New Democrats attending the party’s policy convention are divided on the agreement their party has made with the Liberals. The party’s senior leadership is focused on presenting the NDP as the change that voters are seeking in the upcoming federal election. Alanna Johnston, a delegate from Toronto, expressed frustration, stating that NDP leader Jagmeet Singh is doing all the work to hold Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accountable for his promises while Trudeau takes credit. Some delegates believe that if the NDP doesn’t receive more concessions, Singh should withdraw from the agreement. Lukas Oakley from Paris, Ont., believes that the NDP should play hardball, as former leader Jack Layton did, to ensure they receive what they deserve. Oakley also mentioned that the confidence-and-supply agreement is often seen as negative in Canada. Although the NDP’s priorities, such as dental-care benefits for children and affordability measures, have been implemented by the Liberals, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has been capitalizing on affordability issues in recent months, causing the Conservative Party’s poll numbers to rise at the expense of the Liberals. Delegates at the NDP convention expressed frustration with the party’s low polling numbers. According to the most recent survey, the NDP stands at 18% among decided voters, placing them third behind the Conservatives and Liberals. Party officials mentioned that the confidence-and-supply agreement was not widely discussed with party members before being signed, but consultation followed. Some delegates would like to see the agreement used more aggressively to push for housing, affordability, and pharmacare measures. An emergency resolution has been proposed, calling for the party to withdraw from the agreement unless the Liberals commit to a universal and publicly funded pharmacare program. Chelsea Broom and Talon Regent believe that the agreement is necessary to prevent a Conservative government. The NDP is prepared to run a full slate of candidates if an election occurs before 2024, but the party still has debt from the previous election. The NDP hopes to retire the debt by 2024. The convention aims to focus on affordability and persuade voters to support the NDP in the next election. It also presents an opportunity to test new party messages. Keynote speakers at the convention emphasized the importance of positioning the NDP as a viable alternative to the Conservatives. British Columbia Premier David Eby encouraged resistance against the far-right movement, while Canadian Labour Congress president Bea Bruske criticized Pierre Poilievre for adopting the language of the working class. Jennifer Howard, chief of staff to Singh, highlighted the NDP’s success in provinces and cities and expressed confidence that they can replicate that success on a national level. However, Melanie Richer, former director of communications for Singh, acknowledged that the NDP still has a long way to go in order to win the next federal election and form government.
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