New Democratic Party
NDP website
The New Democratic Party was founded in 1961, bringing together the Prairie-based Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and the unions of the Canadian Labour Congress. In its constitution, the party advocates "the application of democratic socialist principles to government and the administration of public affairs."
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Jack Layton |
But in past federal governments, the party’s numbers have usually left it lost in the shuffle. Although their House numbers are not much bigger this time, the party and leader Jack Layton have managed to make their votes count.
Layton has enjoyed a year and a half as kingmaker. His party was elected with 19 seats in June 2004, just enough to help the Liberals get their budget through the next spring. The famous deal between Liberal Leader Paul Martin and Layton saw $4.6 billion in NDP spending priorities added to the budget just before the vote.
When the opposition parties wanted to push for an election after the Nov. 1, 2005, Gomery report, it was up to Layton to decide whether his party would continue to support Martin’s Liberals.
According to the NDP, job creation should be Canada's top economic priority. The party accuses the Liberals of abandoning workers, and reducing access to Employment Insurance and training programs.
The NDP also says health care is being underfunded. The party says the federal government should pay 25 per cent of the cost of health care, and work to institute national home-care and pharmacare programs.
The party also says national standards would guarantee access to the same quality of health care for all. The NDP advocates withholding payment to provinces that allow private health care.
The party also advocates for the decriminalization of marijuana. The NDP says drug policies should be health-based and focus on harm reduction, not criminalization. The party argues that criminalization encourages the illegal drug trade. The legislation to pass marijuana decriminalization died on the order papers when the government ended.
Education is high on the list of priorities for the party. The NDP says it would lower tuitions, introduce federal grants for post-secondary education, and offer interest-free student loans.
On the international stage, the NDP would like to see new trade and investment rules that take the environment, human rights, labour standards and cultural diversity into consideration. It wants culture, health, education and water exempted from trade agreements.
Like the other opposition parties, the NDP will use attacks on Liberal ethics as a large part of its campaign strategy.
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