Left Caucus
Encyclopedia
The Left Caucus was an Ontario based left-wing pressure group within the New Democratic Party of Canada and the Ontario New Democratic Party
from the late 1970s to early 1990s.
The Caucus was formed several years after the demise of The Waffle
, an earlier left-wing faction which had been forced to leave the NDP in the mid-1970s.
It was formed by 150 to 200 members in the lead up to the NDP's 1979 federal convention to which it proposed a series of radical resolutions promoting greater public ownership of the economy and other socialist and left-wing measures. John Rodriguez
, Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt, was the leading spokesperson for the caucus. Another notable founding member of the Left Caucus was Ontario NDP MPP and future provincial finance minister Floyd Laughren
.
Rodriguez said the caucus different from the Waffle in that its ultra-left elements were a minor part and as it was willing to abide by the final resolutions of the convention, whether it agrees with them or not. However, Rodriguez warned that the Left Caucus would be outspoken if resolutions it favours passed the convention but were ignored by the party's leadership.
The only one of the caucus' resolutions to be approved by the 1979 convention, however, was one protesting the jail sentence handed to Jean-Claude Parrot
, president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers
for leading a wildcat strike.
In 1981, the Left Caucus opposed Bob Rae
's successful candidacy for the leadership of the Ontario NDP backing MPP Richard Johnston instead.
Prior to the 1983 federal convention, the Left Caucus again pushed for the party to adopt an economic policy focussed on nationalization
of industry and issued a document decrying "the half-measures of a mixed economy" and calling for "a socialist industrial strategy based on public sector ownership of the decisive sectors of the economy." The caucus unsuccessfully opposed the adoption of a new "statement of principles" by the NDP in 1983 which watered down the party's commitment to socialism
and the planned economy
.
In the mid-1980s the Caucus was involved with the Campaign for an Activist Party which attempted unsuccessfully to elect a slate led by Judy Rebick
to the executive of the Ontario NDP.
Simon Rosenblum, later a vice-president of the ONDP and chief of staff to provincial finance minister Floyd Laughren
, was a leader of the caucus in the early 1980s and authored a resolution that called on an NDP government to utilise "the central role of public ownership in the development of our primary resource industries". By the end of the 1980s the Left Caucus was led by members of the "Forward" Group
such as Gord Doctorow, Wayne Roberts
, Harry Kopyto
and George Ehring.
The Caucus declined from 1990 to 1995 while the Ontario NDP was in government under Bob Rae
with publication of the Left Caucus Newsletter ceasing in 1994. In 1993, leading Left Caucus members Harry Kopyto, Gord Doctorow and Lois Bedard organised an open letter signed by 11 party members including three dissident MPPs criticising the Rae government for being too close to corporate interests and alienating itself from labour.
March 1983
Ontario New Democratic Party
The Ontario New Democratic Party or , formally known as New Democratic Party of Ontario, is a social democratic political party in Ontario, Canada. It is a provincial section of the federal New Democratic Party. It was formed in October 1961, a few months after the federal party. The ONDP had its...
from the late 1970s to early 1990s.
The Caucus was formed several years after the demise of The Waffle
The Waffle
The Waffle was a radical wing of Canada's New Democratic Party in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It later transformed into an independent political party, with little electoral success before it permanently disbanded in the mid-1970s...
, an earlier left-wing faction which had been forced to leave the NDP in the mid-1970s.
It was formed by 150 to 200 members in the lead up to the NDP's 1979 federal convention to which it proposed a series of radical resolutions promoting greater public ownership of the economy and other socialist and left-wing measures. John Rodriguez
John Rodriguez
John R. Rodriguez is a Canadian politician. He served as the mayor of Greater Sudbury, Ontario from 2006 to 2010, and previously represented the electoral district of Nickel Belt in the Canadian House of Commons from 1972 to 1980 and from 1984 to 1993 as a member of the New Democratic...
, Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt, was the leading spokesperson for the caucus. Another notable founding member of the Left Caucus was Ontario NDP MPP and future provincial finance minister Floyd Laughren
Floyd Laughren
Floyd Laughren is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He sat in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1971 to 1998 as a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party, and served as Finance Minister and Deputy Premier in the government of Bob Rae.-Background:Laughren's childhood was far...
