Ryan and Shelton win NDP NominationsCUPE Ontario's Sid Ryan and Antoni Shelton have both won the NDP nomination to run in the October 10th provincial election, bringing new energy and new members to their respective ridings. Ryan will run in Oshawa while Shelton will make his first foray into electoral politics in the riding of York West. In a packed meeting hall in Oshawa on Wednesday July 18, Ryan won the nomination over fellow candidate Julia McCrae. Current and new Oshawa NDP Riding Association members were joined by a large number of CUPE members along with leaders and members from a number of unions including the OFL, OPSEU, Sheet Metal Workers, CAW and OSSTF.
Ryan and Shelton win NDP Nominations
I'm thrilled. There was no greater disappointment for me as a new NDP member in 2003 than learning of Sid Ryan's loss in Oshawa. From the perspective of trying to rebuild a party which was left shattered by the likes of Bob Rae, a successful election campaign for Ryan would mark a serious return of labour in the NDP. Locally, I see a great deal of disenfranchised and dissallusioned sisters and brothers.
Ryan's candidacy already speaks to the nature of the whole NDP-Rae interaction, but that is nothing new. Having been a candidate in Oshawa in 2003 and 1999, Ryan's support of the ONDP has helped to illustrate how much our of stride Rae's government was with the party's values. However, with the Ontario CUPE executive unanimously supporting his candidacy, and calling for all CUPE members to support the NDP, it could be easily said that there is a strong labour renaissances in the NDP.
It will likely take years to mend the tears that have been gouged in the fabric of the party, and this is a key step.
