Dear friends,
I have said it on Twitter and on Facebook, and now I'd like to say it in a letter to you:
Thank you so much for your friendship and support during the 2012 leadership contest, just concluded.
When it's over, it's over. And like all New Democrats all across Canada, there must be only one thing on all of our minds from now on -- unity behind our new leader, Tom Mulcair; strength; and an absolute focus on the task at hand, which is to offer Canadians a better government.
Still and all, perhaps I'll offer a few parting thoughts on what we've all just been through.
National campaigns are always intense experiences -- but they usually last for seven weeks or so. And then we go whew! that was quite a ride. This seven month marathon was of an entirely different magnitude. And so, it was a unique opportunity to see our country, to get to know our party in its deepest grass roots, to get to know my colleagues in the race, and to renew and make friendships I will treasure for the rest of my life.
This really is a remarkable country. It's an ocean of land. It is an archipelago of communities. And it is something more -- a country of citizens who share some powerful communitarian values and principles that our current government does not understand. Canadians are looking for something better. That's going to be us.
Our party is remarkably strong -- Jack Layton's gift to Canada. It is bursting with young people; crackling with ideas; it is asking good questions; it is smiling, optimistic, and serious about its role. I will always be grateful to the many hundreds of members who came to talk to me during this campaign I was honoured to have my time with you.
Martin Singh with his passionate commitment to national pharmacare; Robert Chisholm with his deep experience as a successful provincial leader; Romeo Saganash, one of Canada's most accomplished First Nations leaders, with much to teach us; Niki Ashton with her remarkable polylingual prairie determination to renew politics; Paul Dewar with his passionate decency, engaging family and impressive grassroots campaign; Peggy Nash, my fantastic MP here in Parkdale High Park, the rassembleuse; Nathan Cullen, who reminded so many of Jack, challenging us to think new about what it's going to take to unseat Mr. Harper; and Tom Mulcair, my colleague on the last ballot, now my leader, who lived up to his reputation as a truly formidable opponent -- not a bad thing to put up against this Conservative government. All of my colleagues in this race were members of the "Layton generation" -- and collectively, they have proved that we have the leadership under Tom Mulcair and the team to not only challenge Mr. Harper but to replace him. I was very lucky to have been allowed to stand with them on those stages.
Finally, I hope you won't mind if I take a moment to thank the many people who helped me in this campaign.
I was blessed to have the support and endorsement of some of the most impressive and accomplished Parliamentarians, past and present, federal and provincial, in our party. I will find my way to each of you in coming weeks to thank you personally. I was deeply honoured and moved by your support. I hope you won't mind if I say what a particular thrill and honour it was to see Shirley Douglas stand up to nominate me and to remind us all, once again, why we are here -- and why we will never give up.
My campaign manager Raymond Guardia is the architect of our electoral victory in Quebec, a goal he has worked towards all his adult life, so much of which he has devoted, passionately, to our party and our cause. He headed an extraordinary team of organizers, writers, web-warriors, phone bankers, videographers, and many many others who gave their hearts and souls to my campaign through grinding hours. To all of those who helped me in so many ways: I will always be grateful to you. I will always treasure your help. And what a treasure it is to have such friends, now and for the rest of our lives.
My brothers and sisters at the United Steelworkers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union led a fine labour team. I was just about as proud to stand with you in this campaign, as I will be in the many campaigns we in the labour movement will work together on in the years ahead. A special thank you to Leo Gerard, Ken Neumann, and Dave Coles for your help and support -- and to all my labour colleagues in many unions across Canada who stood with me. Now we stand together with our party and our leader, Tom Mulcair.
I am blessed to have a remarkable partner, Rebecca Elbourne, and two remarkable sons, Simon and Alex who, fortunately, take after their mom. They were pretty hoarse after convention (twelve hours or so of chanting slogans will do that to you), just a little taste of the support my family gave me on this journey. Paul Dewar's partner told the media after convention, "we have each other, we're ok". That's exactly how I feel about things, and am so lucky that is so.
So this campaign is over and the next begins -- our campaign to replace this Conservative government with a better one.
