Andrea Horwath: Feature Interview

Rabble.ca is running a series of feature interviews with the four ONDP leadership candidates. The first interview is with Andrea Horwath:

Andrea Horwath: Can a fresh face change the ONDP's fortunes?

With less than two weeks to go before the March 6-8 Ontario NDP Leadership Convention, Hamilton Centre MPP Andrea Horwath has emerged as having a serious shot at becoming party leader.

What would having Horwath as leader mean for the NDP? Since the beginning of the campaign, Horwath has openly associated herself with Barack Obama's theme of change and drew deliberate parallels with the new U.S. President by describing herself as a "community organizer." In an interview with rabble.ca, Horwath returned again and again to the concept of rebranding the NDP by virtue of being a leader with a younger, female face.

"When I become leader and the face of the party changes and the party is reinvigorated and reenergized, then people will have an opportunity to look at the NDP with a different perspective. I really believe that's what I bring to this leadership race - I bring the opportunity for growth and change; I bring the opportunity for voters to stop and take a second look at the NDP... I certainly believe that, myself, someone with a different perspective, a different voice, a different look has everything it takes to reinvigorate our party and to re-stimulate interest in the NDP."

She returned to the theme when asked about her strengths.

"My strength is in what I have to offer in terms of really rebranding the party and changing the face of the future for us. And I think not only in terms of the typical look of myself as the brand for the party but also my skills and my history in terms of strong relationships with the labour movement but also strong skills around organizing and growing our base... From my perspective, being 46 years old, the youngest candidate - in fact 10 years from now I'll still be younger than two of the three candidates as they are right now - you know what I'm saying? So I believe that's an important asset and as well I believe that being a woman, providing that difference, that opportunity for the voters of Ontario to have a second look at the NDP in the way they haven't been able to do in the last while is an asset."

When asked about messaging and specifically about the "Get Orange" slogan used in the last election, Horwath, who was co-chair of the NDP's 2007 election campaign, bristled and answered defensively.

"You know what, to be fair in terms of the last campaign - we could have stood on our heads and spit golden nickels and we would not have cut through the faith-based school funding issue. We could have had the most perfect campaign in the world and it still wouldn't have gotten through the Liberal's brilliant move to pull that piece out of the Tory playbook and ram it like a wedge."

Asked directly what she thought the party's message should be in an election, Horwath refused to speculate.

"You can't develop your message now. The message gets developed in the context of the environment as you're leading up to the campaign. I have no idea. I don't know, I mean how deep is the recession going to be, how long is it going to last? ... It's absolutely impossible to do the messaging on a campaign when you have no idea what the environment is going to look like and what the variables are."

Organization is one of the themes she has emphasised. Horwath argues that the party needs to grow its base so that it can be competitive in elections and that this can best be done by partnering with the labour movement. Horwath told rabble.ca that unions "have people infrastructure and they have physical infrastructure in communities across this province. It's not good enough that we just ask them for money when campaigns are on. Look at what SEIU and the Steelworkers did for Clinton first and then for Obama. A big part of his victory was the labour movement getting behind him and doing the on the ground work that needed to be done to connect with voters in communities across the US. We can do that here in Ontario."

Horwath rejects out of hand the claim some have made that she is inexperienced, pointing out that she's been an elected official for 12 years since first winning a seat on Hamilton City Council and has been an MPP for two more years than Peter Tabuns and two fewer years than Michael Prue.

For the rest of the interview please see Andrea Horwath: Can a fresh face change the ONDP's fortunes? at rabble.ca

New Platform Plank: Legal Reform

This is The Ginger Project's proposed platform plank in the area of legal reform. Please note that this plank was formulated with the assistance of Will Hutcheson:

Legal Reform:

The legal system in Ontario is great need of reform, especially in administrative areas. As a province we are grossly underspending and the result is that the system is overburdened and in danger of falling apart.

Fixing these problems is of tremendous importance to ensure the proper protection of the rights of those before the courts and to avoid miscarriages of justice, which undermine the system's credibility. It is neither in the interests of society nor of victims for this to occur.

