on the convention floor. Po The founding convention of the New Democratic Party was the largest political Canadians from every provin icy makers at NDP meet sidestep U.S. domination By NELSON CLARKE convention ever held in Canada. Of the 1801 delegates, 681 were official representatives of trade union locals and central labor bodies across the land — a large percentage of them workers from the plants. Over 200 -farmers were present, not as official repre- sentatives of farm organiza- tions, but spread between the 770. representatives of CCF associations, and the 248 dele- gates of New Party clubs. The Newfoundland Democratic Party sent 16 representatives. {The balance of the convention Was made up of members of the National Committee for the New Party, and the pro- visional New Party Commit- tee). Further attesting to the wide interest in the. conven- tion was the presnce of 331 representatives of the press. © The convention was marked by many tumultuous outbursts of enthusiasm, and it is worth noting that the delegates par- ticularly welcomed the report ef the Organization Committee read to the convention by its chairman, Erhart Regier, MP, which declared: “If each and €évery one of the 2,000 dele- gates will asssume personal responsibility we can indeed take over the government of Canada at the time of the next €lection, whenever it comes.” + In -its closing session, the convention gave CCF House Leader Hazen Argue a stand- ing ovation, when he declared that on the basis of its program the party “should go out for political power in the coming €lection.” But it was on its program that the _ convention experi- enced its greatest difficulties. In the opinion of this observer the party will be plagued in the coming months by the re- sults of its failure to come squarely to grips with the cen tral political issue of Canadian politics (and the issue on ; duce capital in our own coun- ce and from almost every walk of life were represented which the NDP could win) =| that is the issue of U.S. dom-i ination, Not one of the keynote Speakers at the convention: David - Lewis, for the -CCF, Claude Jodoin, of the CLC, or Leo Mclsaac of the National Council of New Party Clubs made so much as a reference to this problem. On the ‘other hand, CCF National Leader Hazen Argue in seeking the -post of leader of the New Democratic Party declared, “We think the time has come when we can pro- try. We are looking forward to the day where the industries of the nation are owned and controlled by the people of Canada.” The placards of his support- ers in the convention focussed attention on Canadian inde- pendence: “For a New Can- ada, Elect Argue,” “Argue Against NATO,” and “Re- sources for tomorrow, demand public ownership today.” His successful opponent, T. C. Douglas, confined his re marks on the whole gamut of problems represented by the domination of the big US. monopolies to a general state- ment that while “we will al- ways need to borrow some money from outside, the equity capital which gives Ownership ought to be in the hands of the people of Canada.” It would be a mistake how- ever to conclude that the lead- ership vote (380 for Argue to 1391 for Douglas) reflected the division within the con- vention on this question. Be Mas- ters In Our Own House” and its ringing call for nationaliza- tion of U.S. industries in Can- ada, will wonder why the New Democratic Party could not have adopted a stronger approach to the problem from this direction. Besides the reluctance of the leadership to grasp this nettle which so sharply chal- lenges the present powers- that-be in Canada, and besides the obvious lack of sufficient discussion down below in the trade union movement par- ticularly, it may be that an- other explanation is to be found in the widespread con- fusion that obviously exists in NDP circles on the whole question of public ownership and nationalization. Particu- larly is this expressed in the mistaken view that such meas- ures of advanced democratic reform are equivalent to so- cialism. A’ substantial minority of the delegates, particularly old time members of the CCE. came to the convention con- vinced that the New Demo- cratic Party should adopt a | Socialist program as they un- derstand it. Within this left group there are divergent Opinions, and no little confu- Sion about what constitutes socialism (as there has always been within the CCF), but on force willing and planning. A good number of The fact that Canad fineries have stopped. ing Cuban crude sugat in danger Cuba’s abl continue buying Canadiam ducts. During the first a dian ™ p ed Canadian products ™ value of. $18,145,143, b™ ported to Canada prod! the value of only $16 They advanced theif emphatically in the debat the first section of thé gram which guarantees F, the ~~ for all members of ble {0 a work,” by means of eC? a 4 4, nor aelest agreed with Dorothy of Vancouver who s@ id, plank is completely dis If there was a simple solve unemployment, t ree ‘“e ] nes! of Ww yt’ e™ onl! ies would have done’ S of by control and owney ot the key industries cat “ail sure that jobs will able.” S wer These delegate: co a lecture by Murray e pe # re “ of the Steelworkers ee evils of being <‘doctriné 41 cialists’”” whom he comp# ft? Pharisees in the templ? ols? complain about every? being sinful. In the Y majority of delegates the Program Committee eieanits en elimination of any refet® igh ne “4 0 2; acktt ip ce? socialism, and on its sof pul! ing of advocacy ° ownership. pee vie It must have th8 some wonderment eee both the majority and co! : tion ority at the conven acc’? Premier: Douglas, the national leadershiP; Prime Minister piefe® en it as saying that the issue oo next election will be ” ‘gf : sa]ist) ee terprise versus socialis? : io then going on to say en half of this great conY iste? : pis! I accept the prime " ip i challenge for the iss pot next election.”’ But thes las went on to outline 2 {0a ber of measures neva yest with the direction ° ment, the provision the guarantee of pat! a to farmers, transfer va el an such as good health * op to provide for social ° education for all you? able to make use ° A Dee of them worthwhile pe pore, a reform program, fa representing a soci One point they were clear. age August 18, 1961—PACIFIC TRIBUNE? 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