(Redirected from
Socialist Caucus)
The New Democratic Party Socialist Caucus is a far left faction of Canada's New Democratic Party. Its members believe that mainstream New Democrats have moved too far to the Right, and is in danger of becoming another Liberal Party .It also opposes Tony Blair's Third Way policies claiming they alienate the working class.
The NDP SC was founded in November 1998 in Ontario and soon had branches in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia as well as supporters in Manitoba and Quebec.
The group is a democratic socialist faction and advocates the nationalization of certain industries.
The NDP SC is anti-Imperialist, and condemns many of the actions of the United States' government. It supports the Cuban Revolution and has organised trips to the country. The NDP SC also supports the withdrawal of Canada from NATO and NORAD, the independence of Quebec and is opposed to Zionism.
The NDP SC is also active in the NDP's provincial counterparts, especially in British Columbia and Ontario.
The NDP SC views itself as the successor to the Waffle of the 1960's and 70's.
In 2001, the Socialist Caucus ran Marcel Hatch in a leadership challenge against Alexa McDonough. Hatch won 120 votes out of 765 ballots cast. At the same convention the Socialist Caucus supported the New Politics Initiative and aggressively took to the microphones on the convention floor despite pleas by the NPI to turn over their places on the speakers list to prominent NPI supporters. The unpopularity of the Socialist Caucus with convention delegates is blamed by some for the NPI's narrow defeat.
Bev Meslo was the Socialist Caucus' candidate in the party's 2003 leadership election, winning 1.1% of the vote in the party's first One Member One Vote leadership election. Meslo's poor result has led to the Caucus being largely dismissed as a force within the party.
The Caucus is led by a small Trotskyist group, Socialist Action which is led by Hatch and Barry Weisleder.
See Also
External link
Last updated: 10-16-2005 20:31:41
