MP Nathan Cullen calls Harper government "corrupt and entitled"

"This shows a government that has become corrupt and entitled—they have special privileges,” Nathan Cullen, NDP MP said of Conservative-turned-Independent MP Dean Del Mastro who quit his seat in Parliament today in advance of a vote to suspend him.

A judge found Del Mastro guilty on three counts of violating the Canada Elections Act less than one week ago.

“There seems to be a culture that has long persisted in the Conservatives that while they are tough on crime, they’re not tough on Conservative crime,” said Cullen, MP for Skeena-Bulkey Valley.

Tories take aim at Cullen

OTTAWA  — The Conservatives are taking aim at the NDP’s newly unveiled shadow cabinet and it seems Nathan Cullen — a vocal opponent to Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline who won many over with his charismatic personality during the leadership race —  is first on the hit list.

Here’s what the Tories are saying about the party’s new House Leader in a statement dubbed “get to know Mr. Mulcair’s NDP shadow cabinet.”

    Mr. Mulcair chose to promote activists who have lobbied against Canada’s ability to develop and sell its own resources . . .

    “For example, Mr. Mulcair appointed Nathan Cullen as House Leader. During the recent leadership race, Mr. Cullen repeatedly called on the government to restrict natural resource development and he strongly opposes the Conservative government’s plan to streamline the review process for major economic projects.

    “These reforms will ensure that projects get a timely, fair hearing without unnecessary delays driven by foreign-funded special interests. Governments around the world are seeing the need to improve the approvals process to ensure that projects are not unreasonably delayed or blocked.

Don’t get stuck in fights of yesterday, says Cullen

Since the outset of the NDP leadership race, the majority of political observers have placed Skeena-Bulkley Valley, B.C. MP Nathan Cullen, 39, on the contest’s metaphorical backbench. But through the months of campaigning, Mr. Cullen’s profile has increased and he has carved out a niche for himself as a progressive and new-age politician, with a focus on the environment.

The party’s new preferential ballot voting system has led to speculation that Mr. Cullen will be one of two possible king-makers in the race. Indeed, Mr. Cullen has whittled out a healthy dose of support in B.C. The media are calling him the “dark horse” of the race. But while Mr. Cullen has largely won the support of his home province the question of the hour is—how much of the rest of NDP Canada has he won over?

The Hill Times conducted a Q&A with Mr. Cullen.

The Cullen proposal: The logistics of co-operation

In 2010-11 I was co-ordinator for the Catch 22 Campaign -- a national strategic voting campaign designed to try and defeat the Harper government in 2011 "from below" and raise awareness about the need for Canada to scrap its antiquated first-past-the-post voting system in favor of a democratic system in which all voters have equal and effective votes and a Parliament that proportionately reflects the views of the electorate. Proportional representation (PR)/equal votes is the path bringing Canada to the status of a representative democracy.

We weren't alone. Project Democracy, LeadNow, Swing 33, Shit Harper Did and other initiatives also recognized the need to defeat Harper and for game-changing reforms to Canada's voting system. Sadly, Harper won his "majority" government with about 40 per cent of the vote. Tragically, NDP leader Jack Layton was taken by cancer. Always a solid and consistent supporter of PR, Layton was able to articulate a perspective on PR that not only looked at the interests of the NDP but was also cognizant that supporters of other parties were also ripped off by winner-take-all politics. NDP (and Green Party) policy officially supports PR.

The Liberal Party of Canada was reduced to third-party status. One would think that such a humbling experience would open the party to new ideas -- i.e. democratic voting -- given that they are now on the receiving end of first-past-the-post under-representation on a national level. But alas, at their recent policy convention, they endorsed "lipstick on a pig" alternative voting which does nothing to represent "the losers."

Cooperation and charisma

It isn’t all more prisons and less freedoms. Yes, it has been tough watching the sludge come pouring out of Parliament since Harper got his majority last May. But there’s an exciting window of opportunity open right now. It is a limited-time offer, though, so try not to sleep through it.

I’m talking about the NDP leadership race. And frankly, if you’re not a supremely dedicated NDP loyalist or a seriously addicted political junkie, it’s almost impossible not to be nodding off at the mere mention. Really, how could it be otherwise?

Eight candidates, all of them not Jack. And of course they basically agree on most things. The party isn’t like the Liberals, making it all up as they go along. But let’s pause there for a minute, because there is no better reminder of how heavy the cost of poor leader-picking can be than a look back at the Libs.

When the NDP chooses its new head on March 24, the consequences will play out for a long time. But don’t relax and think there’s plenty of time till then. February 18 is the last chance to get voting rights if you want to be a player in this historic moment. Believe me, it’s worth it. Because here’s the billion-dollar question: who can actually defeat the Tories in the next election?

And here’s the open window that makes it wise to invest the 10 bucks to get yourself an NDP membership if you don’t already have one. In a respectable but lacklustre field of maybe’s, there is one candidate who goes beyond the party’s traditional wing- and-a-prayer to offer a credible plan that says, “Yes, we will win.”

Nathan Cullen is the 39-year-old come-from-behind candidate who is turning heads with his skilled communication and charisma. He’s the breath of fresh air the party and the country need.