To work, friends.
All my very best,
Brian Topp
March 24, 2012
Check against delivery
Bonjour mes amis, bonjour Toronto, et bonjour Canada.
Quelle bonheur d'être avec vous aujourd'hui.
My first words are for my colleagues in this race. Congratulations to each and every one of you on a well-fought campaign, colleagues -- what a great team we’re going to be!
Friends, Jack Layton taught us to be loving, hopeful and optimistic.
I’m loving that our party has grown to over 130,000 members.
But I am not only hopeful and optimistic about defeating Stephen Harper…
I KNOW we will defeat him!
And we will elect Canada’s first NDP government!
Friends, throughout much of the world, Conservatives are in power -- and have a firm grip on failure.
They’ve delivered growing inequality, rising poverty, and failure on climate change…
…just about what you’d expect from conservatives.
But there is new hope.
In Canada, and all around the world, progressives and social democrats are rediscovering our courage, and taking the fight directly to old-style conservative thinking…
Like the idea that tax giveaways to the 1% will trickle down to you.
Like the idea that climate change is a problem we can leave to our children.
Like the idea that gross inequality is a good thing, and needs to get worse….
Do those sound like good ideas to you?
I don’t think so.
That's old-line, traditional thinking -- that we say has had its day.
We say we can do better.
Like a string through pearls, we say there are common Canadian values – different values – NDP values -- that hold us together, and call on us to work together.
I am a proud New Democrat and an unapologetic social democrat. I bet you are too.
And if we fight as social democrats, not only will we win…
…not only will we defeat Stephen Harper.
But, friends…
…winning will be worth it!
Mes amis, le 2 mai dernier, des millions de francophones aux Québec et à travers le Canada ont découvert ce que nous espérions depuis trois décennies.
Vous avez découvert que les valeurs du NPD sont celles des progressistes québécois...
Ensemble nous avons élu 59 députés de partout au Québec.
Grâce à nous, ce parlement à un nombre record de femmes!
Grâce à nous, ce parlement à un nombre record de députés autochtones.
Grâce à nous, on a réussi à élire le plus grand nombre de jeunes de l'histoire du Canada!
Mes amis, le printemps dernier vous avez accordé votre confiance à Jack Layton et notre parti.
Vous NOUS avez demandé de parler pour le Québec dans ce parlement.
De NOUS battre corps et âme contre des politiques mesquines et divisives.
NOUS avons eu le mandat d'être une opposition officielle offrant une alternative crédible, positive et fidèle à nos valeurs.
Oui, on a perdu Jack...
Mais, NOUS pouvons continuer son travail.
NOUS pouvons construire un pays plus juste et plus égalitaire.
Un pays qui respecte le Québec.
Un pays qui fait la promotion de la culture québécoise, de ses artistes et de sa langue.
Mes amis néodémocrates...
Membres et nouveaux députés du Québec...
Ne prenons rien pour acquis....
Pour les trois prochaines années, travaillons d’arrache-pied pour mériter cette confiance une nouvelle fois.
Et si on fait ça, en 2015, on va pouvoir dire Bye-Bye Mister Harper!
***
So where the conservatives have destroyed public finances, spending billions on tax giveaways for those at the top…
…we must fight, and fight hard, for a progressive tax system.
It’s wrong…
…that the men and women who work in the hotels we’re staying in this weekend pay a higher tax rate…
…Than some of the people making millions gambling on the stock market a few blocks from here.
So where the Conservatives have turned their back on Climate Change, with Mr. Harper fighting his own personal war on science…
…New Democrats must lead the fight.
We will cap and price carbon;
We will end coal as a source of electricity;
We will bring in a home and industrial retrofit program;
And we will bring in a national public transit plan that starts to get cars out of our biggest cities – just like Jack proposed.
(Got that, mayor Ford?)
En bref, le Canada ne devrait pas être le plus grand obstacle dans la lutte aux changements climatiques.
Le Canada devrait être un leader!
But, for me, there is one question that stands alone.
