NDP has a 'principle' problem (en francais)

Much has been made this weekend over Buzz Hargrove's ouster from the Provincial wing of the NDP. Apparently the situation has been clarified and Buzz is only suspended, not expelled.

A closer look at the CTV article highlights another dilema for the Provincial NDP.

"No, I have nothing to apologize for," Hargrove said Sunday on CTV's Newsnet. "Nine-hundred (CAW) delegates debated this and voted overwhelmingly, over 85 per cent, for this to be the position of our union going into the federal election. I defended that and promoted that throughout the campaign. I have no regrets."

A look at the NDP constitution(pdf) has this to say about affiliated organizations such as the CAW:

ARTICLE 4: AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS

4.01 (1) Affiliated membership shall be open to trade unions, farm organizations, co-operatives, ethnic associations, women's/men's organizations and other appropriate organizations.

(2) An organization wishing to affiliate shall do so through methods determined by the organization itself.

(3) A local, regional or provincial organization may apply for affiliation for its membership in the province or for members of a local, lodge, branch or district.

4.02 Each affiliated organization shall undertake to accept and abide by the principles and Constitution of the Party, and shall not be associated or identified with any other political party.

4.03 Each application for affiliation shall be made to the Provincial Council. Any such decision for affiliation may be appealed to the following Provincial Convention, which shall have the final determination on any such appeal.

4.04 The per capita fee for affiliated organizations shall be determined by the Provincial Council.

4.05 Any member of an affiliated organization may, at any time, officially notify his/her organization that he/ she does not wish his/her per capita payment to be made to the Ontario New Democratic Party on his/her behalf, and the organization shall forthwith cease to do so.

4.06 Subject to Article 3, a member of an affiliated organization may become an individual member of the Party upon the payment of the difference between the annual per capita fee paid on his/her behalf and the individual membership fee.

With over 85% of CAW delegates voting for the position of strategically supporting Liberals, they have violated their terms of affiliation with the NDP.

So what's it going to be? Kiss and make up or abide by the terms of the constitution?

Money and supporters or principle?

Stay tuned.

Bonus: I wonder how many Conservative and Liberal union members know about clause 4.05 of the Provincial NDP constitution:

4.05 Any member of an affiliated organization may, at any time, officially notify his/her organization that he/ she does not wish his/her per capita payment to be made to the Ontario New Democratic Party on his/her behalf, and the organization shall forthwith cease to do so.

Might be worth a phone call or two. Who knew?

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