Since 1962 when the Party was founded by the CCF and Labour, the NDP's policies and platforms have been guided by the following principles of social democracy:
Fair distribution of wealth amongst all citizens; Democracy that enables citizens to control the decisions that affect their lives; Solidarity which encourages people to find co-operative solutions to problems; and Sustainability for the world we live in.
These principles are the basis of social democracy and what distinguishes us from other political parties. The best example of these principles which we have in Canada today is the medicare system, which was founded by Tommy Douglas - also one of the founders of the NDP.
Learn more about Ontario's NDP >
Provincial NDP Leader - Howard Hampton >
The Provincial NDP Caucus >
Ontario NDP News - Current Events
HAMPTON STANDS UP FOR JAILED ABORIGINAL LEADERS
Queen's Park
April 10, 2008 - 8:00am
NDP Leader Howard Hampton continues to press for justice for jailed Ontario aboriginal leaders.
During today’s Question Period, Hampton reiterated concerns expressed at a large rally at Ryerson University held in support of the jailed aboriginal leaders from Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) and Ardoch Algonquin First Nations.
“Everyone at the rally made the same point: that the jailing of First Nation leaders simply because they oppose mining exploration and mineral development at this point in time on their traditional lands is wrong. This is a disgrace and the McGuinty government needs to something to stop it immediately,” Hampton said.
The rally drew a diverse crowd of more than 500, including National Chief Phil Fontaine, former National Chief Ovide Mercredi, and representatives from many environmental and social justice organizations.
The rally was protesting the six-month jail sentence handed to Robert Lovelace of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation and to Chief Donny Morris and five other leaders of the KI First Nation.
“This is real black eye for Ontario. The McGuinty government needs to resolve this situation. Are they prepared to commit today to supporting the immediate and unconditional release of these jailed First Nations leaders?” asked Hampton.
*Article courtesty of www.ontariondp.com*
McGUINTY CONCEDES FAILURE IN WAR ON POVERTY
Queen's Park
April 2, 2008 - 3:00pm
NDP Leader Howard Hampton today condemned Dalton McGuinty for conceding his failure in the war on poverty on the same day a report shows Ontario has become the child poverty capital of Canada.
“Today’s Campaign 2000 report is a stinging indictment of the McGuinty Liberals’ failure to act on child poverty,” said Hampton. “345,000 children in Ontario don’t have enough to eat, clothes to keep them warm and a safe place to sleep. In response, Dalton McGuinty throws up his hands and said: ‘Ask yourselves, how long has poverty been around for? I think it’s been around for quite a while. We’re not going to get rid of it within a four year mandate.’” (Premier McGuinty Cabinet Scrum, April 2nd 2008).
Campaign 2000’s annual report confirmed that Ontario has become the child poverty capital of Canada, with nearly half of all of the country’s low-income children living in the province.
Hampton slammed the McGuinty government for throwing in the towel in the war on poverty and sentencing these vulnerable children to a life of poverty.
The NDP has offered a number of proposals to address rising poverty among Ontario’s children, including:
· Immediately ending to the clawback of the National Child Benefit Supplement by rolling out the full Child Benefit now.
· Investing in non-profit child care spaces and investing all federal funds intended for affordable housing.
· Raising minimum wage to $10.25 an hour now.
· Raising social assistance rates according to inflation.
“McGuinty’s so-called poverty plan is a national disgrace and vulnerable children are suffering because of it,” said Hampton.
*Article courtesty of www.OntarioNDP.com*
2007 Election Wrap-Up
Thank you to all of those who worked so hard for Rick and the Ontario NDP during the 2007 Provincial Campaign. Because of your contributions and hard work, Rick was able to have an extremely successful campaign that resulted in an increase of double the votes from the 2003 provincial election.
You can read Rick's closing message to all of his supporters in our NEWS ARCHIVE.
DOWNES CAMPAIGN A BUILDING BLOCK FOR THE FUTURE
Contributed by Matt Hodgetts
November 22, 2007
For many staunch NDP members and campaign volunteers, the results of the past general election were disappointing. However, if we put personal feelings aside, there is some very encouraging data to report.
First, while the NDP received 16.8% of the votes provincially, here in Kingston Rick got 20.6% of the votes. This amounted to 10,126 votes, an increase of nearly 84% over the 5,514 votes received in the 2003 Provincial Election.
Data from this election shows that the Liberal’s received 28,877 votes in 2003 and 23,273 in this election. This means that the Liberal’s vote share fell 13.5% among the four major parties. This is a huge difference and is a credit to the hard work of Rick and his team.
Where vote share is concerned, both the PC party and Green Party received just over a 2% increase from 2003 in Kingston & the Islands, while the NDP achived an amazing 9.1% vote share increase. This means we increased our vote share more than double what the Green and PC parties did together. This makes it absolutely clear that the NDP has become a very viable alternative to the Liberals in Kingston.
Some Other encouraging numbers are: 838 households took one or more signs during this election and 178 individuals volunteered time at one point during the campaign. Best of all, 3,152 individuals we contacted out of a total 7,664 (41.1%) said they supported or we’re open to supporting the NDP!
Perhaps the most encouraging piece of data from this entire election is this: in the past 20 years (since the 1987 General Election), only once has a party in our region gained more vote share in the space of a single election than the 9.1% Rick Downes achieved in this election and that was when the NDP's Gary Wilson was election in 1990 (a 13.3% increase).
So, take heart...Your local NDP most definitely has something to build upon with the citizens of Kingston and the Islands.
More ONDP News >
Looking for Change in Ontario? Take Action! >
Learn More
Download our latest Riding Association NEWSLETTER. [Updated April 08]
Download our Riding Executive DIRECTORY. [Post-AGM Update]
Get Involved!
The Renee Stephen Campaign is working hard to prepare for a spring federal election and we need YOUR HELP!
If you are able to contribute time or money, please contact information@reneestephen.ca.
Local Events
Hunger March
Join the Kingston Coalition Against Poverty (KCAP) to meet and eat at the park, before taking to the street at 5:00pm to have your voice heard.
Thurs. May 1, 2008
4:00pm - McBurney Park
FRILL Community Garden May Day Festival
Join the FRILL Community Garden for their May Day Festival and Plot Lottery. Enter the plot lottery, learn about snakes from conservationist Matt Ellerbeck and share a finger food potluck!
Sunday, May 4
1-4pm - 38 Charles Street
Our Headlines
- NDP Applauds Space Sale Rejection
- Hampton Stands Up for Jailed Aboriginal Leaders
- McGuinty Concedes Failure in War on Poverty
- Budget Extends Agenda that Fails Working Families
- Lack Layton: Five Years of Leadership
NDP Policies
Other NDP Sites
- ReneeStephen.ca
- Canada's NDP
- New Democratic Youth of Canada (NDYC)
- Ontario's NDP
- Ontario New Democratic Youth (ONDY)
- Queen's NDP (QNDP)
- More Links >
Our Newsletter
Sign up for mail or email versions of the Riding Association Newsletter via newsletter@ndpkingston.org.
NDP Video
NDP: Grassroots Energy
Get more NDP videos HERE.
The Fine Print
“At year's end, Layton is seen as more prime ministerial than his Liberal counterpart. The last time that happened, Ed Broadbent and John Turner were respectively NDP and Liberal leaders.”
Chantal Hebert
Toronto Star
12 December 2007