The 2021 NDP convention wrapped up today, and it provided a potential roadmap to NDP success in the next election, as well as a more just, equal, and humane Canada. And while the format of this convention didn’t fully facilitate member participation, their energy still shined though. The party must reflect that light and magnify it if it wishes to succeed.

The second day of the 2021 NDP convention remained deeply flawed from a technical standpoint, but historic votes indicate that the party membership is united in moving toward a more just Canada and world. Perhaps most importantly, the NDP adopted a progressive policy on Palestine, endorsing sanctions on Israel, including a ban on trade with Israeli settlements and an arms embargo on Israel.

The first day of the 2021 NDP convention was an interesting one, to say the least, writes CD columnist Christo Aivalis. There was much to celebrate, but at the core, the process was deeply flawed, especially in that there was far too little time to discuss and debate the resolutions delegates worked so hard crafting and prioritizing.

For too many elections, the NDP’s membership has fought to assert a left wing vision for our country and world, only to see election platforms either ignore or dilute those principles. When the next election comes, the NDP must trust in its membership and trust in the progressive values of Canadians. We can built a better world, but we can’t start that work if our leaders are afraid of what we believe in.

The federal NDP convention is only a couple of weeks away, and many party activists are working hard to ensure their favourite resolutions get support. While there are hundreds of resolutions worthy of support submitted by riding associations across the country, I wanted to highlight just a few that I think are essential to the left in building a party and society that centres social, economic, and environmental justice.