The Federal NDP Caucus -How Soon Will It Split?

[Evening Star]

And how did THAT turn out?

He won another huge majority in 1988? After that, not so great but it's hard to say whether that was the fault of his Quebec caucus (who were no longer inexperienced by that point).

I do agree that this is a real concern, more so than what the party constitution might say in its preamble and much more so than the exact nature of a massage clinic Layton visited in 1996.

[August1991]

I started this thread before the election and God knows what I posted in it. I vaguely remember arguing that the Quebec NDP caucus would soon split apart on the old federalist/separatist faultline. (Later, I'll go back and read what I posted.)

I still think that the federal NDP caucus will likely split apart. But, maybe I'm wrong.

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In the meantime, since the election, I have thought of something else: the federal NDP are the ideal "way-station" (poste d'attente) of many French Quebec voters. The NDP may well succeed in Quebec for the next few federal elections.

For French Quebec voters, the NDP offers an acceptable recognition of Quebec in a federal Canada (as opposed to a Bloc vote which perpetuates the boring debate). Moreover, the NDP is neither a WASP Conservative anti-abortion Harper nor a deplorable Liberal.

If Layton the Leftist plays his cards well, he'll resign in the next year or so and ensure that a "Quebecer" (a French speaking human, not Mulcair) becomes the next federal NDP leader.

Edited May 13, 2011 by August1991