A Socialist NDP would:

1. Hire more judges, clerks etc. Courts are currently extremely overburdened, especially in the suburbs. Often in our criminal courts it takes over a year to get a trial date in even the simplest case. Trials are being thrown out because they take so long, and thereby end up violating the rights of the accused. There are equally grave problems in the family courts. This results in many cases of injustice as people take deals that they shouldn't because they can't wait any longer, people spend too long in prison waiting for trial or too long without spousal support, etc.
2. Fund legal aid better: The underfunding in this area is an absolute disgrace. Without access to proper legal representation for all there is only justice for the rich. The very poor alone qualify for legal aid and even then only in certain areas of the law. There is a huge segment of the population, primarily the middle and working classes who can neither get aid nor afford proper legal assistance. This must end.
3. Fund prisons better. Poor conditions in our prisons and jails are neither morally right nor in the interests of prison guards. Further, many in jails have only been accused of crimes, not convicted. Forcing them to live in substandard conditions when they may never be found guilty of anything is unacceptable.
4. Synchronize court rules. There are different procedures in different courts across the province. This results in delay and extra costs as most lawyers represent clients in many different courts.

Healthcare Policy

At long last, the Ginger Project is presenting it's first draft of a healthcare policy. As with all of our policies, we are welcoming feedback, discussion and suggestions on improvement.

Healthcare:

A socialist NDP must work to provide accessible, comprehensive healthcare coverage for all Ontarians.

Since the cuts of the 1995 Federal Budget (and additional cuts by successive provincial governments) Ontarians have seen a reduction in healthcare services covered, hospital closures and privatizations that have led to increased costs for services.

However, while acknowledging the impact that budget cuts have had on the healthcare system, we as socialists must also recognize, that an effective healthcare system must not simply be measured by how much money is spent, but by the actual health and welfare of it's population. For a publicly funded healthcare system to be effective, it must pool it's resources to serve the needs of the population effectively, particularly the working class, visibile minorities and individuals who do not have private, comprehensive healthcare coverage.

To that end, a Socialist NDP should advocate the following reforms in healthcare:

• End the funding of private "boutique" clinics for MRIs, CT scans, and other services.
• Establish long-term strategic plans for health-care funding based on population demographic trends.
• Increase investment in IT to provide electronic health records for all Ontarians.
• No longer utilize the P3 business model for the construction of new hospitals.
• Ensure full transparency in bidding process where private sector is used in short-term projects.
• Increase the number of spaces within Medical schools in Ontario.
• Provide incentives to graduating medical students to work within remote areas of Ontario.
• Increase the number of chronic disease beds to 1993 levels.
• Increase investment in preventitive medicine and chronic disease management.
• Where the private sector is utilized for government projects such as construction, consulting or
• other services, the bidding process must be completely accessible to the public.
• Ensure that the provincial government implements no policies that violate the Canada Health Act.

NDP Left & The Ginger Project Present: Toronto Round 4 The Leadership Round

The NDP leadership convention is at hand! Soon, the party will have chosen its new leader.

As we all know, The Ginger Project grew out of a protest against the ONDP leadership fees and has flowered into a left-wing think tank whose aim is to formulate a broadly based, socialist agenda that will help to push the party to the left and to get it to acknowledge the need to have an ongoing platform at all!

Our first three Toronto meetings have been a great success.Now it is time for something a bit different!

Round Four, less than a week before the convention and membership will select the next leader, seeks to take the best parts of the already existing leadership candidate's platforms and blend them with whatever new ideas are brought forward by the "non-partisan" in attendance.

Once again it will held at The Library Pub, upstairs of The Imperial Pub, at 54 Dundas St. E., just a couple blocks east of the Dundas subway station. It will be at Monday, March 2nd, 7 pm.

The Ginger Project is strictly neutral in the leadership campaign, but we know that all the candidates have ideas that should be included in any broader party platform, regardless of who eventually wins. We know that every campaign, and all party members (and, in fact, non-members) have much to add to the discussion. And we want to hear from them all!

Bring the best ideas you have heard from the candidate you support, or even from the one you do not! Bring the ideas (and there are many) you feel have been left off the table altogether. Tell us, if you want, why your candidate is the one we should all rally behind, or why you think that something is lacking.

This is YOUR chance, in a neutral enviornment, to say what you think about where the party is headed, where it should be headed, and who it should be headed by!

All of us, together, can create the better, more left-wing, more democratic, and more street-based party that we want to see.

Whether you are a supporter of our group or not, invite your friends and come on out and enjoy an evening of debate, discussion, democracy and drinks!

Ginger Round Three: The Results Are In!!!

This past Saturday was the third of the Toronto meetings of the project, and as with the previous two it was an energetic and enthusiastic success. We had members of the ONDP Executive and Provincial Council present, as well as prominent supporters of both the Peter Tabuns and Michael Prue campaigns.

The progress we have made on some essential planks, such as housing and health, was discussed, as well as the need to expand in other areas.

Susan Gapka, who is running for the office of LGBT representative, spoke eloquently and at length on the need to expand the platform in areas of significance to this community, including on topics related to poverty and immigration, which are often overlooked.

