CAW wants NDP to hold balance of power

Last Updated: Sunday, December 4, 2005 | 12:51 PM ET

CBC News

Delegates from the Canadian Auto Workers union have voted to elect as many NDP members and as few Conservatives as possible.

The union wants the NDP to hold the balance of power in a Liberal minority government, the recommendation passed by the CAW council said.

More than 900 delegates and guests attended the council, the union's "parliament," in Toronto on Saturday.

Buzz Hargrove in early November.

"The best possible outcome of this federal election is another Liberal minority government, with the NDP holding a balance of power," the recommendation reads. "The worst outcome is a Conservative victory (minority or majority)."

The vote was overwhelmingly in favour of a motion to back the NDP if its candidate has a chance of winning, or the Liberal if the NDP candidate does not have a good chance of victory, the union said in a release.

The union will consult with local leaders and activists to prepare a list of endorsed candidates, which will be posted on the CAW website.

In other ridings, "individual voters will need to decide what best contributes to electing a Liberal minority with NDP balance of power, and stopping the Conservatives," the recommendation said.

The release said there was a "lengthy and impassioned debate" with some speakers backing just the NDP, while others argued the recommendation "is a realistic strategy intended to give the NDP the best chance to have an impact in the next Parliament."

• FROM DEC. 2, 2005: Vote Liberal where NDP can't win: CAW boss

Liberal Leader Paul Martin made a pitch to the CAW meeting Friday, and CAW president Buzz Hargrove endorsed the recommendation.

But CAW members in the Saguenay region of Quebec disagreed.

They have adopted a motion condemning Hargrove, saying the union should not support any of the political parties during this election campaign.