No Weighted Vote for Unions in NDP Leadership: But CLC President Says Labour Supports Party

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Sept. 8, 2011) - The Canadian Labour Congress says speculation about the labour movement having undue influence in selecting the next leader of the New Democratic Party is wrong.

"I want to set the record straight," says CLC President Ken Georgetti. "The NDP's constitution stipulates a one-member-one-vote process for choosing the leader and that vote is no way weighted in favour of union members."

Georgetti says that in 2003 the labour movement lobbied in support of Bill C-24, the political party financing legislation that came into effect in 2004. The new law eliminated financial contributions to political parties from unions and corporations. "We then co-chaired an NDP committee to ensure that we were in compliance with the new legislation. It became clear to us in this process that a weighted vote in a leadership contest would contravene Bill C-24. The committee recommended that the party amend its constitution to that effect and that was done."

Georgetti says, however, that the labour movement wants to continue its historic relationship with the NDP. "Labour was a partner in creating the NDP in 1961 and we continue to believe that we need a political party that stands up for working Canadians. Thousands of workers and their unions will continue to support the NDP and we will also abide by Canada's electoral laws."

The Canadian Labour Congress, the national voice of the labour movement, represents 3.2 million Canadian workers. The CLC brings together Canada's national and international unions along with the provincial and territorial federations of labour and 130 district labour councils. Web site: www.canadianlabour.ca. Follow us on Twitter @CanadianLabour.