I Don't Always Agree With the NDP, But When I Do

I had this idea a while ago to keep track of significant political actions given there are five years until the next election and I want to be able to make an informed decision based on my own notes rather than someone elses'.

Yesterday was the beginning of the filibuster by the NDP to prevent back to work legislation by the Harper government against the Canada Post. Canada Post has been in negotiations for the past eight months with workers unionized under the CUPW. Workers desire high pay, benefits, a defined pension and safer work place. The workers have been working constantly despite rotating strikes up until recently when the Canada Post locked them out. Three days later the Harper government tabled legislation to settle the issues themselves and offer less than what Canada Post is offering. The Harper government claims that work will only resume once the legislation is passed despite the workers desiring to go back to work imediately and be allowed to negotiate freely. It should be noted here that since Canada Post is an arms length away from the government as a Crown Corporation, Prime Minister Stephen Harper does have the authority to tell the CEO of Canada Post to get it together, unlock the doors and get back to work.

In this situation, I side with the NDP. Canada Post and workers with the CUPW have the right and absolutely should continue independent negotiations. Prime Minister Harper should tell the CEO of Canada Post to unlock the doors so the workers can go back to work and negotiations can resume.

It should be noted that during the debates, the Liberals were mostly idiots that may well not have shown up. All through the night and into the early morning hours the NDP repeatedly stated the solution I outlined of which I favour above, yes 5 consecutive Liberals asked the same question albeit with varied wording, "What solution does the NDP propose?" Other Liberal suggested that the debates were ideological - too far to the left and too far to the right. At the time these comments were made, there had been no such partisanship.

It should also be noted the Elizabeth May of the Green party was the only party leader that was present since the debates began yesterday morning, all the way through the night and long into this morning.

Also, the Conservatives were caught lying three times, as I observed. The NDP also did not ever answer the question posed to them which paraphrased is, "Why does the NDP claim to be of the workers party and fighting for pensions when the NDP plans to tax oil and bank corporations whose shareholders are the CUPW and their own pensions?"