Sunday, September 13, 2009

Alberta NDP Convention - Jack Layton Speech

Jack Layton's speech starts off focusing on local accomplishments and concerns, then segues into a theme of "anything is possible" linked to the enthusiasm behind the campaigns to get Lewis Cardinal and Ray Martin elected.

On the national scene, the speech is consistent with his recent message - describing us as being "on the brink" of an election, while demanding that Harper work together with other parties to avoid forcing one. Layton's "what he's hearing" discussion talks about the difficulties of a worker who's just lost a longtime job and is perceived as too old to start a new career or a student whose difficulty finding a job over the summer results in a lack of resources to get back to school, and targets Harper to ask that their concerns be dealt with. In principle those appear to be areas where the Cons might be willing to make some small moves, though we'll have to see whether the current speculation amounts to anything.

That's then followed by some areas where the Cons aren't so likely to want to listen: an environmental message surrounding the NDP's current climate change bill, sharp criticism of the Cons' two-tiered citizenship, a call for Canada to be a voice for peace internationally, a discussion of the merits of pursuing a balanced economic approach with both a broad base of development and proper regulation, and an appeal for a national pharmacare program leading into a crowd-rallying call to build a better world.

All in all, there isn't too much surprising in Layton's speech. That's said, it's worth noting that the vast majority of it looks to have been focused on firing up the crowd in advance of an immediate election rather than laying much groundwork to avoid one - and that appears to have been in tune with the the mood of the room.

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