Pourquoi? Why? Why invest so much time and effort in this party? I have sometimes asked\u00a0myself that question, and you probably have too. Well, the easy answer is because we believe in democratic socialism. But the real question is: What is democratic socialism? The philosopher would say that it’s an ideology of collective responsibility and common good. The professor of political science would say that it is a set of government policies. The activist would say that it is about defending specific issues or groups, or challenging the current social order. The union member would say that democratic socialism is about defending workers’ rights. The Opposition MP would say that it is about attacking the right wing agenda in Parliament.<\/p>\n
All of these assumptions are true. But they are missing the basic idea. And that is that democratic socialism is, in Michael Harrington’s words, before anything else, a hope. It is the hope of humankind for a fair, fraternal and free future.<\/p>\n
So the next time someone asks you \u201cwhy?\u201d You tell \u201d\u02dcem, \u201cWhy? This is why! Because this is our hope!\u201d<\/p>\n
Mais si nous voulons porter cet espoir, nous devons changer. Certaines personnes dans le Parti croient que nous pouvons continuer avec la m\u00e9\u201ame vision, le m\u00e9\u201ame discours, les m\u00e9\u201ames strat\u00e9gies, et que, par magie, nous allons avoir plus de succ\u00e8s. Je ne suis pas un de ceux-l\u00e0. Je me suis lanc\u00e9 dans cette course pour contribuer \u00e0 ba\u00cc\u201atir un parti sociald\u00e9mocrate cr\u00e9dible et gagnant, \u00e0 travers tout le pays.<\/p>\n
Today, I want to propose the five keys to renewing our party and building that real alternative. Because, to have the results you never had, you must do what you have never done.<\/p>\n
The first key for renewal is vision. In the last years, the Left has been in a defensive position: the discourse of the NDP has been essentially to protect the heritage of the welfare state. This was not a bad thing, but it has put the NDP in a position of reaction. How did we allow this to happen? It’s very simple, and the Right understands this! The goal of a political party, especially on the Left, is not to react\u201d\u201din the present\u201d\u201dto the political agenda set by others, but to impose the themes, the questions, to set the political agenda of the future. We should not try to surf the waves created by the Right: we must create our own waves. We must present our vision. Our vision must not be the one of the radical Left, one that criticizes but has nothing credible to propose. But our vision should not be to move to the Center.<\/p>\n
So, I’m proposing a vision that I like to call pragmatic radicalism. It means that we should be clear…that\u00a0the society we dream of, a society of justice, equality and co-operation, is radically different than the one proposed by the corporate agenda. We must present a youthful and optimistic vision while\u00a0proposing concrete and feasible policy. Because to be truly radical, one must make hope possible, rather than despair convincing.<\/p>\n
The second key to renewal is a new perspective on the economy. We need to regain credibility on economic issues. But that does not mean that we should move to the Right. So let’s talk about economic democracy: giving power back to people and to communities over the levers of the economy. Nous avons besoin d’une nouvelle\u00a0vision de l’\u00e9conomie, une qui vise le plein-emploi par une \u00e9conomie mixte; une vision o\u00f9 l’\u00c9tat a un ro\u00cc\u201ale mais ou on vise aussi \u00e0 redonner du pouvoir aux gens et aux communaut\u00e9s. Bref, nous avons besoin d’une \u00e9conomie d\u00e9mocratique. Parce qu’il ne peut pas y avoir de d\u00e9mocratie politique sans d\u00e9mocratie \u00e9conomique.<\/p>\n
Pour faire face aux nouvelles technologies et aux transformations dans le milieu de travail, nous avons besoin d’une politique de partage du temps de travail. Pour cr\u00e9er de l’emploi et pour se d\u00e9velopper autrement, nous avons besoin d’offrir plus de soutien aux coop\u00e9ratives et au d\u00e9veloppement \u00e9conomique communautaire. Pour diversifier notre \u00e9conomie, particuli\u00e8rement en r\u00e9gions, et pour donner plus de pouvoir aux gens, nous avons besoin de cr\u00e9er des Fonds coop\u00e9ratifs d’investissement local, sous contro\u00cc\u201ale des communaut\u00e9s. Pour donner plus de pouvoir aux travailleurs, nous devons favoriser la syndicalisation, donner un plus grand ro\u00cc\u201ale