Vol. 45, Issue 1 Summer 2012 Brant NDP Newsletter

NDP Leadership Matters Provincial NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and Federal NDP Leader Tom Mulcair have had successful visits to Brant Riding this year.

Andrea's Visit When Andrea Horwath visited Brantford back in late

January she came to listen. Her full schedule saw her

meet with a large group of small business owners at

The Station Coffee House & Gallery, then take a

meeting with the Brantford-Brant Chamber of

Commerce, followed by lunch with local activists and

an open meeting with seniors and citizens at the

Seniors Resource Centre.

Tom's Visit New Federal NDP Leader Tom Mulcair visited the

riding in March and held two public meetings. The first

was at the Seniors' Resource Centre to talk about the

harmful Old Age Security changes being made by the

Harper Government. This was followed by a large

gathering at the Brantford Conference Centre to

answer questions from community members.

The Grassroots

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LOREM

A Letter From Our President I was a curious, faceless crowd member.  He was an affable fellow of smiles and friendly words.  Sounds like a novel.  But gifted people like Jack Layton speak to your heart.  And listening to him last April, I suddenly realized that my vote isn’t enough to improve the world.  Action must follow intent.  Inspired, I volunteered for my first political experience. 

A scant year later, I’m writing as president of the Brant NDP.  Politics isn’t old guys with cigars in smoke-filled rooms.  It’s regular people trying to make the world a little better.  It’s regular people like me.  And more importantly, it’s regular people like you.  People who, somewhere between feeding the kids, rushing to work or caring for grandchildren, manage to care about important issues.  People like you, who volunteer time, donate spare change and raise your voice for change. 

I always thought that politics was for clever strategists in dusty hallways.  It’s not.  Politics is people like us: passionate, caring and active.  Your commitment to your community is inspiring. 

I am honored, and humbled, to work for you.

Yours in service,

Sue Draper

President, Brant Joint Riding Association

MPP Jonah Schein visited Brantford in May to support the efforts of the Save Hardy Road Organizers

Local News

The Brant NDP had a table at the recent Pride Day Celebrations at Mohawk Park (above). Membership Officer Bethany Schultz (below) was also one of the musical acts

Brant NDP President Sue Draper

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Brant NDP Launches Diversity Committee

Local NewsThe NDP has long recognized the mosaic cultures and make up of our country.

Our goal is to attract, develop and retain a just relationship with these groups. This requires our party to have a culture of inclusion where all individuals feel respected, are treated fairly and provide an opportunity to excel within their adopted homeland.

To support the realization of our vision and mission, we have established the following strategic objectives:

1) Diversity - Improve the representation of minorities at all levels of the NDP and integrate their talent and aspirations.

2) Inclusion - Create an inclusive policy that fosters equality and promotes everybody's ability to be active members within our community.

3) Communications - Ensure that Diversity & Inclusion initiatives, actions, and results are transparent to all these groups.

4) Accountability - Hold leadership accountable for Diversity & Inclusion goals and objectives.

See the next page for a full list of other Brant NDP Committees any member with an interest can join today!

MPP Jagmeet Singh (centre) was a keynote speaker at the 2nd Annual Brantford Youth Leadership Conference. Over 50 local youth attended this free conference organized by the Brant Young New Democrats this past May.

Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath at the Station Coffee House.

Tracy Macdonnell was one of the many men from the Brant NDP supporting Nova Vita at the Men in Heels Walk.

A full room gathered for our 2012 Annual General Meeting at Myrtleville House Museum.

By Diversity Chair Michael Issa

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Brant NDP Committees Reports By Len Davies

Call 519-751-9111 or e-mail sue@brantndp.ca for more information or to attend one of our monthly meetings.

Since our Annual Meeting in April, over a dozen committees and teams have been formed to extend the orange wave in Brant riding. As you have read on the previous page our diversity committee is very active.  Our environmental and conservation team, is working hard on a position statement regarding Brantford’s waterfront, and was with MPP Jonah Schein at a recent Hardy Road wetlands visit.  Women’s Committee chair Ellora Jones and members of the LGBT team were in the Brantford Pride walk in June, and signed up members while handing out NDP related items to the families there.  Also, our Brant Young NDP organized the 2nd Annual Brantford Youth Leadership conference which grew significantly from the previous year's event. Membership chair, Bethany Schultz, and her committee works closely with the fundraising and volunteer committees, and is on a mission to double the 2011 riding membership this year. President Sue Draper tells of our riding hosting at least three fundraising events, so watch for notices of these events on our website, by email and telephone.  The special events and volunteer teams attend community events or create their own events to put forth an NDP face in our community. The senior’s advocacy team has been established to liaise with local organizations and works under provincial vice-president Tim Deelstra.  This committee will give recommendations to our delegates to Provincial Council. During the last Provincial Council in April we're happy to report that several Brant riding proposals were adopted as official policy by the party. Our new Aboriginal/Onkwehonwe committee hosted a very successful booth in June at Solidarity Day, and is planning to host a VIP for the Three-Fires Pow-Wow in August. We're also starting a Greater Brant Committee for those interested in rural & county issues/outreach. Communications chair, Marc Laferriere has put the NDP in the local and national spotlight with over 3 dozen media hits in the last few months. Please look for his monthly political column in the Brant News. With a provincial by-election imminent in Kitchener, Brant NDP volunteers have been asked to work with Kitchener’s professional organizing team to learn skills and strategies we can use here when the next general election is called. You can help build a winning campaign team in the months ahead by volunteering your time and engaging your friends, family and neighbours in discussions about Andrea Horwath, Tom Mulcair and New Democratic ideas. The Brant NDP is leading the orange wave, and we hope you will join us as we work to build a better Brant in the months and years ahead!