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Letters: The NDP 'Gong Show'

National Post readers discuss Avi Lewis, Toronto's socialized supermarket plan and more

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Re: Clarity For The NDP’s Future, Kelly McParland, March 31. Am I hallucinating, or did the NDP just elect a straight white male to be their leader?Stephen Burns, Toronto.

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Letters: The NDP 'Gong Show' Back to video

The description of last weekend’s NDP leadership convention is reminiscent of the “Gong Show.” Now that Avi Lewis has been elected leader, I would strongly recommend that he gather up the last few remaining members of the federal NDP and decamp from Canada to Gaza or Syria, where they will feel more comfortable and at home with like-minded people.

No wonder the perception that Canada is small potatoes on the world stage continues to hound us. Canadians must take the concept of Canada far more seriously. The selection process for candidates in all Canadian political parties has many glaring defects. It is really alarming that the criteria to become a candidate is so weak.

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Canadians should demand that potential political candidates show proven leadership qualities with relevant prior business experience, maturity and common sense, and that they really want to build a prosperous and peaceful future for the entire federation, not just for targeted regions or special interest groups.Glynis Van Steen, Burlington, Ont.

To my fellow Canadian citizens, please take note: the new leader of the NDP, Avi Lewis, does not in any way represent the views of the vast majority of the 400,000 Jews living in Canada. Jews comprise just one per cent of the Canadian population, and Lewis invites his followers to demonize the Jews with his dangerous and virulent public anti-Israel stance.

He represents the lowest of the low, giving cover as a Jew to all non-Jews who are anti-Israel, anti-Zionist and antisemitic. He cunningly makes no distinction between being anti-Israeli government, anti-Israel and anti-Zionist. Lewis is a disgrace to all Jews who understand and value our collective history.Paul Resnick, Toronto.

Avi Lewis’ first-ballot victory is certain to have major implications for Canadian politics. His uncompromising eco-socialist agenda and polarizing positions on resource development and foreign policy will reshape the electoral map.

History shows that Conservative strength often coincides with NDP strength — a pattern that sounds counter-intuitive but is explained by vote-splitting on the left. When the NDP performs well, it tends to siphon votes away from the Liberals rather than the Conservatives. Even if the NDP wins few seats, its presence often reduces the Liberal vote just enough for Conservative candidates to prevail.

From this perspective, the Conservatives do not need a dramatic expansion of their base to return to power. If the NDP garners 15-20 per cent of the vote nationally, it could be sufficient to split the progressive vote and secure a Conservative government.

At the same time, this is a warning: the Tories did well with blue-collar voters in the last federal election, and retaining them will require active engagement and policies that address their economic realities.

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In short, Lewis’ leadership could energize a segment of the electorate but also creates a structural opportunity for the Conservatives — if they remain disciplined.Louis-Philippe Noël, Montmagny, Que.

Nationalized groceries?

Re: Toronto Sinks To Mamdani’s Worst Idea, Anthony Furey, March 31. Does anyone really believe that the government can operate a food store more efficiently than Loblaws or Walmart or Costco? The buying power of these stores and their economies of scale would make it impossible for a publicly funded store to even be competitive.

Grocery stores make a lot of money because of the volume of their sales, not due to huge markups. Also, can anyone even think of any government business, enterprise or operation (i.e., schools, transportation, health care, etc.) that is not in serious financial trouble? Neither can I.Les Shinder, Ottawa.

Re: No More Gender Games At Olympics, Terry Newman, March 28. Kudos to former Olympic gold-medal swimmer Kristy Coventry, now president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), for instituting a policy forbidding transgender individuals from competing in female competitions. At the 2024 Olympics, I watched in horror as Imane Khelif, competing in the women’s welterweight boxing gold medal match, destroyed Yang Liu of China. A leaked DNA test revealed that Khelif is a biological male.

I was dismayed and underwhelmed that Canada’s secretary of state for sport, Adam Van Koeverden, was not happy with the transgender ban, suggesting that it’s discriminatory. Perhaps as a former Olympian, he should suggest that the IOC establish a new category for transgender athletes. As a lifetime high school track coach, I salute the IOC’s bid to ensure a level playing field for female athletes at the Olympics.Bob Erwin, Ottawa.

Re: Witch Hunt, Jesse Kline, March 28; This Is About Respect For The Dead, Jamie Sarkonak, March 31. Two families suffered a catastrophic loss when an Air Canada flight was involved in a tragic crash and two pilots lost their lives. Now, instead of grieving this immeasurable loss, Canada is embroiled in yet another language brouhaha. The CEO of Air Canada does not speak French and is being excoriated and forced to resign.

Canada has two official languages of equal status at the federal level since 1969. Approximately 18 per cent of Canadians are bilingual in French and English and there are many other languages spoken here, as well. In Quebec, where French is declared the official language, the French language is stronger than ever.

To call for the removal of anyone from their position who is speaking in an official language is beyond the pale and impugns the sentiments of sincere empathy and concern expressed for the profound loss of life in this tragedy.Maureen Arnaud, Bath, Ont.

‘Fractured federation’

Re: Premier Expresses Frustration With N.B. Toll Booth Plan, April 1. Please tell me it is not an April Fool’s Day joke that a toll booth at the New Brunswick-Nova Scotia border that will charge $3-$4 to anyone without New Brunswick plates crossing into Nova Scotia is under active consideration by New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt. This makes a mockery of the idea of reducing inter-provincial trade barriers and will only lead to a more fractured federation.Raymond Foote, Ottawa.

Re: Democracy Goes On Trial, Jamie Sarkonak, March 28. I suspect that most thoughtful Canadians believe that both our legislatures and our appellate courts sometimes make grossly poor decisions about our rights. A legislature’s use of the Sec. 33 override does not change this. The trouble is that we disagree among ourselves: one citizen applauds the legislature’s decision while another hopes the judiciary with nullify it, and vice-versa.

Election day is a regular opportunity for the legislature and the appellate courts to find out what the majority — or a sizable minority — think of their decisions. That may be small consolation. But if anyone knows a better way to make decisions while respecting freedom and the rule of law, let them name it.Graham Brown, Waterloo, Ont.

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