Who's who in the NDP leadership race

PoliticsWatch looked at the six declared candidates and their leadership platforms:

Bill Blaikie

As the NDP's House leader, Bill Blaikie has been passionate about on important issues. He's been very outspoken about the Kyoto Protocol and the need to ratify as soon as possible. As the critic on intergovernmental affairs, justice, the solicitor-general and parliamentary reform, Blaikie has many golden opportunities to speak up against the government and get media exposure. 
Blaikie is the MP for Winnipeg-Transcona and is an ordained minister. His political experience includes over 20 years in Parliament. His campaign supporters include heavyweights like Manitoba Premier Gary Doer.

Joe Comartin

He was named "rookie MP of the year" in 2001 by Wild Canada. A fairly new MP for Windsor-St. Clair, Joe Comartin's support base doesn't include many political bigwigs. Growing up in a poor family, Comartin is very passionate about the plight of the working class. He gets strong support from unions, especially the Canadian Auto Workers, which he is an honorary member of. Comartin served as the union's lawyer in Windsor for many years, and provided legal counsel to activists in the labour movement. He's also been vocal on issues like low-income housing and employee rights. As the NDP's environment critic, Comartin has the perfect opportunity to get involved with Kyoto and pressure the government to ratify.

Pierre Ducasse

Pierre Ducasse is the youngest candidate at 29 to run for the leadership. An active member of the NDP since he was 17, he is currently the associate president of the federal party. He's running with a very radical election platform, which includes the NDP changing its name to the Social Democratic Party of Canada to unify the party across Canada. He also plans on presenting a new political vision for the party. "To have the results you've never had, you must do what you have never done." He has a strong connection with Quebec and argues that any unifying effort should include the province.

Jack Layton

Perhaps the most outspoken and media savvy candidate so far, Jack Layton's aggressive approach is getting attention. Just recently he released his list of campaign donations and challenged Paul Martin to do the same. But in doing so, he was criticized by his fellow candidates for turning media coverage into "ambulance chasing." So far he's been open and transparent about his supporters, which are mostly from the Greater Toronto area. As the former president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Layton has fought against the government for more funding. His past connections couldn't come at a better time as the Liberal government vows to make more contributions to municipal infrastructure and programs. Another advantage for Layton is his involvement in the environment. He's very motivated when it comes to Kyoto, and recently presented his own suggestions for implementing the accord and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He's served on the federal board of the Climate Change Protection Program and was named Environmental Professional of the Year in 2000.
The current Toronto city councillor has been in municipal politics for over 20 years. His supporters include Toronto banker Steve Hudson, the United Steelworkers and Barenaked Ladies singer Steven Page.

Bev Meslo

A major activist and feminist, Bev Meslo is the only female candidate in the NDP leadership race. She's a member of the federal and B.C. party and is a member of the NDP Socialist Caucus Federal Co-ordinating Committee. Meslo wants to bring the party to the left and promises more attention to seniors, children, the working class and students. She's running with the slogan "Socialism and Feminism for a Change" and lobbies for free universal daycare and equal pay for women. Watch Meslo become vocal on the issue of same sex marriages, which she calls a "human right." 

Lorne Nystrom

The candidate with the most Parliamentary experience, Nystrom has been in the House for 29 years. He also holds the title of the youngest MP in Canadian history when he was elected at the age of 22. Currently he holds a very important post as the NDP's finance critic and has incorporated some insight from the position into his campaign. Without an economic platform, Nystrom argues that Canadians will not take the party seriously. "We must make the party credible on economic issues, and convince Canadians that the party can deliver what it promises. The NDP needs to focus on the pocketbook issues that are important to people: economic security and jobs; personal safety and security; housing, health care and education—things that ordinary people think about for the future of their families.” When Finance Minister John Manley released the fiscal update, Nystrom said it "lacked teeth" and challenged the government to redirect spending to health care and social programs from debt repayment.  
Nystrom is currently the MP for Regina-Qu'Appelle. His supporters include the Saskatchewan Professional Firefighters and the Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers of Canada. This is the third time Nystrom has run for the party's top position.

Visit PoliticsWatch's feature page for complete information on the NDP leadership race:
2003 NDP leadership race

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