The needs of cities in areas of transportation and infrastructure were looked at, with discussion given to the examples of American and European cities in revitalization of urban environments and the example of London, in the United Kingdom, in its toll program.

Debate was held as to the extent to which a provincial platform can tackle efforts to place sectors of the economy under worker or public control, and Danny Williams was cited as a Premier who may have come up with a way for provincial governments to flex their muscle when corporations who have received extensive government support attempt to uproot with no regard for the community that sustained them.

Natural resources were discussed, with primary talk revolving around water. This was noted as being of great significance in the north and rural areas. Lead pipes, the downloading of testing and the little known fact that many communities face frequent boil water advisories were also touched on.

The recent, and very negative, "reforms" at the Ontario Human Rights Commission were dealt with, and there was a heated and interesting debate around the Catholic School funding issue; a debate which exposed a certain lack of consensus in this area.

Finally, the need for municipal accountability was looked at, with broad agreement around the need to have a Municipal Ombudsperson and to abolish the Ontario Municipal Board.

Thanks to all who attended, and we look forward to seeing everyone at the next round!

Broadbent backs Tabuns

A new batch of endorsements has hit the wires in the past few days. Word is just in that former NDP leader Ed Broadbent is backing Peter Tabuns saying "Peter Tabuns has exactly the qualities of leadership the party and Ontario need. He is very intelligent, has a comprehensive view of social democracy and has the capacity to persuade new people to come with us."

Last Friday, Peter Kormos, the left's candidate in the last leadership convention, backed Andrea Horwath. We've also learned that Richard Johnston, the left wing NDP MPP who came second to Bob Rae in 1982 leadership convention, has endorsed Michael Prue.

UPDATED: This just in - former Ontario Finance Minister Floyd Laughren has endorsed Michael Prue.

REMINDER: Toronto Ginger meeting this Saturday

Just a reminder that our next meeting is SATURDAY at 2pm at the Imperial Pub (upstairs) 54 Dundas Street East. This is a great chance for a pre-debate debate before the Toronto all candidates meeting the next day.

Here is the announcement we sent out earlier:

NDP Left and The Ginger Project Present: Toronto Round Three!

Note: NEW DATE - THE MEETING WILL NOW BE ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7th to avoid a conflict with the Toronto leaders debate the next day

Round One was a great success, with a varied and interesting discussion,a terrific turnout, new additions to the platform, and new thoughts on our direction.

Round Two brought a vibrant discussion about party democracy and why building an evolving party platform is so important.

The group felt the discussion was so good, and the need to do more before the convention so important, we resolved to have the third meeting sooner than before!

Now is time for Toronto Round Three!

Join us again at The Library Pub (upstairs at The Imperial) and help us create a Socialist Platform for the NDP. This is located at 54 DundasSt. E., in the heart of downtown Toronto, one block east of the Dundas subway station. It will be held Saturday, February 7th starting at 2pm.

THIS TIME IT IS ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON! This way those of you who have had problems with weeknight events or Wednesday events can hopefully make it.

If you were at the last meeting, come again to see the unveiling of new planks and to assess our progress. If you missed it, now is your chance to contribute.

Together we can push the new leader of the Ontario NDP and the upcoming NDP convention to adopt an agenda that signifies a left-shift and a new street based politics!

Whether you are a supporter of our initiative or not, invite your friends and come on out and enjoy an evening of debate, discussion, democracy and drinks!

Kormos endorses Horwath

This just in:

Attention News Editors:

Kormos endorses Horwath for NDP leadership

    QUEEN'S PARK, Feb. 6 /CNW/ - Today, New Democrat Peter Kormos declared his support for Andrea Horwath in her bid for the leadership of the Ontario New Democratic Party. "Andrea Horwath is experienced, smart, and hardworking. Ms. Horwath is committed to building NDP support across the province," Kormos stated. "She has good political instincts. People like her and trust her. Andrea is the leader we need to take the NDP into the next decade."


Though not entirely a surprise given their geographical proximity it will come as a surprise when one considers Kormos' reputation as a left-winger and Horwath's reputation as a moderate.

This post is made in the interests of reportage; the Ginger Project is not endorsing any candidate in this race.

NDP leadership race: Show us the money

Following up from my look at leadership candidate endorsements, let's look at financial contributions to the candidates as reported to Elections Ontario. This is only a partial picture as Elections Ontario only lists donations in excess of $100 and doesn't give an overall total of donations to each campaign. Therefore, a candidate who isn't pulling in as many large donations may actually have raised more money overall from $10, $20, $50 or $100 contributions.

Keeping that in mind let's look at what the public record does tell us.