…a question that lies at the core of new democratic values…
What kind of Canada do we want?
We want a nation built on fair taxes.
A nation that acts on climate change.
A nation that cares about our seniors, and our children.
A nation that cares about art and artists.
A nation with a strong, well-run, universal public medicare system.
A nation committed to equality for women, and new Canadians.
A nation that turns our own resources into our own jobs, right here in Canada.
And above all else, a Canada that is more – MUCH more – economically and socially EQUAL.
That’s the country Canadians want.
That's the kind of government Canadians want.
And if you put your trust in me, that’s the government I’ll lead…
No gimmicks.
No shortcuts.
And no false flags.
Jack Layton won on honesty, openness and conviction.
So will we.
From J.S. to Jack – We stand on the shoulders of giants.
We have come so far. We are so close.
To arriving at a better Canada – one practical step at a time, just like we do in our best provincial governments.
A better Canada -- led by men and women committed to social justice -- and equality.
A better Canada -- respected for its leadership in the world for peace.
A better Canada -- that we will hand to our children proudly.
My friends, in asking for your support today you have my pledge…
If you elect me as leader, I'm going to be right back, asking you to do a great deal of work.
To build our party, in every corner of this country.
To elect a government WORTH electing.
Un gouvernement NPD qui vaut la peine d’élire.
And I will always honour the trust you place in me.
And together, we’ll get the job done.
Merci.
On Friday, thousands of New Democrats from across Canada will gather in Toronto to elect the next leader of our party.
Check out Brian's convention video right now. Consider it a "sneak peek".
And a special thanks to legendary canadian actor Gordon Pincent for doing the voice-over.
VANCOUVER: The Brian Topp NDP leadership campaign continues to grow in BC, as more key party activists announce their support.
Topp, who early on earned the backing deputy leader Libby Davies, and former BC leaders Joy MacPhail, Carole James and Dawn Black, has picked up a slew of new endorsements in the past week.
These include former Premier Dan Miller, Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan, former environment minister John Cashore and key party activists around the province.
Today the Topp campaign announced yet more endorsements, including:
· Rob Wynen, Vision Vancouver School Trustee
· Ken McRae, past Mayor, Port Alberni
· Barbara Price, Comox Councillor
· Michael Charrois, 2011 candidate, North Vancouver
· Kate Greening, Cumberland Village Councillor
· Charmaine Murray, former city councillor, New Westminster
· Frank and Yvonne Slyman - Honorary NDP Life Members
· Jarrett Hagglund, youth rep for Vancouver Hastings NDP constituency
· Julius Fisher, working TV
"I am deeply humbled by the tremendous grassroots support in British Columbia," said Topp.
"As the race comes to a close, New Democrats are making a fundamental choice about the future of the party," said Topp. "Do we change direction, or do we continue to fight for NDP values? I know where I stand. I am a proud social democrat. Together, we can win as New Democrats and deliver a progressive, and hopeful government that builds a more economically and socially equal Canada."
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Attached is a list of all the BC MPs and MLAs who support Topp:BC BACKS BRIAN
“Brian has what it takes to keep us strong in Quebec, grow in the rest of the country, and make history by forming the first ever NDP government.”