aux Fonds syndicaux et proposer des programmes de participation des travailleurs dans leur milieu de travail. Pour respecter nos engagements face \u00e0 l’environnement et d\u00e9velopper de nouveaux secteurs, nous devons cr\u00e9er un vaste Fonds de recherche et d’investissement dans les technologies vertes. Pour s’assurer que les corporations reconnaissent leurs responsabilit\u00e9s face \u00e0 la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 et non seulement\u00a0face \u00e0 leurs actionnaires, nous devons exiger qu’elles produisent un bilan social. Pour r\u00e9duire le pouvoir des banques sur nos vie, nous devons lutter contre l’endettement \u00e9tudiant et l’endettement \u00e0 la consommation. Enfin, pour continuer \u00e0 \u00e9liminer la pauvret\u00e9, nous avons besoin d’implanter un revenu universel de citoyennet\u00e9.<\/p>\n
All these examples show ways by which we can fight the incredible concentration of economic power in the hands of a few, and build\u201d\u201dslowly, yet surely\u201d\u201dthose real alternatives to global corporate capitalism. This must be our mission. Our current economic system creates very few winners, and a lot of losers. And it is not enough to simply redistribute income from the former to the latter. So why can’t we imagine a system where we could all be winners? Our challenge, as social democrats, is not imply to better redistribute wealth. Our challenge is to show how we can create wealth differently.<\/p>\n
This idea of economic democracy has been at the heart of my campaign. I am proposing a vision which says that economic institutions should not only be controlled either by big business or by the state, but should also be controlled by civil society in a way that is participatory, decentralized and democratic. The alternative to free-market capitalism is not to nationalize everything, but it is to build a worker-owned, communitycontrolled, co-operative market. That is the alternative.<\/p>\n
La troisi\u00e8me cl\u00e9 du renouvellement du NPD est une nouvelle ouverture au Qu\u00e9bec. Il ne peut y avoir un parti ou un mouvement social-d\u00e9mocrate fort au Canada sans la participation de la gauche qu\u00e9b\u00e9coise. Si nous voulons repr\u00e9senter une vraie alternative au gouvernement lib\u00e9ral, nous devons ba\u00cc\u201atir partout au pays et notamment aupr\u00e8s des francophones.<\/p>\n
A ujourd’hui, je veux proposer un contrat de solidarit\u00e9 entre la gauche qu\u00e9b\u00e9coise et la gauche canadienne. Je tends la main aux \u00e9lecteurs du Parti qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois, du Bloc, de l’UFP, de la gauche du Parti lib\u00e9ral, et aussi \u00e0 ceux qui ne votent pas. Et je tends la main aux syndicats, aux groupes communautaires, et aux mouvements sociaux du Qu\u00e9bec. Ensemble, nous pourrons ba\u00cc\u201atir un Canada diff\u00e9rent; un f\u00e9d\u00e9ralisme coop\u00e9ratif avec un gouvernement f\u00e9d\u00e9ral moins arrogant qui respecte ce qui existe d\u00e9j\u00e0 dans les provinces et qui n\u00e9gocie avec elles de bonne foi; et, enfin, un f\u00e9d\u00e9ralisme asym\u00e9trique pour reconnai\u00cc\u201atre la nation qu\u00e9b\u00e9coise et les d\u00e9fis qui lui sont propres. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Nous ne pouvons pas nous diviser \u00e9ternellement sur la question constitutionnelle : il y a trop d’enjeux auxquels il faut s’attaquer. C’est seulement ensemble que nous pourrons pr\u00e9senter une alternative \u00e0 l’agenda n\u00e9o-lib\u00e9ral au Canada.<\/p>\n
Today, I am proposing a Contract of Solidarity between the Quebec Left and the Canadian Left. And Quebecers must make a step in the NDP’s direction. But the NDP must also do what it takes to build in Quebec. Because there can be no strong and united Left in Canada without the support of Quebec’s social democrats. I am committed to this goal and I hope you are too.<\/p>\n
La quatri\u00e8me cl\u00e9 est de travailler dans l’int\u00e9r\u00e9\u201at de tous les citoyens. Vous savez, en politique, on tombe souvent bien vite dans le jeu de la division. Les centres urbains d’un co\u00cc\u201at\u00e9 et les r\u00e9gions de l’autre. Les jeunes d’un co\u00cc\u201at\u00e9 et les babyboomers de l’autre. Les anglophones d’un co\u00cc\u201at\u00e9 et les francophones de l’autre. Les hommes et les femmes. Les blancs, les immigrants et les autochtones. Les travailleurs syndiqu\u00e9s et les non-syndiqu\u00e9s. La classe moyenne et les pauvres.<\/p>\n
Or, la gauche n’a pas d’avenir si elle ne peut pas pr\u00e9senter une vision qui pourra rallier une majorit\u00e9.<\/p>\n
