Nash nets NDP's 'top endorsement' as finance critic

Vancouver Observer:

She's been dubbed a “practical radical” – and even the “Iron Lady of the Left.”

But Toronto's Peggy Nash – an emerging top contender in the quest to succeed Jack Layton as leader of Canada's New Democratic Party (NDP) – is no Thatcher. Her hope: to become Canada's “first-ever female social democratic Prime Minister.”

Today, at an intimate pub gathering (the venue doubles as a night-time gay bar), she announced she will support national anti-homophobic bullying legislation, bring back a long-gun registry and fight for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights.

"I believe in this leadership campaign, if we're going to talk about economic justice, we've also got to talk about social justice and human rights," she told the crowd. "We have to fight for human rights -- we have to defend the rights of everyone in society."

In a political sphere where women are still categorized as either too tough (Thatcher, Hillary Clinton, Angela Merkel) or too soft to lead, Nash earned her strong image not only from going “toe-to-toe” with finance minister Jim Flaherty and then-industry minister Jim Prentice.

In the House of Commons, she's put forward bills for a $10 national minimum wage, honorary citizenship for the Dalai Lama and – making Canadian history – blocked a Canadian company's takeover by a U.S. arms manufacturer.

“I led the charge,” she said of the successful effort to stop the sale of MacDonald, Dettwiler & Associates (MDA), maker of the Canadarm, to a U.S. munitions manufacturer. “It was the first time in the history of our Competition Act.

“Once we examined (the deal), it became obvious even to the Minister (of Industry Jim Prentice) that it was not in Canada's interest. I've also shown as finance critic I can go toe-to-toe with (Finance Minister) Jim Flaherty with gusto and effectiveness.”

Nash said that bridging her passion for social justice with knowledge of economics is a key to her campaign. And, with economic inequality at an all-time high in Canada, she insisted Canadians need to hear more clearly the NDP's economic vision.

“We should never be afraid of talking about economic issues,” she said. “We are the party that wants to reduce inequality and create good quality jobs with decent incomes, and you can only do that if you have strong social programs and strong environmental policy – they all go together.

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