‚Eat the Rich‘: Rob Ashton tritt zum Rennen um die Federal NDP bei

>When I hear a leadership candidate suggest that you have to pass a “purity test” to fit into the NDP, I am appalled and deeply disappointed. That framing is frequently used to dismiss calls for justice from marginalized communities — especially Black, Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQ+, disabled, and immigrant workers — who now make up a major part of the labour movement and the working class.

Gazan is wrong. Purity test politics is real and it’s predominant in the NDP. I experienced it myself when I was starting to get into politics back in the day as a student. And Gazan is just perpetuating that.

NDP types apply a purity test on you just to even hang out with them, and if you don’t pass, you can’t sit with them. For me, I was studying economics at the time, and I’ll never forget the look of one guy’s face when he looked offended asking “Why?!? How could you study that?!” I’m not lying. This is a true story. He was a staunch socialist and being a capitalist makes you his enemy, nevermind the nuances, they didn’t want to hear it.

I never experienced it with the Liberals and I found more like minded people there than I did at the NDP. A real Big Tent. I even met former NDP members who switched simply for having more moderate views. The NDP establishment may not necessarily endorse this attitude, but the grassroots does. And the NDP will never form government if they don’t start welcoming differing views from Canadians as a whole.

Anyways, McPherson seems to be the establishment pick, and all her opponents are more traditional in their socialism/labour views. It will be interesting to see if she is coronated, or some contender like Rob Ashton steals the show. He will likely rally the Labour base.