My friends, the Left must not fall in the trap of sectarianism. That would only allow the Right to take control of the political agenda, pretending to speak for \u201cordinary people.\u201d So our politics must be politics of solidarity: between regions, between sexes, between cultures, between generations. I believe that we can be left wing\u00a0and be mainstream at the same time. There is no contradiction.<\/p>\n
…Workers unemployed women LGB youth the elderly linguistic, cultural and religious communities… We are not simply a bunch of minorities! Together, we are the overwhelming majority of Canadians. And the day we understand this is the day that we will boldly go where no New Democrat has gone before: from being the social conscience of the country to being the socially conscious government of this country!<\/p>\n
The fifth key to renewal is to be clear on our goal as a party. If I’m leader…When I’m leader, I will propose a plan to Council with the objective of bringing the NDP to government in 10 years.<\/p>\n
Ten years is the amount of time we will need to set a new political agenda and to build everywhere in the country. It’s also the amount of time it will take to recruit not only good candidates, but outstanding ministers in a first NDP cabinet. Viser \u00e0 former un gouvernement, ce n’est pas qu’un slogan: c’est une obligation morale. Pour que nous puissions \u00e9\u201atre dans une position o\u00f9 nous pourrons implanter les choses qui nous tiennent \u00e0 c\u0153ur.<\/p>\n
We can do it. But the first step that we must take is to start believing that we can. We will set a different agenda for this country. We will present a radical, optimistic and pragmatic vision. We will propose real economic alternatives. We will give power back to our members. Nous allons ba\u00cc\u201atir une vaste coalition de citoyens et de groupes. Nous allons ba\u00cc\u201atir au Qu\u00e9bec. We will consolidate where we are strong, and build where we are not. We will open our doors to a new generation. And when we have done all of that, then we will take Parliament by storm and not dream of, but build a society of equality, justice and solidarity.<\/p>\n
Before I conclude, I want to salute my partners in this race. We need all of them in this party.<\/p>\n
We need Lorne’s strength on economic issues and his commitment to forming government; Jack’s ability to organize, to build coalitions and his understanding of urban issues; Bill’s passion and experience in Parliament; Bev’s strong voice for feminism and a worker’s agenda; and Joe’s strategy for winning more ridings and his discreet, yet profound, sense of conviction.<\/p>\n
And we need a leader that will bring this party together and build on the strengths of all.<\/p>\n
And whatever happens today, I will continue to be a team builder because I am committed to democratic socialism in Canada and to the party!<\/p>\n
There is so much potential for this party. But we have a lot of work to do. Some say about this party what others have said about my own campaign: \u201cThey don’t have enough money, not enough media attention, and no chance of winning. These guys have a few good ideas, but besides that, they don’t have much.\u201d Well, let me say to you, my friends, that we have, all of us, we have everything we need if we have nothing but our hope.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Pourquoi? Why? Why invest so much time and effort in this party? I have sometimes asked\u00a0myself that question, and you probably have too. Well, the easy answer is because we believe in democratic socialism. But the real question is: What is democratic socialism? The philosopher would say that it’s an ideology of collective responsibility and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"2025-10-07T23:32:57Z","apple_news_api_id":"355a9ace-c9ff-444d-8c45-cfd60d7258a2","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2025-10-07T23:32:58Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAD\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/w==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/ANVqazsn_RE2MRc_WDXJYog","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false},"categories":[9346],"tags":[8400],"article-status":[],"irpp-category":[],"section":[],"irpp-tag":[7145],"class_list":["post-261572","issues","type-issues","status-publish","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-ndp-fr","irpp-tag-npd"],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\n