But Laxer’s antiquated economic-policy prescriptions were most disappointing. His suggestion that Canada regulate energy prices, an idea that pits reducing inequality against forging good environmental policy, misses the opportunity Jack Layton’s ndp has taken to advocate an environmentally sound industrial strategy that also improves the lives of workers and the poor.

A more radical policy to make energy affordable and accessible would include aggressive energy-efficiency programs, investments in public transport, mandatory fuel-efficiency standards for all vehicles, and community-based renewable energy. Providing better housing standards for the poor through energy efficiency and legislating that products must be cleaner, safer, and more efficient is far more progressive than forcing producers to charge a lower price for oil. The ndp’s early-1970s leftist Waffle group, which Mr. Laxer was involved with, envisioned an economy that creates high-value-added products, is energy independent, social movement—oriented, and committed to structural economic change. A left-green alliance can challenge the Conservatives on their destructive environmental agenda and seek to renew Canada’s social democratic party. While Laxer offers a valid critique, he provides few solutions to today’s most important problems.

Brendan Haley
Halifax, Nova Scotia


James Laxer seems to think that Stephen Harper didn’t deserve to be elected but that Paul Martin’s Liberals did. Does Laxer really believe that the Grits’ twelve years of broken promises and insider politics had nothing to do with their defeat, or that the ndp lost any relevance in Canadian politics after the 1980s yet was responsible for the 2006 federal election results He states that the ndp should be a more powerful, resonant voice in federal politics but not challenge the Liberals or do anything that would risk dislodging them as the governing party. Forgive me if I find this bizarre.

I find it impossible to understand the logic of those who actually prefer the ndp to be a voice in the wilderness while protesting that they want the party to engage the electorate. These folks get their knickers in a knot when the ndp decides that Canada’s old-line parties have let Canadians down and has the temerity to say it in an election campaign. I assume they would have been happier if Jack Layton had stifled his criticism of a decaying Liberal party, believing that corrupt, ineffective leadership is better than the unknown.

“The Liberals don’t deserve to be re-elected,” Jack Layton said during the campaign, “and the Conservatives are wrong on the issues.” How much clearer could Layton be And how is that moving to the centre Moving to the centre would be pulling your punches because you believe that the Liberals really are okay, no matter what they do. And that would truly be “waffling.”

Wendy Hughes
Toronto, Ontario