Michael Prue has raised a total of $35,700 from contributions of more than $100 from a total of 29 contributors. This includes a total of $10,000 from Prue and his wife.

From unions, Prue has received $400 from Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 (representing TTC workers), $500 from the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation and an additional $1000 from OSSTF District 12 (representing Toronto public secondary school teachers) for a total of $1,400 from unions.

Private sector donations consist of $700 from Atlas Holdings & Investments, $500 from The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario, $1,000 from Totto Spa and $200 from Ray & Company Ltd and $200 from Aetna Pest Control Ltd, for a total of $2,600 in private sector donations. (I'm not including $200 from the Brotherhood of Pontion Association which seems to be a Greek cultural association).

Among individual donors are Ottawa city councillor and former MPP Alex Cullen, former London West NDP candidate Gina Barber and John Antonopoulos - a leader in Toronto's Greek community.

Gilles Bisson has raised a total of $35,570 from contributions of $100 or more (again, this doesn't include individual donations of $100 or less, nor do we have any idea how many donations under $100 have been received) from total of 69 contributors - Bisson isn't listed as one of the contributors.

Among union donations, Tabuns has received $5,000 from United Steelworkers Local I-2995 which mostly represents workers in the timber industry though it also has a significant number of health and education workers among its members and $500 from United Steelworkers District 6 (which covers all of Ontario). Bisson has also received a total of $2000 from the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association and its northeastern district; $500 from Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113, $500 from the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation, $250 from OPSEU, a total of $500 from the Teamsters union and $200 from the French Catholic teachers union for a total of $9,450 from unions.

Bisson's the only candidate who has received a significant number of donations from business or business associations including $5,000 from Timmins Forest Products Ltd., $1,000 from Dumas Contracting, $1,000 from Royal Lepage Northern Realty Leaders, $1,000 from Timmins Porcupine Insurance Brokers Association, $500 from the lobbying firm of Leonard Domino & Associates, $500 from the corporate law firm of Martineau, Fasken, $250 from the Ontario Mining Association, $200 from the Association of Day Care Operators of Ontario (which includes for-profit and non-profit child care operators) and various other donations from small companies, business and professional associations totaling a total of $14,900 from the private sector (excluding donations of less than $100). Unusually, Bisson has also received a donation of $400 from a school board, the Conseil Scolaire catholique de district des Grandes Rivières.

Among individual donors to Bisson's campaign are former ONDP chief organizer Bill McBain and past NDP candidate Ben Lefebvre.

Peter Tabuns has the largest donor base for contributions of more than $100 with 107 donations listed but is running behind Bisson in actual donations having raised $33,105 (counting only donations of $100+). Since Tabuns seems to have a larger overall contribution base than Bisson or Prue it's likely he also has more contributions below the $100 limit and therefore likely has raised more money overall - but this is just an educated guess. Tabuns has received several donations from unions - $5,000 from CUPE Local 1 (representing workers at Toronto Hydro), $3,000 from OPSEU, $1,000 from OSSTF District 12 (ie Toronto public secondary school teachers), $1,000 from the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association and $1,000 from the United Steel Workers for a total of $11,000 in $100+ donations. Unions are unlikely to make a donation of less than $100 so this is likely a complete or close to complete list of union donations to the Tabuns campaign thus far.

There are no donations from corporations or small businesses.

Among the notable people who've donated are former party president Janet Solberg (a member of the Lewis clan), former cabinet minister Zanana Akande, former federal and provincial secretary Jill Marzetti, Mel Watkins (co-founder and former co-leader of the Waffle), medical reformer Dr. Michael Rachlis, ex Toronto School Board chair Beare Weatherup and former MPPs David Reville and Anne Swarbrick. Tabuns has contributed $4,000 to his campaign while his partner, Shawn Kerwin, has contributed $1,000.

Andrea Horwath has raised a total of $18,325 in donations exceeding $100 from 22 contributors. However, she has raised more money from labour (again counting only $100+ donations) than any other candidate with a total of $12,500 in union contributions - $5,000 from UA Local 167, $3,000 from OPSEU, $2,500 from IBEW Local 105 and $2,000 from CUPE Local 786. No contributions from the private sector are listed. Among indivdual donors are former OPSEU President Leah Casselman, John Van Beek of SEIU, former NDP candidate Sheila White, columnist and NDP activist Scott Piatkowski and CUPE Local 1281 president Denise Hammond.


In summary, Prue has raised the most in $100+ donations with $35,700 while Tabuns has the greatest number of $100+ donors with 107. Horwath is trailing in both amount raised and number of donors but has raised the most amount of money from unions and Bisson has raised the most from the private sector.