Sadly, the NDP is much in the news lately as a result of the failing health of Jack Layton. It started me thinking about the NDP and its recent rise to new heights in the federal arena. The NDP is actually the new BLOC, thanks to the huge support given it in Quebec. As I have said, federally Quebec votes for the party it thinks will gain the most $$$ and influence in Ottawa. After a good number of years, the parochial BLOC morphed into a gathering of lame-duck whingers, so Quebeckers bounced to the NDP -- much to the surprise of Mr. Layton. Hence the impressive showing in this Parliament.
Now a Quebecker has been acclaimed interim leader. That may help, but I doubt it. If Quebec doesn't get what it wants, it will switch its vote again. Maybe this is good news for the Liberals? No clue.
Formed in 1932, the NDP began as the CCF -- the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation -- a western rump party disgruntled with mainstream politics. But the NDP became a national party under Tommy Douglas; the BLOC did not. So, as I say, the BLOC is now the NDP in the House of Commons and the NDP in Quebec is the new BLOC.
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I loved Tommy Douglas as a child and bought the biography later in life. (So sums up my attraction to the NDP.)
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