.
Rodriguez said the caucus different from the Waffle in that its ultra-left elements were a minor part and as it was willing to abide by the final resolutions of the convention, whether it agrees with them or not. However, Rodriguez warned that the Left Caucus would be outspoken if resolutions it favours passed the convention but were ignored by the party's leadership.
The only one of the caucus' resolutions to be approved by the 1979 convention, however, was one protesting the jail sentence handed to Jean-Claude Parrot
Jean-Claude Parrot
Jean-Claude Parrot was National President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers for fifteen years and its chief negotiator for eighteen....
, president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers
Canadian Union of Postal Workers
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers or CUPW is a public sector trade union representing postal workers employed at Canada Post as well as private sector workers outside Canada Post.-Activities:...
for leading a wildcat strike.
In 1981, the Left Caucus opposed Bob Rae
Bob Rae
Robert Keith "Bob" Rae, PC, OC, OOnt, QC, MP is a Canadian politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre and interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
's successful candidacy for the leadership of the Ontario NDP backing MPP Richard Johnston instead.
Prior to the 1983 federal convention, the Left Caucus again pushed for the party to adopt an economic policy focussed on nationalization
Nationalization
Nationalisation, also spelled nationalization, is the process of taking an industry or assets into government ownership by a national government or state. Nationalization usually refers to private assets, but may also mean assets owned by lower levels of government, such as municipalities, being...
of industry and issued a document decrying "the half-measures of a mixed economy" and calling for "a socialist industrial strategy based on public sector ownership of the decisive sectors of the economy." The caucus unsuccessfully opposed the adoption of a new "statement of principles" by the NDP in 1983 which watered down the party's commitment to socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
and the planned economy
Planned economy
A planned economy is an economic system in which decisions regarding production and investment are embodied in a plan formulated by a central authority, usually by a government agency...
.
In the mid-1980s the Caucus was involved with the Campaign for an Activist Party which attempted unsuccessfully to elect a slate led by Judy Rebick
Judy Rebick
Judy Rebick , arrived in Toronto at age 9, and is a Canadian journalist, political activist, and feminist.-Career:...
to the executive of the Ontario NDP.
Simon Rosenblum, later a vice-president of the ONDP and chief of staff to provincial finance minister Floyd Laughren
Floyd Laughren
Floyd Laughren is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He sat in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1971 to 1998 as a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party, and served as Finance Minister and Deputy Premier in the government of Bob Rae.-Background:Laughren's childhood was far...
, was a leader of the caucus in the early 1980s and authored a resolution that called on an NDP government to utilise "the central role of public ownership in the development of our primary resource industries". By the end of the 1980s the Left Caucus was led by members of the "Forward" Group
Socialist League (Canada)
The Socialist League was a Canadian Trotskyist group formed in 1974 by Ross Dowson and approximately twenty other former members of the League for Socialist Action after their faction was defeated at the 1973 LSA national convention. Dowson had previously been the leader of the LSA...
such as Gord Doctorow, Wayne Roberts
Wayne Roberts
Wayne Roberts is a Canadian food policy analyst and writer, widely respected for his role as the manager of the [Toronto Food Policy Council] from 2000-2010. The TFPC is a citizen body of 30 food activists and experts that enjoys an international reputation for its innovative approach to food...
, Harry Kopyto
Harry Kopyto
Hirsch Kopyto is a Canadian paralegal, broadcaster and political activist.-Early life:Kopyto was born to a Polish Jewish family in a Displaced Persons' camp in Ulm, West Germany immediately following World War II. His entire family except for his parents and a brother were killed in the Holocaust...
and George Ehring.
The Caucus declined from 1990 to 1995 while the Ontario NDP was in government under Bob Rae
Bob Rae
Robert Keith "Bob" Rae, PC, OC, OOnt, QC, MP is a Canadian politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre and interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
with publication of the Left Caucus Newsletter ceasing in 1994. In 1993, leading Left Caucus members Harry Kopyto, Gord Doctorow and Lois Bedard organised an open letter signed by 11 party members including three dissident MPPs criticising the Rae government for being too close to corporate interests and alienating itself from labour.
External links
March 1983