MFL Supports NDP in Election

All federal elections are important to working Canadians. This federal election is beyond important – it is critical. Canadians, including MFL members, are fed up with the way the two old line parties are conducting themselves.

"Working people deserve to be represented by politicians who put workers interests ahead of the interests of big business and their friends," says MFL President Darlene Dziewit. "And the only party that has consistently demonstrated unwavering support of the beliefs of our members and their families is the New Democratic Party."

The Manitoba Federation of Labour is supporting the NDP in the current election - endorsing all NDP candidates, in all 14 federal ridings.

Since it was founded, the NDP has represented the best interests of workers and their families. The NDP may move further to the left or right from time to time, but it always maintains as its focus the best interests of ordinary Canadians. Other parties, such as the Liberals may sound like the NDP during elections, but unless they are in a minority situation and have to work with the NDP, Liberals almost always govern like Conservatives. They look out for the best interests of the monied establishment, including big business.

The Conservative Party, throughout its many recent guises of Progressive Conservative, Reform, and Alliance, has kept its focus squarely on the right wing agenda, both in social and economic policies. Private health care, poor or nonexistent child care and pro-business, anti-worker policies are at the heart of the Conservative agenda of Stephen Harper and his party.

The Manitoba Federation of Labour, at convention after convention, has endorsed the NDP. Our members have reviewed the policies of the NDP as well as the other parties. These policies have then been filtered through a worker's perspective and our members have determined who is on their side.

Dziewit said, "It is clear that the New Democrats are the only federal party that has a clear, pro-worker platform in this election and a vote for any other party is a vote for more of the same politics that have let Canadian workers down for the past two decades.

"Under the Conservatives and Liberals, we have seen the erosion of health care and education. We have seen Unemployment Insurance weakened and made nearly irrelevant. We have seen massive tax breaks for the wealthy and powerful and we have seen both parties mired under the weight of scandal and charges of corruption."

Contrary to what some think, the MFL does not intend to 'tell' workers how to vote. No one, least of all a workers organization such as the MFL, can or should tell people where to cast their precious vote. We simply evaluate and recommend to our members that if they want to support themselves and their families, the NDP is the party for them.

Right now, all of the political parties are asking working people and their families for their votes. Stephen Harper is saying vote Conservative and I will lower your taxes, increase spending, protect your social programs and end corruption. Does anyone really believe him?

And lately, all Paul Martin can say is vote for me because the Conservatives are not to be trusted. Does anyone really believe him, either? Only Jack Layton and the NDP have spoken up for working families, seniors and those who are most disadvantaged.

"In the last parliament Jack Layton and the NDP virtually rewrote the federal budget. Then they forced the Liberal Government to pass it. That budget was the first ever Federal NDP budget. It took planned tax cuts away from the powerful corporations and spent it instead on the citizens of this country. For example that budget created a national day care program. All of that was done with 18 seats. Imagine what can be accomplished if the NDP were to greatly increase its seats.

On January 16 and 17, Dziewit was in Flin Flon and The Pas visiting the locals of some of the MFL affiliated unions in northern Manitoba and showing her support for Churchill riding NDP candidate Niki Ashton.

Dziewit said, "Niki Ashton will bring energy and enthusiasm to the House of Commons and a grasp and understanding of the needs and desires of working families and all of her constituents”.

In addition to the MFL, Ashton has been endorsed by the Flin Flon Labour Council, The Pas and District Labour Council and the Thompson and District Labour Co-ordinating Committee. Election related information previously posted on this web site includes information about the endorsement of Niki Ashton by the Thompson and District Labour Committee, and about the election specific web site created by the Canadian Labour Congress.