-Joy MacPhail, former leader, BC NDP
MPs
Jean Crowder
Libby Davies
Jasbir Sandhu
Jinny Sims
Kennedy Stewart
MLAs
Harry Bains
Dawn Black
Jagrup Brar
Raj Chouhan
Katrine Conroy
Kathy Corrigan
Scott Fraser
Sue Hammell
John Horgan
Carole James
Maurine Karagianis
Harry Lali
Michelle Mungall
Lana Popham
Bruce Ralston
Bill Routley
Doug Routley
NDP activists from across BC
Sage Aaron, board member for Vision Vancouver
Carmela Allevato, former candidate for Vancouver Mayor
Linda Asgeirsson, secretary to the New Westminster-Coquitlam riding association
Barry Avis, provincial candidate, Parksville-Qualicum
Joanne Banfield, president Vancouver Kingsway NDP riding association
Boni Barcia, former HEU vice-president
Brett Barden, president Surrey-Green Timbers constituency association
Sheila Baxter, author and anti-poverty activist
Soren Bech, long-time communications director for BC campaigns
Joan Bech, former Langley school trustee
Nate Bello, former mayor of Quesnel
Amber Bhangoo, federal youth liaison, BC Young New Democrats
Sylvia Bishop, Delta City Councillor
Laney Bryenton, community advocate for people with disabilities
Lil Cameron, past president Burnaby Douglas NDP riding association
John Cashore, former BC Environment Minister
Michael Charrois, 2011 candidate, North Vancouver
Timothy Chu, communications director, New Democrat Youth of Canada
Derek Corrigan, Mayor of Burnaby
Michael Crawford, 2011 federal candidate, Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo
Anne Davis, 1st vice president Campbell River-Courtenay and District Labour Council
Mavis DeGirolomo, Victoria community activist
Mike Eso, president, Victoria Labour Council
Frank Everitt, Prince George City Councillor
Julius Fisher, working TV
Chris Gainor, president Victoria-Beacon Hill constituency association
Sharon Goldberg, president Surrey-Whalley constituency association
Kate Greening, Cumberland Village Councillor
Anita Hagen, former Deputy Premier
Jarrett Hagglund, youth rep for Vancouver Hastings NDP constituency
Doug Hillian, Courtenay city councillor
Raj Hundal, provincial candidate Surrey-Tynehead
Steve Hunt, United Steelworkers Director for Western Canada
Lynn Hunter, former MP
Jane Ireland, former constituency assistant to MP Bill Siksay
Gerard Janssen, former BC cabinet minister and caucus whip
Lakhvinder Jhaj, 2009 provincial candidate, Boundary-Similkameen
Murry Krause, Prince George City Councillor and First Nations health advocate
Piotr Majkowski, 2011 federal candidate, Langley
Eva Manly, documentary filmmaker
Jim Manly, former MP
Amrik Mahil, provincial candidate Surrey-Panorama
Bryan McIvor, 2011 campaign manager for Vancouver Centre
Ken McRae, past Mayor, Port Alberni
Andrew Mercier, provincial candidate, Langley
Charmaine Murray, former city councillor, New Westminster
Russ Neely, former provincial and federal director of organization
Ken Neumann, United Steelworkers Canadian National Director
Thelma Pankiw, former executive assistant to Premier Mike Harcourt
James Papadopoulos, 2011 campaign manager, Surrey North
Ken Pearce, president, Nanaimo-Alberni NDP
John Pollard, Election Planning chair for Surrey North federal riding
Patrice Pratt, former president BC NDP
Barbara Price, Comox Councillor
Peter Prontzos, Political Science instructor and former provincial candidate
Chuck Puchmayr, New Westminster City Council and former MLA
Jim Quail, labour lawyer
Jim Rutkowski, former BC caucus communications director
Alvin Sanders, Actor
Glen Sanford, BC campaign director 2011 federal election
Gerry Scott, former provincial secretary and BC NDP campaign manager
John Shields, former president of the BCGEU
Lorraine Shore, vice president, BCNDP executive
Raj Sihota, former outreach director, BC NDP caucus
Erin Sikora, labour activist
Bill Siksay, former MP
Alvin Singh, founder of Vancouver 101 youth leadership program
Nic Slater, provincial candidate for Delta
Frank and Yvonne Slyman - Honorary NDP Life Members
Krystal Smith, BC NDP regional rep, Central Interior-Okanagan
Bob Smits, past treasurer, BC NDP
Nimmi Takkar, co-chair, BC Young New Democrats
Wayne Turner, president Newton-North Delta riding association
Todd Wong, founder of Gung Haggis Fat Choy
Rob Wynen, Vision Vancouver School Trustee
“I believe Brian Topp has the qualities that matter most. He has the political and intellectual substance we need to meet today’s challenges. He has the qualities of character Canadians require in a Prime Minister. He is ready now. He is ready to take on Stephen Harper and provide a progressive government for our wonderful country.”
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