Resolution (A): Southwestern Ontario High-Speed Rail, (Word Count 200)

Policy Grouping: Transportation

WHEREAS Ford’s government cancelled a plan to build high-speed rail (hereafter HSR) from Toronto to Windsor;

WHEREAS the GO Transit Pilot Project to London was cancelled in 2023 without any alternative transit;

WHEREAS existing VIA rail transport is inadequate for Southwestern Ontario’s population;

WHEREAS HSR significantly reduces travel time between Southwestern Ontario cities;

WHEREAS HSR reduces greenhouse gas emissions;

WHEREAS according to a 2016 report, in 2041, over 10 million travellers annually will use HSR, and the service will capture an 11% mode share in the corridor, taking more than five million cars off of Southwestern Ontario’s highways;

AND WHEREAS the construction and operation of HSR creates jobs in Southwestern Ontario, boosting economic productivity;

BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government should work with the federal government to support quality HSR from Toronto to Quebec City;

And that the provincial government should construct HSR from Toronto to Windsor;

And that HSR should be publicly owned and operated and use union labour for construction, maintenance, and operation of infrastructure;

And that consideration should be given to Highway 401 corridor access;

And that the federal and provincial governments should provide financing to, municipalities to develop infrastructure related to the installation of HSR.

Resolution (B): New Deal for Municipalities, (Word Count 136)

Policy Grouping: Municipal Affairs

WHEREAS Doug Ford’s government has starved municipalities of much-needed funding;

WHEREAS municipalities have experienced increasing responsibilities for decades with no new funding streams, creating a vertical fiscal imbalance;

WHEREAS municipalities in Ontario are tasked with the provision of the most basic human needs, including public housing, which is funded provincially in all other provinces;

WHEREAS municipalities are tasked with building modern cities with antiquated funding tools, creating an overreliance on property tax;

WHEREAS property tax increases are becoming unsustainable, putting an undue burden on local residents;

WHEREAS municipalities rely heavily on unreliable grants and funding from the provincial and federal governments;

BE IT RESOLVED that the next Ontario provincial government will provide a New Deal for municipalities, which establishes a sustainable funding model ensuring that municipalities will be able to meet the needs of their residents.

Resolution (C): Establishing a Rural Representative Body (Word Count 195)

Policy grouping: Constitution & Internal Affairs

WHEREAS the United Farmers of Ontario Party formed a coalition government with Labour to form government after consecutive Conservative and Liberal governments, which paved the way for the Ontario CCF, and later the Ontario NDP;

WHEREAS in by-election campaigns since the 2022 general election, the Party has routinely failed to make significant gains in rural areas;

WHEREAS our party retains a major alliance with labour leaders and union members;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Party continue to rekindle lost communication with agricultural leaders and growers, by means of including, but not limited to: inviting leadership of various farmers’ associations and delegates to party events where labour maintains a significant voice;

And that the Party form a new body for rural members to discuss and develop policies and aid and assist the Party in outreach and communications with respect to rural communities and the agriculture sector;

And that the anti-discrimination officers within the party and at convention and Council congregations take all necessary steps to ensure that rural voices are uplifted, welcomed, valued, and respected in policy-making, candidate search, and fundraising processes and valued as unique and equal voices in the executive, council, and convention arenas.

Resolution (D): Bike Lanes, (Word Count 137)

Policy Grouping: Transportation

WHEREAS Doug Ford’s government has introduced the “The Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act” which erodes municipalities’ capacities to promote the interests of their constituents;

WHEREAS Doug Ford’s government is planning to remove three critical bike lanes in Toronto, threatening the safety of vulnerable road users;

WHEREAS the existence of cycling infrastructure reduces gridlock;

WHEREAS cycling infrastructure is imperative for sustainable and livable cities;

WHEREAS the removal of cycling infrastructure has been proven to not reduce gridlock;

AND WHEREAS decisions regarding cycling infrastructure should be left to municipalities;

BE IT RESOLVED that the next Ontario provincial government immediately repeal the “The Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act”; That should Doug Ford’s government successfully remove any bike lanes, that the next NDP provincial government will provide funding for the re-establishment of the said lanes or equivalent alternative routes.

