The last two weeks have proven to be a tumultuous time for Canadian politics as our nation learned of the tragic news of Mr. Layton's cancer and his consequential temporary leave as leader of the opposition. What we as a nation witnessed next was people from all walks of political life show their support for the man who single-handedly brought forth an orange revolution of unprecedented proportions.
However, as if not wanting to be outdone, this week sprung up and provided for more political drama, and it's only mid-week. As it turns out, Nycole Turmel, the NDP interim leader, was a member of the Bloc Québécois up until this past January. Ms. Turmel claims she was a member in order to support her friend. But does she even need to be giving her reasons for previously being a Bloc supporter? There are a number of the 59 Quebec NDP MPs who have former separatist ties.
Ms. Turmel's links to sovereignty parties in Quebec are neither shocking nor unprecedented. In fact, there have been MPs from other political parties with previous ties to the Bloc; Maxime Bernier and Denis Lebel from the Conservatives and former Liberal Quebec Lieutenant, Jean Lapierre, to name a few.
The NDP is right to say that other political parties are not in a position to be throwing stones considering the other parties themselves are currently living in a glass house with regards to this issue.
Others are claiming that her very nomination to the post of interim leader puts the entire NDP leadership into question. Does it? They obviously knew about her Bloc ties, and didn't think it was an issue. Should we be surprised that a Québécois MP with heavy unionist ties used to support the only other party far left of center federal party? If anything, does it not seem odd that right leaning Denis Lebel and Maxime Bernier could go from left to right at the drop of a hat, thus suggesting their sole motive for Bloc support was indeed secession and not the Bloc's other leftist party policies?
Ms. Turmel seems to have ties to yet another political party who has secessionist goals: Québéc Solidaire. Ok, sure, I'm sure to the rest of English Canada that seems pretty shady, but here in Quebec, anybody will tell you that if she was a true separatist, she would be voting Parti Québécois, not Québec Solidaire.
The fact that her provincial voting allegiances lay with Québec Solidaire and not the Bloc's sister party should be a clear indication that she is more of a radical leftist than a diehard separatist. In fact, I would be more concerned at the fact that she was willing to align herself with the views of Amir Khadir, rather than the fact that she was a member of a provincial party with a separatist agenda.
It was clear that the entire province of Quebec was looking for a change on Parliament Hill on May 2, and if that includes former Bloc supporters who decide to run for a federalist party, then that is a good thing. When collapsing highways, roads, tunnels and buildings are commonplace, it becomes difficult to put the issue of secession on the political forefront when any future commute to work or leisurely dinner in a downtown restaurant could be potentially fatal. There is an increasing amount of Bloc and PQ supporters that are now realizing there are more pressing issues on the political agenda. This is nothing short of refreshing.
I don't always agree with the NDP's politics, (ok, I rarely agree with their politics), but Quebec does, and the province loves Layton. Jack is the sole reason why Quebecers decided to let their province go from Bloc blue to NDP orange. This is demonstrated by the sheer number of virtually unknown NDP MPs, most of whom did not even bother campaigning for themselves. If you were to ask around in Quebec why people voted NDP, you would be regaled with the answer, "J'ai voté pour Jack" again and again.
The people of Quebec knew they were voting for a federalist party, and although Mr. Layton was quite successful at remaining ambiguous on several key issues involving the French language and secession, nobody in Quebec was voting for Layton with the hopes that the NDP would unilaterally declare Quebec an independent nation. Likewise, Ms. Turmel did not infiltrate the ranks of the NDP on the sly. I hate to disappoint, but there is no secret separatist conspiracy here.
Don't get me wrong; I am always weary of an MP or a political party who does not take a clear stance on the notion of Canadian national unity, which is why I would never vote NDP. But it does not seem to bother NDP voters or insiders. So why should we let it bother us?
Follow Supriya Dwivedi on Twitter: www.twitter.com/supriyadwivedi
but good job suprya for writing about the cons having bloc ties first, now this story seems to be everywhere.
1. Indian men would probably vote for her just based on the fact that she is Indian, because there are no high profile Indians in Canadian politics.
2. There is always sexism that prevails in these situations, just look at Hilary Clinton in the states, so you have a point that this would happen
3. Having said that, as a representative of this sexist minority you speak of, I wouldn't go around being proud of the fact that you are a sexist.
4. Are we really regressing to a time where gender equality needs to be addressed? And we need to make the argument that women can do just as good of a job as men? C'mon.
1. indian men would vote for her if she was traditionally indian, and we have seen that she is not. she is a feminist, which is a dirty word in my culture.
2. i dont think clinton was a sexism thing, but ok.
3. i never said i wouldnt vote for her, i was just trying to bring to max's attn that supriya wouldnt be so loved by all ethnics as he claims, altho im sure she could sweep quebec quite easily without the ethnic vote. also, in order to really get the GTA and vancouver, she would need a punjabi or sikh husband, it would make her more likable.
4. i dont think we're regressing, i dont think we ever reached a time where it was completly equal. im not being sexist, just realistic. i think she would/could do an excellent job (as good a job a liberal can do anyway) i just dont think its realisitc to expect she would ever make it up the ranks as leader, let alone win.
first, i think that NDP voters certainly do care that turmel was/is a separatist..well, the ROC does anyway, even if qc voters dont.
second, as voters, it is our job to care who our leaders are.
third, no other political party has had a former bloc or PQ person as their leader.
turmel is a separatist, otherwise she would have told the bloc she was leaving b/c she was a federalist and not b/c it "had nothing to do with the party's policies".
the NDP is not prepared to lead this country, and we sure as heck don't need somebody else from quebec at the helm.
but i agree, there needs to be more people like turmel (who stop voting for separatism and start voting for smart policy), not less.
Canadian ProgressivÂes Unite!! The NDP has proven that they simply don't have the political acumen to pull off Federal governanceÂ... ProgressivÂes need to come together for the sake of Canada's future.
Read More Here: http://libÂerallibra.Âwordpress.Âcom/2011/0Â8/03/liberÂals-the-ndÂp/
First and foremost: Take the wind out from the NDP sails, not by deriding them but rather by showing better leadership and reminding Canadians of the Liberals proven track record. Ideally, the NDP moderates would openly shift to the Liberals and call on all other moderates in the party to do so as well. Of course, this is a pipe-dream, so the Liberals will have alot of convincing to do.
Second: I believe Justin Trudeau needs to be the party's next leader. There's simply no other option. No more boring old men. With Trudeau there will be charisma, a Quebec connection, and the potential to ignite some voting motivation amongst my younger generation.
Read More Here: http://liberallibra.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/liberals-the-ndp/
turmel should face the consequences like a grown up, although the NDP is notorious for acting like children, case in point.
not quite sure you got the point of this argument...
get ready for another referendum
this needs to be on the front page, or at the very least the politics front page.