Quebec City Day 2: The NDYC Convention

Today was the day of the NDYC, or New Democratic Youth of Canada, Convention. Starting right in the morning was breakfast with Jack Layton, who encouraged all of us youth delegates to run. After that, we had the workshops: the Human Rights Panel, the Internal Politics Panel, and the Campus Clubs Workshop. Not much interesting to report there.

Then we had our keynote speaker: Jane Doe, or at least that what she was called, considering that her name cannot be published because of a publication ban. She was sexually assaulted by a man whom the police knew was around, but didn't tell anyone. So the sexual assaulter was caught, and then she sued the police because they did not inform the residents of the area that there was a sexual assaulter around. So she gave an interesting speech on patriarchy, sexual assault and the legal system. It was a particularly hard speech to hear as a man.

Okay, now the more interesting stuff. We had a few resolutions and constitutional admendments to examine as a body. Now I'll never, ever, figure out the obsession of the far left regarding Venezesula! However, the resolution requesting more workshops at NDYC Conventions that would teach electoral skills so that the NDP can go out and win elections were excellent, and they passed. The constitutional admendments were also quite interesting: an admendment requiring NDYC Executive members to write written reports accessible to regular members passed. The admendment changing the cap on how many NDYC executive members could come from each province did not passed; in my opinion, that was not a good move to make.

Tomorrow the main convention will be starting, so that should be more interesting for all the politicos out there.