On institutionalization

Following up on my earlier post, there was one massive piece of news from #vancon2011 on the capacity development front in the unveiling of the Broadbent Institute. But while it's hard to see any circumstances where the creation of a new think tank built around a popular former leader could prove to be anything but a huge plus, I'll toss out a few suggestions to make sure the new institute provides the maximum possible benefit for the NDP and its movement.

First, it's worth making sure that the new institute complements Canada's existing left-wing infrastructure, rather than serving to elbow other organizations out of the picture. That may mean leaving some policy development areas alone where they might otherwise look like an obvious opportunity for a think tank (for example, there would seem to be little point in developing alternative budgets when the CCPA already carries out that work). And hopefully it will also mean finding some new fund-raising capacity in the wake of the NDP's electoral success, rather than competing with both the party and other think tanks for existing pools of money.

Second, the institute may have to walk a fine line in how it relates to the NDP. While I'm open to arguments otherwise, I'd hope that it will serve as a more neutral and less partisan voice than its analogues on the right - but that doesn't mean it shouldn't also serve as a pipeline for developing talent for the NDP, including by establishing a profile for a new generation of commentators to present progressive and NDP positions in the media.

Meanwhile, it would also be a plus to see the institute take on some of the work previously done under the party's banner. In particular, consultation projects like the NDP's past economic town-hall tours would seem to be a natural fit for the institute - allowing MPs and other party figures to participate where convenient, while ensuring that regular citizen engagement goes on even in areas where the party isn't able to use its own resources.

And finally, I'd hope to see the institute (like Broadbent himself) serve as a strong force in pushing the NDP to live up to its progressive principles and opening up space on the left - rather than falling into the trap of merely trying to anticipate and provide messaging support for moves to the centre.

Again, the above is just a first set of impressions as to how to maximize the long-term benefits from the founding of the Broadbent Institute - and I'll very much be looking forward to seeing how the group evolves.