B.C. New Democrats vote to ease ties with unions
Last Updated: Saturday, November 26, 2005 | 11:17 PM ET
CBC News
Related
Internal Links
Delegates at the party's convention in Vancouver on Saturday overwhelmingly voted to end the practice of letting unions buy bulk party memberships.
In the future, all new members will have to sign up on their own.
The delegates also decided to use a "one member, one vote" system for future leadership conventions.
Carole James
The leader of the provincial party, Carole James, said the reforms would send an important message to the public and ensure that every New Democrat had an equal say in the party's business.
"The public will take a look and see that we're looking at how we ensure that we're democratic as an organization both inside and outside the party," she said.
The reforms, which were hammered out in months of meetings before the convention, have the backing of many labour leaders.
"I support this resolution because it's not about loosening ties with the labour movement, it's about reaffirming ties with working people and making sure that this is the party that represents ordinary British Columbians," said Jim Sinclair, president of the B.C. Federation of Labour.
Sinclair said the unions and the NDP are traditional allies who will continue to support each other through good times and bad.
Labour representatives will still sit on the NDP provincial council.
The only person to speak out against the new relationship with labour was Lyle Kristiansen, a former NDP member of Parliament.
He said he thought the move would damage the relationship between trade unions and the party.
Less than 10 of the more than 600 delegates voted against the one-member, one-vote resolution.
Premier Gordon Campbell's Liberal government have followed in the footsteps of earlier Social Credit governments in accusing the NDP of being controlled by big unions.
When James won the leadership of the provincial party in 2003, she called for an end to the polarization in B.C. politics and the restoration of balance in the political system.
Under her leadership, the party grew from three seats to 33 seats after the provincial election in May.
Share Tools
Top News Headlines
- Toronto mayor fired chief of staff for telling him to 'go away and get help'
- CBC News has learned the details of what precipitated the firing of Mark Towhey as Toronto Mayor Rob Ford's chief of staff — and it was advice from Towhey that Ford needs to 'get help.' more »
- Federal Court won't remove MPs over robocall allegations
- The Federal Court says it won't throw six MPs out of their seats over allegations of widespread vote suppression through automated robocalls in the 2011 federal election. But Judge Richard Mosley did find that fraud occurred in the election. more »
- Alleged Ford crack video seller not responding to calls
- The journalist who broke the story alleging Toronto Mayor Rob Ford was recorded on video smoking crack cocaine says he may never be able to get his hands on the evidence. more »
- Bridge collapse on Washington interstate drops cars into water
- An Interstate 5 bridge over a river north of Seattle collapsed Thursday evening, dumping vehicles and people into the water, the Washington State Patrol said. more »
Must Watch
Latest Canada News Headlines
- Montreal lifts boil-water advisory
- Mayor Michael Applebaum has given Montrealers the green light to drink their tap water, saying it's safe to drink. He says if it's still discoloured, let the taps run for a few minutes. more »
- Mount Cashel abuse survivors win financial settlement
- Men who were abused by Christian Brothers at the Mount Cashel Orphanage and several schools in St. John's have reached a settlement with the Roman Catholic organization. more »
- Alleged Ford crack video seller not responding to calls
- The journalist who broke the story alleging Toronto Mayor Rob Ford was recorded on video smoking crack cocaine says he may never be able to get his hands on the evidence. more »
- 2nd suspect in Tim Bosma murder case to plead not guilty
- The lawyer for Mark Smich says the Oakville, Ont., resident will plead not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of Tim Bosma, the Hamilton man who disappeared earlier this month after taking two men on a test drive of his truck. more »
The National
The Current
- Politics in the Classroom May. 23, 2013 5:06 PM We visit a place where the rhymes of Dr. Seuss are thought too politically shrill to be heard in a classroom in British Columbia.
- Bridge collapse on Washington interstate drops cars into water
- Toronto mayor fired chief of staff for telling him to 'go away and get help'
- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford fires chief of staff
- Duffy says he wants to give Canadians 'the whole story'
- Montreal lifts boil-water advisory
- Alleged Ford crack video seller not responding to calls
- Pickup truck backs up over mother, 2 children in tent
- Vancouver man abandons Porsche on B.C. ferry
- 2nd suspect in Tim Bosma murder case to plead not guilty

