The Next 70
by Paul Dewar and Charlie Angus
New Democratic Party.
- First Posted: Jan 16 2012 00:48 AM
- Updated: about 8 hours ago
We have a blueprint for a real majority, one based on grassroots engagement and strong leadership.
Seventy is a number that New Democrats are going to get to know very well in the coming years.
It will guide us in our work. It will encourage us to do better and drive us to work harder.
Seventy will mean stopping the Conservatives. Seventy will mean fulfilling the dream of generations of New Democrats. Seventy will mean a fairer, more just, and more sustainable Canada.
Seventy will mean a real majority.
This is the number of seats we need to form government in the next election. And make no mistake, while these will be the hardest to win, we have a responsibility to win them.
Every day that the Harper Conservatives sit in power is one day too many for the real majority of Canadians who did not vote for them. This is a real majority that works hard, pays its taxes, and sends its kids to school. It is made up of everyday Canadians who want health care to be there for them when they need it. They want education and job opportunities for young people. And they want to know our seniors are being looked after.
But the real majority isn’t benefiting from Stephen Harper’s majority government.
These Canadians watch, day after day, as Harper uses his majority to reward his friends and cut taxes to banks and other highly profitable corporations – while doing nothing for the population.
They are looking for a leader who understands our country, and who has the vision and experience to build a forceful and true alternative to Harper and the Conservatives.
We know the NDP is the only party committed to fighting for the values of everyday Canadians, but we can't sit back. We need to listen to Canadians, and we need to earn their respect and their trust.
That is why we are proposing the Next 70 – a plan to reach the real majority, and to take our party to government. It is a blueprint to solidify the ridings we currently hold and gain the 70 we need to stop the Conservatives in 2015.
Under the Next 70 plan, we will use every tool at our disposal to connect with Canadians across our country.
We'll hire more grassroots organizers and put them on the ground in key regions across the country. They will work with local activists to strengthen networks where they already exist and build them where they are non-existent. Our grassroots team will recruit new activists and help train the next generation.
We'll give riding associations additional support to help them grow so they have the tools and resources they need to talk to voters, connect with their communities, and run winning campaigns.
Social media can engage, inform, and lead to great conversations. We’ll take full advantage of social media and new technologies to make sure our message is heard on the ground and online.
We'll also give our caucus an expanded role as builders. We have an incredible and diverse team that has vast experience and passion. Under this plan, we’ll give our MPs the opportunity to show Canadians first-hand what a strong and deeply talented team we have.
How do we know this plan will work? Because it's building on the best lessons of what got us to where we are.
In 2008, we won seven of the nine seats in Northern Ontario because our party made a strategic decision to target them. Dedicated activists had worked hard for years and, when given additional resources, they brought the victory home.
It was the same for Quebec, but on a much larger scale. The Orange Crush wasn't a fluke. We spent a lot of time not only building the infrastructure but also getting to know Quebecers and letting them get to know us.
From Edmonton–Strathcona to Scarborough Rouge River, and from Gatineau to St. John's South–Mount Pearl, there is a growing list of ridings that at one time seemed “unwinnable” that have been painted orange as a result of a smart, committed ground game. And we can’t forget those ridings where we came in an often heartbreaking second. These ridings and many more are ours to win if we keep the conversation and organizing going.
If we invest more resources in provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan, if we get serious about our ground game in rural and suburban areas, we will win more seats.
It isn't only about “more.” We need to prove to Canadians in the 101 seats we have that they made the right choice, and we'll do that through the hard work of our MPs and aggressive on-the-ground outreach. Millions of Canadians put their trust in us for the first time when they cast their ballots last May. We cannot, and will not, take even one of those votes for granted.
That’s why we need a leader who listens to, and trusts, the grassroots members and volunteers who have brought us this far. A leader who wants to empower more Canadians to become activists and organizers. A leader who connects with people, and whose passion inspires us all to do the hard work that needs to be done.
The Next 70 is not simply a plan, but an extension of our campaign. It is the practical extension of our values and the belief that it is only through action, and not words, that we will be able to deliver the real majority government that Canadians are looking for.
With strong leadership and a commitment to the grassroots, we’ll win the Next 70 one great conversation at a time.
Visit www.pauldewar.ca to learn more about Paul Dewar’s plan to create jobs.
Photos courtesy of Reuters and charlieangus.ndp.ca.
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