, apparently, turn its back on the affirmation of basic human rights, and dignity for all Ontarians?

You see, that visible minority candidate had a great chance of becoming the NDP‘s candidate in the upcoming Ontario fall 2011 election . He has been a resident of that riding for over 20 years, and had supported Alex Munter's NDP-oriented campaign in previous municipal elections, and had worked in Ottawa area NDP campaign organizations in the 2011 general election. That candidate was on track to potentially sign up hundreds of new members… more members than the current size of the membership list.

Ontario’s NDP apparent reaction: ‘Let’s stall this “black guy” many weeks. Lets get him to sign-up new members. But, we will block his candidacy.’

A Toronto clique of “candidate screeners” then decided that it was going to ignore that candidate’s application for over…. two months! Meanwhile, a white candidate with less academic and professional credentials, who sent in their application months after that visible minority candidate, was quickly processed in days.

It is apparent that the Quebec-wing of the NDP has sought to live up to ‘socially progressive values‘. In contrast, that visible minority NDP member further indicates that the Ontario NDP seems to reflect the “elite-politics and quasi-fascism of Ontario’s transnational labour union culture.”

Welcome to today’s Ontario NDP:  It seems that they are apparently still operating as the clique Ontario voters threw out under the infamous Bob Rae, back in the 1990‘s. How much did Bob Rae’s government do, to redress human rights and social justice issues in Ontario? Arguably, little if any progress was made under Bob Rae's NDP premiership in the early 1990's.  Bob Rae’s NDP government succeeded in alienating Ontario voters from the NDP for decades through reported corruption. It seems that Ms. Horwarth may not have taken the Ontario NDP much further, in rejuvenating the NDP from its apparent lack of political integrity.

How can, we, as Ontario voters, trust the integrity of a party to stick to its principles, and defend our rights, when apparently they can’t even respect the due process and equality rights of their own members? The Carleton Mississippi Mills executive apparently told that candidate that as an NDP member, he has no “free speech” rights, outside of big conventions, and that members of the NDP are expected to conform to the will of elites in Toronto, irrespective of apparent racism, sexism, or other discriminatory treatment.

How about a party, for a change, which respects the democratic rights of members in a riding to elect their own candidate to represent them, without racist and other ant-democratically motivated interference from elite-driven politics? That NDP member who has sought to represent the Ottawa local area riding, further plead to the Carleton Mississippi Mills executive about the need for the party to  respect the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms? But, according to Carleton Mississippi Mills executive, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms  "has no place within the Ontario’s NDP". The Carleton Mississippi Mills executive further apparently elaborated to that NDP member that the Ontario NDP “views itself to be just like any other private corporation”. Y’know, the ones which Andrea Horwath’s NDP is supposed to be defending your rights from, as expressed in the Orange Books….

Unfortunately, today’s Ontario NDP appears to be controlled by a handful of self-serving apparatchiks in Toronto, who lack accountability to the Ontario NDP’s membership as a whole.

It appears that Ontario NDP apparatchiks in Toronto were prepared to interfere in the democratic election of a riding association, in order to make sure that a black/visible minority candidate was not running in a “non-targeted white riding”.

The Carleton Mississippi Mills riding executive had promised to get Darlene Lawson, the Ontario NDP’s Provincial Secretary to redress matters pertinent. However, both Ms. Lawson and Ms. Horwarth have, to-date, failed to redress this human rights complaint against the NDP’s bureaucracy; and hence, the publishing of this article.

Are you seeking a party, in Ontario, which will investigate allegations of racism and other discriminatory practices? Or, alternatively, are you seeking a party in which your equality and democratic rights as a voter... and a potential member.... will be protected?

It is apparent that in this particular case, that the Carleton Mississippi Mills riding executive were complicit in a failure to provide due process, and an overall breach of the Ontario’s NDP’s professed progressive principles.

I had hoped that Andrea Horwarth, a self-declared “socialist”, would ensure that the Ontario NDP’s bureaucracy would be a citadel of human rights and social justice among the main three political parties in Ontario. However, as Andrea Horwarth seeks to become the next Premier of Ontario, it is apparent that she cannot even show leadership within the ranks of her party’s own bureaucracy, as Jack Layton has been able to do for the NDP federally.

Now, I know why the Ontario NDP has not had many visible minorities elected in the Ontario legislature. Ontario’s voters who are seeking a progressive alternative to Dalton McGuinty, may have more to think about in the upcoming fall 2011 election.


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