On depth

The Star reports on the federal NDP's outlook for 2008. And while there aren't many surprises in Jack Layton's year-end message, one of the NDP's plans for early next year is worthy of note:

The federal New Democrats are planning a "leaders' summit" in early January to bring together provincial and federal party brass. The meeting, which will include former Saskatchewan premier Lorne Calvert, is a bid by the party to sell its governing credentials.

Layton said the party will be touting the experience of its MPs. The caucus includes former cabinet ministers from several provinces, including David Christopherson (Hamilton Centre), Penny Priddy (Surrey North) and Mulcair, as well as MPs with municipal experience, like Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina) and Denise Savoie (Victoria.)

"We have a lot of people ... who are ready to take on the responsibility," he said.

That will be followed by a caucus retreat in Montebello, Que., to plot strategy for the parliamentary session that begins Jan. 28 – "and what appears to be an increasingly likely election," Layton said.

The summit and retreat figure to offer an important side benefit, creating a reason for the national media to grant the NDP some of the coverage which is so often lacking.

But more importantly, the efforts should also send an important message both inside and outside the party: rather than relying on a single leader either to serve as its face or to micromanage the party, the federal NDP can take pride in the depth and experience of its candidate pool, and has plenty of governing experience just waiting for the opportunity on the federal scene. And the more Canadian voters become aware of that fact, the more likely the opportunity is to materialize.