Bernie Sanders, the U.S. Senator who vied twice for Democratic presidential nomination, has declared his support for Canada’s New Democrats (NDP) via a pre-recorded video intended to be aired at the party’s policy convention. Held in Hamilton, Ontario on Friday, the gathering marks the first in-person rendezvous of NDP constituents in over three years, the last being a virtual assembly in 2021 amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Relaying his message in a seven-minute video, Sanders confessed to being a fervent admirer of the NDP. His address wasn’t restricted only to his unflinching support but also carried with it a grim warning. He expressed his concern about the mounting attacks on the edifices of democracy and the rule of law across the world, attributing these to various economic and cultural factors.
“We find ourselves living amidst the most trying times in our contemporary history,” Bernie mused, “There is a critical need for constitutions worldwide to unite in the collective struggle for economic, social, environmental, and racial justice.”
Sanders lamented that in his home country, many citizens are losing faith in democratic principles, looking towards autocracy as a solution for the prevailing crises.
He voiced a disquieting apprehension, “If the international community does not rally together, the future we bequeath to our offspring is in grave peril.”
Sanders is confident about the NDP’s capacity to rise to these challenges within Canada’s borders. He envisions the growth of a diverse, multi-generational campaign that insists on an economy and government serving the needs of everyone. Sanders assured that he is eager to contribute to NDP’s mission statement, which he believes they have been faithfully propagating for a considerable time.
He pressed for an expedited shift to greener energy models, referencing the recent wildfires in Canada as a cautionary tale. Moreover, Sanders encouraged the NDP to challenge the rampant “greed” pervasive among corporations, the uber-wealthy, and the fossil fuel industry.
His sentiments align well with the party’s 60 priority resolutions to be deliberated by NDP members in Hamilton. These resolutions encompass a wide gamut of issues, including health care, the environment, workers’ rights, Indigenous justice, human rights, and foreign policy, amongst others.
The convention anticipates emergency resolutions to surface, with expected propositions addressing Palestine’s situation and the concept of pharmacare.
The NDP Socialist Caucus proposed a resolution affirming the defense of Palestinian human rights through advocacy for boycott, divestment, and sanctions against Israel, though it didn’t reach the priority list. This proposition was put forth prior to the recent Israel-Palestine conflict.
Simultaneously, a collective of NDP activists strives to elevate pharmacare as a critical element of the federal party’s supply-and-confidence pact with the Liberals.
Noteworthy attendees of the convention include Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, British Columbia Premier David Eby, Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath, Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles, and Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress.
