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Ontario NDP convention

Sights on 71

By WILLIAM STEWART

The biggest convention in the
history of the Ontario New
Democratic Party wound up its
three day deliberations last Sun-
day after re-electing Donald
MacDonald as provincial leader,
putting the stamp of approval
on a host of resolutions and set-
ting its sights on political power
in Ontario in 1971.

Thirteen hundred and twenty-
five delegates jam packed the
roller rink at Bingham ‘Park,
Kitchener and strained the ac-
commodations in the area
stretching back as far as Pres-
ton.

In the eyes of most delegates
it was a leadership convention
and while a raft of business was
carried through, which included
the election of the regular offic-
ers of the NDP, the paramount
question to the delegates re-
presenting almost every nook
and cranny in Ontario was, who
is going to lead the NDP into
the 1971 election? ;

MacDonald was odds on fav-
orite and the only matter really
to be decided was the margin
of victory for the winner and
the depth of defeat for the loser.
Into this battle was poured vast
rhetoric, copious booze, reams
of paper, bags of buttons and
endless signs hectoring deleg-
ates to “vote for Jim” “win
with Mac” “elect Renwick

* Prime Minister of Ontario 1971”

and full size blow ups of Donald
MacDonald. When the parties
were over and the shouting had
died down the delegates drop-
ped their decision into the ballot
box and the margin was seven to
three_ for MacDonald, — 853
MacDonald, 370 Renwick.

Renwick appeared before the
convention with the slogans of
“confrontation politics’ and
“extra parliamentary struggle.”
Both he and his nominator, Jim
Norton from the Steelworkers
Union, made strong pitches to
the delegates for full throttle
leadership by the NDP in head
to head battles against the es-
tablishment at the grass roots-
level. This is the only way we
can win in 1971 was their con-
tention.

Implicit in his remarks was

the charge that the present lead-
ership leans entirely on electo-
ral struggles and that in the
politics of the present this is not
realistic.

The strange thing about the
outcome of the election was
that the majority of the deleg-
ates showed in their reaction to
the resolutions before them that
they favored and insisted on
more direct participation by
the NDP in the day to day
struggles of the people but they
voted more than two to one
against the man who appeared
to champion this process.

When interviewed délegates
explained it this way. Renwick
was appealing to what he real.
lized were the sentiments of the
convention when he spoke. In
reality what he had been buck-
ing for in his pre-convention
work was an orientation of the
NDP away from the trade-union
movement towards the constitu-
ency organiaztions reaching out
for the middle or Liberal voter
in the community.

The real issue at this conven-
tion, so far as the leadership
fight was concerned, they said,
is whether or not the NDP was
going to place more or less em-
phasis on its relationship with
organized labor.

This theory would seem to be
borne out by the election to the
15 member provincial execu-
tive. Eight: of the fifteen mem-
bers are unionists, three of the
five vice presidents are likewise
prominent labor leaders.

In his summary to the con-
vention MacDonald gave place
of preference to an appeal of
the constituency and area or-
ganizations of the NDP to
strengthen their relations and
unity with the unions in their
communities. There were 368
trade union delegates present.

In the race for Presidency, a
post which was left vacant
when Renwick resigned to com-
pete for the leadership, Gordon
Vichert, a lecturer at McMaster
University defeated Val Scott
from Toronto 873 to 303. John
Brewin and Des Morton were
elected as the two representa-
tives from Ontario on the Fe-
deral Council of the NDP de-

John Williamson
LONDON

A new Bill has been introduc-
ed by the Labor Government to
the Commons, which deals with
some limited aspects of extend-
ing democracy into Britain’s
electoral system.

Occupying the central place is
the proposal to give the vote to
all 18-year-olds at all elections.
The aim is to add 3 million teen-
age voters by February 1970.

Another important feature is
the abolition of the “property
qualification” in local elections.
Up until now people occupying
business premises had double
voting rights—where their busi-
ness was located and where they
lived.

This action of the Government
follows reports it received from
two Commissions. One, headed

by Judge Sir John Latey, set up é

to deal with the ‘Age of Major-
ity” recommended this be low-
ered to 18 years. This meant
young people would be able to
marry at 18 without parental
consent, get passports, make
contracts and own and dispose
of property. Their terms of refer-
ence excluded the voting age.

Humorous as it sounds today,
the Committee pointed out that
the reason for the centuries-old
practice of 21 “as the age of
majority” was based on the fact
that in the 11th Century it was
found that the weight of armor
that had to be carried by the up-
per classes was too heavy for
those under 21 years.

While it is expected to be car-
ried in the House, one Tory
leader, Quinton Hogg, has op-
posed it and the Tory mouth-
piece Morning Telegraph said, it
might have been better to have

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—NOVEMBER 22, 1968—Page 6

feating Morden Lazarus and
Lorne Ingle who have held that
office for several years.

In between balloting and pro-
cedural wrangling, which oc-
cupied an inordinate amount of
the time of the convention, the
convention addressed itself to
policy resolutions which in one

way or another reflect the
movements from below in the
party.

The resolutions ranged from
Vietnam (eight resolutions) to
one which complained that
there were too many resolu-
tions to come before the con-
vention.

