I have always found the “non-partisan” label of the NPA confusing on a number of different fronts. The concept of having candidates that do not adhere to any particular policy, all under one banner, is confusing to say the least. Because if you don’t stand for anything in particular, where is the appeal for the electorate?
Arguments that claim that non-affiliation to any political party allows for decision-making that is representative of the people is a bunch of hogwash. The real reason that the NPA succeeded for so many years was because no alternative on Vancouver’s municipal political spectrum existed between them and COPE, which never had the appeal or know-how to gain widespread appeal (not without Larry Campbell as their anchor, at least).
Vision Vancouver was able to provide that middle ground, and through superb candidate selection, a popular and dynamic Mayor, and progressive policies balanced with a perspective for business and fiscal considerations, the party successfully took the NPA off its perch.
But as this video from the Georgia Straight clearly demonstrates, the NPA still haven’t learned that their stand for nothing approach is not going to cut the mustard when it comes to capturing back the imaginations of the electorate.
NPA board member Manjot Hallen is a friend, a brilliant young lawyer, and a rising political force in Vancouver. And, he makes perfect sense by stating that the piecemeal changes previously posed by the second motion found at this link would have completely negated the entire NPA constittuion.
Regardless, I find it fascinating that a group of people that are politically aware, intelligent, connected to their communities and full of ideas can be so tied to an approach that garners little to nothing for the party/association/orgnanization.
Say what you will about Vision Vancouver’s policies and commitments, but they have clearly laid them out for the people, found a group of diverse individuals to be a part of a team that represents those core principles, and hinged their political future on the success or failure of implementation.
This is tangible. This is something that can be gauged, judged and voted upon by Vancouver’s citizens, as opposed to an organization that takes no responsibility over the people that carry their label.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. The decentralized approach that the NPA membership decided to maintina last week will continue to be a hindereance in achieving a political recovery, whether they find a strong candidate for Mayor or not.
When faced with people that stand for something in unity, or individuals who look out for their own best interests, the choice tends to be pretty clear.
