by Sébastien Théberge

To truly understand the NDP’s filibuster, you have to look beyond the predictable outcome of the special back-to-work legislation targeting Canada Post’s 48,000 employees.   

Jack Layton had no choice: this situation was a direct challenge of the fundamental position and thinking of the NDP and its members.  If the NDP had opted to lie down and roll over at the first opportunity, it would have found it quite difficult to explain its decision throughout the summer.   

The Canada Post dispute was the first real power struggle between the Conservatives and New Democrats because, when you have a majority government, the opposition has few means and tools for making its position heard in Chamber and in the media.   

The Layton team probably decided to use the debate as an intensive training camp for its recruits!   

In fact, it provided an ideal platform for teaching new MPs about parliamentary debate on an issue of importance to them and a subject which they easily mastered.   

While they knew that the vote would ultimately be lost, the New Democrats did succeed in keeping the Conservatives from heading off on vacation. Jack Layton put his team to work, and their efforts did not go unnoticed.   

In the process, he also got to see who were his most effective and talented left-wingers!

Sébastien Théberge

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On Twitter:  @SebTheberge