Article content

As you already know, the New Democrat Party over the weekend elected a new leader in Avi Lewis.

Article content

But prior to him stepping into Jagmeet Singh’s Gucci loafers, there were some other events that took place during the NDP Leadership Convention in Winnipeg.

Article content

Article content

Equity cards were handed out to delegates based on identity categories including gender, race and ethnicity, LGBTQ+ and Indigenous status, and those cards — in various colours such as pink, yellow and green — allowed them to jump the line to ensure equitable representation in debates.

However, instead of debating on issues such as the cost of living, inflation, unemployment rates, the health-care system, or crime, the delegates with their equity cards seemed more interested in conveying why they were holding said cards.

Videos posted of disagreements

One video posted to social media shows a person holding up their green gender equity card, claiming to be next to speak, while another woman responded holding up her pink race equity card, noting that it had been previously used inappropriately and that cards for people who identify as Black women “have no value outside of this space.”

Article content

Article content

Videos of individuals arguing over the misuse of the colour-coded cards, the pro/con speaking order, and the clash of hierarchy between the different groups sparked frustration among attendees and those who wanted to discuss and debate the real issues that are affecting all Canadians.

Article content

The speaker didn’t help with moderating the more frivolous battles.

In one instance, one delegate gained applause after making an impassioned speech against involvement in the war in Iran.

However, the speaker was cheered on after she reprimanded the delegate for misgendering the speaker, who identifies as “non-binary.”

Article content

The general consensus online seemed to be of disbelief that the videos from the convention were not satire nor clips from Saturday Night Live.

“Arguing who gets the most privilege is next level,” one person wrote. “As a Canadian I am embarrassed.”

A second user commented: “Canada is cooked,” while another added, “what a complete farce.”

While some defended the cards system, there were others who admitted how “performative” this would appear to the average person.

Then there were those who couldn’t believe how the NDP has changed.

Article content

“Went from the party promoting health care and workers’ rights to promoting bulls*** the common person does not relate with,” one person wrote on Reddit.

A second person wrote: “That’s literally it. Instead it’s a club of people that never wants to say ‘no’ or ‘that idea is stupid’ to each other.”

A third user agreed: “This. It’s an absolute nightmare working in a group with people like this. Positivity is a nice character trait, sure. But praising every idea out of fear of offending gets you nowhere but to the lowest common denominator, which is where the federal NDP has been heading for a while.”

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

Article content