Delegate selection meeting for NDP Convention
Are you a paid-up member of the federal New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP)?
If so, we need your help at the party's local riding association meeting.
"Delegate selection meetings" are being held in all 338 federal ridings throughout January to February, to elect local party members who will be eligible to vote at the NDP's National Convention. The convention will be in Edmonton from April 8-10, 2016. Some of these delegate selection meetings (DSM) have in fact, already taken place.
For those local DSMs which have not yet transpired, we need pro-life, pro-family individuals to put their names forward, so they're eligible to go to Edmonton and represent their riding association at the convention. At the very least, we need you at the local riding association meeting to vote for any pro-life members who wish to become delegates.
Be the life of the party
CLC is aware that some of our pro-life supporters have an affinity for the NDP. Obviously, that would be for reasons unrelated to the party’s support for moral evils like abortion and euthanasia. We need those pro-lifers to attend the NDP convention and do the hard work of attempting to change this officially “pro-choice” party from the inside out, through new policy resolutions, lobbying, and leadership votes.
Sadly, the NDP is officially pro-abortion, having abandoned long ago, the values of its working class, grassroots supporters, with respect to sanctity of life and the family. For many years, the NDP has had a stunningly discriminatory policy which bans pro-life Canadians from running as candidates.
Nonetheless, it woudl be desireable to have pro-life New Democrat members at the national policy convention as delegates, so they can try to change that draconian policy. For instance, it would represent a big win if delegates were to pass a policy allowing NDP members of parliament to vote their conscience on abortion.
The road to restoring respect for the human rights of preborn children within the NDP Party will be difficult. It will take many years. And it will be resisted fiercely by the ruling establishment. However, that work needs to begin now.
How does the delegate selection process work?
Parties will hold DSMs in each of the 338 federal riding associations. At the meeting, a certain number of members per riding association will be elected as “delegates” to attend the National Convention, representing their local riding association. These delegates will be able to shape policy, to vote on party policies, and to vote for the party's executive officers.
If you’re interested in attending, you’ll need to contact your local riding association (also called an electoral district association, or EDA) and ask for the date of the delegate selection meeting for the 2016 national convention. You can click this link here to visit the NDP website where you'll be able to input your postal code, hit <Enter>, and get contact information for the president of your local EDA. Ask the president if the delegate selection meeting for the Edmonton convention has taken place yet.
We need paid-up members of the party to attend the delegate selection meetings which have not yet taken place. We need pro-life, pro-family individuals to put their names forward to go to the conventions and represent their riding association.
Please note that you must have been a member of the New Democratic Party prior to the date of the delegate selection meeting.
Why is it important for pro-life/family individuals to become delegates?
Because they'll be entitled to do the following two things at the National Convention:
#1) Vote on official, grassroots, party policies to guide the party through the future
As a delegate, you'll be able to vote against the anti-life, anti-family policies that have become so en vogue in the NDP party. You'll also be able to vote in favour of good policies, if they are proposed by other pro-lifers, that try to undo the harm caused by an anti-life establishment leadership.
#2) Elect a new Executive Council
Riding delegates will be able to vote for pro-lifers who run for the National Council positions in April. National councillors acquire significant ability to influence party decisions and election strategy. Delegates will also be able to throw their own name in the ring to run for the executive, which is a very worthwhile goal that CLC encourages.
Can I still help the cause, even if I don't wish to/cannot travel to the conventions?
Absolutely. Contact your local riding association, find out when the delegate selection meeting will take place, and then attend the meeting.
Before the vote, you can speak to all the delegates, ask them questions, and ascertain which ones are socially conservative vs. socially liberal. Then, vote for the so-cons so they can be selected and thus, be able to vote for a pro-life executive council and for pro-life/family policies.
Is there a cost to becoming a delegate?
As a rule, successful delegates have to pay their own airfare, accommodations and convention registration fee. It's a significant cost outlay. However, riding associations often choose to cover some of these expenses.
Keep in touch
Please e-mail Campaign Life Coalition by clicking here to let us know whether or not you will be able to attend your local delegate selection meeting.
