Broadbent announces new left-wing institute

Former NDP leader Ed Broadbent, left, with NDP Leader Jack Layton. Broadbent will announce a new institute for social democracy Friday.

CBC:

Former NDP leader Ed Broadbent is setting up a new institute to explore social democratic policy and ideas.

The think tank, named for Broadbent, will reach out to social democrat-leaning academics for their ideas, provide education and train activists, but be independent from the party, he announced Friday.

"I have for some time thought we should have something like this," Broadbent said.

"Our founder [Tommy Douglas] well understood a political movement or idea doesn't live in the past."

Broadbent said it's important to New Democrats to have ideas behind the party's leader.

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