The New Democrats have lots to celebrate as they convene in Vancouver this weekend. How significant is a proposal to remove the world "Socialist" from the Party's constitution? Just how "new" are the New Democrats willing to become?

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Part Two of The Current

NDP Future - Panel

When the New Democrats gather at their national convention in Vancouver this weekend, they gather as a changed party. They've tripled their numbers in parliament. They're the party of choice in Quebec. The NDP is the Official opposition.

But for all the changes, some of this weekend's debate will likely sound familiar. Voices within the party complain about a shift from principles to pragmatism. Some believe Jack Layton is copying Tony Blair by repositioning the party closer to the political centre.

Gary Doer waded into the debate when the party last gathered in 2009. We aired a clip of the former Manitoba premier speaking to an NDP convention.

The issue is sure to come up again this weekend. One proposal would remove the word "socialist" from the party's constitution. That's a change that is not going to be welcomed by Barry Weisleder. He's the chair of the NDP's Socialist Caucus. He was in our Toronto studio.

And in Vancouver, we were joined by Brian Topp. He is a senior strategist with the NDP and a former campaign director.

And Judy Rebick is an author and founder of rabble.ca and was the co-founder of the new politics initiative back in 2002. She was on Gabriola Island in BC this morning.

Related Links:

• NDP veer right after decades of hugging the left By Mark Dunn - Toronto Sun
• NDP leaving 'socialism' behind - in constitution, policy manual By Joanna Smith - Toronto Star
• Will the NDP become the new Liberal Party? By Murray Dobbin - Counterpunch

   
  

Other segments from today's show:

• Vancouver Riot Video
• Women2Drive Day in Saudi Arabia