The federal New Democratic Party will consider dropping the word "new" from its name when delegates gather for the party's annual convention in Halifax in two weeks.

The 1,000 delegates expected to attend the conference will either move to adopt the abbreviated moniker right away, reject it, or appoint a task force to study the name change.

Ontario NDP Brian Masse, who is in favour of a change, said the current name is dated.

"Is it another 50 years that we stay 'new'? Another 100 years?" Masse told CBC News in an interview Tuesday.

"We've established ourselves in the mainstream, and [we're] going to be there for the future, so to me it's about an exciting opportunity to talk about renewal."

"A number of different riding associations … have put forth motions" calling for a name change, Masse said. "It will be up to the grassroots" to decide what to do during the Aug. 14 to 16 convention.

Parallels to U.S. Democrats?

One of the keynote speakers at the convention will be Anita Dunn, the communications director for Barack Obama's U.S. presidential campaign.

Masse dismissed suggestions that by changing its name to the Democratic Party, the NDP may be trying to bask in the reflected glory of the Democrats in the United States.

"I think Canadians will know the difference between Barack Obama and [NDP Leader] Jack Layton," he said.

When asked of the likelihood of a name change, Masse responded: "it's hard to say."

But he added that regardless of the outcome, provincial wings of the NDP should be able to make their own decisions about a possible name change.

The NDP's roots go back to the early 1930s, when a coalition of western socialists formed the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation.

The CCF changed its name to the New Party in 1960. The following year, the name was changed to the New Democratic Party, and Tommy Douglas was chosen leader.