Here are some of the more
important:

e Vietnam: Demanding an
end to Canadian complicity, ces-
sation of the sale of war mate-
rial to the U.S. for use in Viet-
nam, cessation of bombing,
withdrawal of American forces,
call on Ontario government to
support these policies and to
study ways to convert present
wartime sector of the economy
in Ontario by public develop-
ment of Ontario resources.
Support and participation in
non-violent peace demonstra-
tions. :

e International policy: World
friendship plus assistance to the
needy countries. Trade with all
countries except fascist dictat-
orships. Reassertion of Cana-
dian sovereignty by nationaliza-
tion of companies and corpora-
tions now developing our na-
tural resources to the benefit of
foreign monopoly interests. Im-
mediate withdrawal from NATO
and NORAD. Stay out of OAS.

e Public Ownership. Public
ownership through nationaliza-
tion of natural resources in-
dustry and democratic public
control of all industry through
a system of participatory control
by consumers and workers at
all levels from department up
through plant and industry to
Provincial level.

e Housing: To be a direct
government responsibility along
with land assembly with On-
tario Mortgage to become a
large automated industry prod-
ucing housing with the overall
aim of bringing housing costs

British

“a preliminary reduction to 20
or 19 years.”

Side by side with this posi-
tive step of extending the vote
to 18-year-olds, the Labor Gov-
ernment takes another big step
backwards. Under the cloak of
being forward-looking, they now
propose, in a White Paper, a new
complex composition of the
House of Lords, which would
give this archaic reactionary in-
stitution a new lease on life. In
fact it would give it greater pres-
tige and influence and facilitate
it playing its reactionary role in
present-day capitalist conditions.

In clear opposition to the tra-
ditional Labor movement ap-
proach of abolition, the new
Labor Government proposal
would give the House of Lords
a two-tier system composed of
peers who can vote and speak
and those who can only speak.

down to 20 percent of income

levels. Provincial legislation
which would enable municipal-
ities to enact rent control regul-
ations.

e Party Politics: NDP to get

into party politics at municipal
level.

e Education: Universal ac-
cessability, democratization
through student participation in
direction of all post secondary
schools. Support for proposals
of Hall Dennis Report. Opposi-
tion to military research in uni-
versities connected with milit-
ary aggression. -

e Taxation: Tax capital
gains, land speculation profits
and all other escaping income.
Assumption by provincial gov-
ernment in progressive stages of
costs of education, health and
welfare costs. Tax on industies
that will ensure recovery of costs
of service plus a substantial re-
turn to the people for the use of
their resources. A floor under
taxes to protect low income
groups, cash rebates and a con-
tinued exemption of food and

children’s clothing from the
sales tax.

e Canadian Independence: A
Provincial Council resolution

proposing to set up a corpora-
tion to weigh future economic
growth in favor of Canadian
ownership, but rejecting any ac-
tion to recover industry or re-
sources now under foreign con-
trol, was rejected by the dele-
gates as too weak.

e Northerr. Ontario: A reso-
lution calling for a special pro-
vision for the Northern Ontario
region of the NDP whereby
dues would remain entirely in

electoral

Only Life peers would have

voting rights, but at the begin-
ning, some of the politically
active hereditary peers would be
made life peers.

Membership would be reduc-
ed to about 230 members. Com-
position would be related to the
strength of the Parties in Par-
liament after each General Elec-
tion, giving the Government of
the day a 10 percent majority.

Its power to delay Commons’
bills would be reduced from
twelve to six months. It is also
intended to pay the Life Peers,
who would be appointed by the
Government in Office.

Not only is parliamentary de-
mocracy shrinking with major
decisions being taken by the
Cabinet and only afterwards —

informing Parliament; but re-

cently, even the Cabinet is being

- recalled by the decision of the

their hands was carried bY
majority of the convention °
failed to secure the two-thit
necessary for its passage

e Rand Report: A resolull
opposing the Rand Report Ww
passed after almost all speak
criticized it as too weak. Mc
speakers wanted the NPD 10 i
with the trade unions in 4 P
lic campaign to defeat the }
port including mass demons”
tions, lobby at Queens Park @
strike action across the P
vince if necessary.

The convention also pas
resolutions on Czechoslovak
Biafra, nursery schools, :
affairs, minimum wages,
welfare, separate schools
wound up referring a host
unresolved resolutions 1,
executive council for consid
ation.

Donald MacDonald and
19 other MLA’s of the NDP
back in their seats at the
tario legislature this
where Premier Robarts will
lease his tax plans for OF
citizens. These plans will |
doubtedly = mean increas
hardship and deprivation
working people of Ontari:

The eyes of labor and dé
cratic minded: people will
focused on the NDP: This
be the first post-convé
confrontation betwee?
people and the Bay stt
crowd. If the spirit of the N
convention is lived up to by
MLA’s it could electrify
province and indeed beg! i
the struggle needed to
out the Tories in 197}
elect a democratic majority
Queens Park.

reform |

w of

nt

Prime Minister and a fe
key Ministers.

But an even more mena
shrinkage of democracy a
taking of decisions of vital
cern to hundreds of thous!
of people, by a few indv®
giants.

All the talk about “bala!
regional development” bee?
a cruel joke when these gh
shut down factories right
left as a result of ever-ind!
ing mergers.

The last meeting of the ee
tive Committee of the C-:
heard a report that emphas
that:

“It is this great concent!
of power in the hands of
and the consensus betwee |
tical leaders which is we@ el
democracy in Britain (an@/ °
ing Parliamentary debat®
farces,=

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