’Focus on what unites us’

Nathan Cullen continues to pitch his proposal for joint nominations.

Some worry about the implications of my proposal. The root of many of these fears is a belief that my party can win on its own. I understand that sentiment. Indeed, I agree with it: We can out-organize another party in a joint nomination—resembling a U.S. primary—and go on from there to beat a sitting Conservative. Others say it’s not realistic, that parties would need common platforms to make it happen; or that vested interests wound not allow it.

In response, I ask them whether the differences among progressive Canadians are really so great that we can’t find ways to co-operate before the next election? They can’t be that large. If other candidates can imagine and plan to co-operate after an election, surely we can democratically co-operate before one, too.