Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

'New Democrats are serious about victory'

by Aaron Wherry on Thursday, August 13, 2009 10:56am - 18 Comments

Jack Layton lets slip the NDP’s secret plan to win the next election.

Premier Dexter’s victory is an inspiration to New Democrats from Halifax Harbour to Vancouver Bay. But the road to victory in Nova Scotia – just like Premier Doer’s in Manitoba – was long.

They built slowly with good candidates, sound new policies, and focused discipline. Critics often said they had no chance of winning. They say the same thing about federal New Democrats.

But we know that victory will not happen overnight. We are pursuing a similar strategy of incremental growth.

Tags: convention, Darrell Dexter, Gary Doer, Halifax, Jack Layton, NDP, NDP convention

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http://intensedebate.com/people/jolyon jolyon

"We are pursuing a similar strategy of incremental growth."

NDP have been growing 'incrementally' for 50 years but I think they should be speed up the process a bit. When do they plan on becoming Official Opposition, never mind government. Sometime in the next 50 years or is that too soon?
Mike R

"Vancouver Bay"? I don't think I, or anyone else who lives in Vancouver has heard that expression before.

Is this some newly discovered geographic feature of the West Coast? Or perhaps it exists in the alternate universe Mr. Layton is moving to, where the NDP has a chance to form a federal government.

http://intensedebate.com/people/IanBC IanBC

That's exactly what I thought too. There's a Vancouver Bay near Campbell River, but I'm guessing that's not what he meant. Probably he's thinking of English Bay, and considering he was doing a cha-cha next to it two weeks ago I would expect him to remember the name. But I guess it's a big country…

http://intensedebate.com/people/Stewart_Smith Stewart_Smith

Probably he was talking about the Bay (store) at 674 Granville Street.

Sigh

That makes sense. The place is teeming with inspired New Democrats.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

To their credit, the NDP have done well with their Nova Scotia MPs. Check out Megan Leslie (best rookie) and Peter Stoffer (most collegial).

http://intensedebate.com/people/WDM WDM

Stoffer is a great, non hyperpartisan MP. Does a lot of good work. I have a sneaking suspicion he drives Layton nuts.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

I think it's hilarious that some hyperpartisan blog commenters thumbed me down for praising some non-hyperpartisan NDP MPs.

http://www.cnn.com Lance

Vancouver Bay is great his time of year.

Mike R

And has a wonderful view of the Rocky Mountains. Just ask the Governor General.

http://phantomobserver.com PhantomObserver

Well, if you'll recall, Harper adopted an "incremental" approach too. Seemed to work in 2006.

Nice to see ol' Jack learning from Harper, isn't it?
http://intensedebate.com/people/BCerInToronto BCerInToronto

Vancouver Bay?

I hope he also took time to praise the "local sports team" for their fine play this year.

Mike R

And it has a lovely view of the Rocky Mountains. Just ask the Governor General.

http://intensedebate.com/people/WDM WDM

1 – There is a huge difference between Dexter/Doer and Layton.
2- What about the poor Dippers on the Rock? Poor Jack Harris
http://intensedebate.com/people/zamprelli4731 Zamprelli

From the Halifax Fjords to Nelson Sea! From Nunavut's sandy beaches to the glaciers of southern Alberta! O'er the wheat fields of Cornerbrook, 'cross the deserts of Churchill, 'neath the purple skies and flying monkeys of Emerald City, Sask., we WILL form the next government of parallel-universe Canada!
R. Allan

I Googled "Vancouver Bay" and found that it is a town on the Jervis Inlet, the name for the mouth of the Vancouver River and the the name of two RCMP detachments.

Maybe Layton has actually ben there?

Dee

I've lived in B.C. for years and I haven't heard of "Vancouver Bay". I think Jack meant to say "English Bay". As usual, NDP fact-checking isn't the most rigorous.