Resolution (E): Double the Numbers: Increase the Homes Ontario program target to fund and build 500,000 non-market and affordable homes over ten years (Word Count 198)

Policy Group: Housing

WHEREAS researchers with Housing Assessment Resource Tools suggest building at least one million new non-market homes across Canada over the next decade;

AND WHEREAS according to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the capital cost of a non-market home starts at $240,000 while Homes Ontario allocates $100,000 per unit, and additionally, CCPA research states the completion of housing projects on a large scale requires public sector agencies to develop their own projects, which is absent from Homes Ontario;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Ontario NDP revise the Homes Ontario program in the following ways to reflect the action required to ensure that everyone has safe, accessible, and affordable housing in Ontario:

And that the target be increased to fund and build at least 500,000 new affordable and non-market homes over a ten-year period;

And that the revolving fund be increased to at least $75 billion and that the capital and land subsidies be increased to an annual $5 billion to meet the increased targets and the real capital cost of housing;

And that the mandate of Homes Ontario as an agency be expanded to develop, finance, and complete its own public housing projects to rapidly scale up production.

Resolution (F): Harassment-free Campaign Teams During Elections, (Word Count 125)

Policy Group: By-laws

WHEREAS all individuals have the right to participate in political processes free from harassment, intimidation, and discrimination;

WHEREAS campaign environments often involve high-pressure, fast-paced work that can lead to harmful power dynamics;

WHEREAS volunteers, staff, and candidates- particularly those from equity-deserving communities- are disproportionately targeted by harassment in political spaces;

WHEREAS the lack of clear standards and enforcement mechanisms leaves too many campaign workers vulnerable;

AND WHEREAS fostering respectful, inclusive, and accountable workplaces strengthens the democratic process and builds public trust;

BE IT RESOLVED that the next provincial NDP government will mandate the implementation of enforceable anti-harassment policies in all campaign teams during election periods, including clear reporting processes, training for staff and volunteers, and consequences for violations, to ensure all participants are safe and supported.

Resolution (G) Protecting our Youth from the Harms of Social Media (Word Count 196):

WHEREAS research shows strong links between excessive screen time and mental health concerns, particularly among youth;

WHEREAS young people have become dependent on social media and some experience harmful effects related to its use;

WHEREAS several school boards in Ontario are pursuing legal action to hold social media companies to account;

WHEREAS Australia approved a social media ban for children under the age of 16 in November 2024;

WHEREAS we need clear guidelines on how much screen time and what kinds of content may negatively affect children’s development; and

AND WHEREAS it is crucial to support young people in developing healthy relationships with technology to help prevent long-term societal challenges;

BE IT RESOLVED that the next provincial NDP government will direct the Standing Committee on Social Policy to commission a report on how to:

1. Review the addictive nature of social media platforms for under-18s; e.g. curated algorithms, surveillance capitalism, infinite scroll, frequency of notifications.

2. Clarify the responsibilities of social media companies regarding the moderation of use by youth under 13.

3. Require Ontario Public Health Units to implement a health warning on social media platforms about the risks of excessive social media use by youth.

Resolution (H) Ensuring a Low Carbon Future with More Good Unionized Jobs ( Word count 199).

Policy Group: Environment & Energy

WHEREAS, there is scientific consensus that we must more than double our clean electricity supply by 2050 to meet Canada’s carbon reduction goals;

WHEREAS, all four model pathways to prevent catastrophic climate change outlined by the U.N. IPCC call for significant increases in a diverse energy mix that includes nuclear energy, hydro, wind, solar, and storage;

AND WHEREAS, Canada’s nuclear energy sector is safe and reliable, with a 96% domestic CANDU supply chain, providing over 89,000 workers with good, unionized jobs.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE FOLLOWING BE ADDED TO THE ONDP POLICY BOOK

1. The ONDP joins the CLC and OFL in supporting new investments in all ultra-low emissions electricity sources including hydro, renewables, made-in-Canada nuclear and storage;

2. The ONDP recognizes the strategic importance of ultra-low emissions electricity to Ontario’s economy and environment; will fight to ensure that future benefits from investment, innovation, and supply chain jobs stay in Ontario, and Canada;

3. The ONDP believes that a low-carbon future requires meaningful engagement, informed consent, and opportunities for partnership with local Indigenous communities;

4. The ONDP reaffirms its support for public ownership of electricity generation.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED section 5.4.2 of the policy book be deleted

Resolution (I) ONDP Worker Representation in the Party (Word Count 549)

Policy Group: Provincial Convention, Council, and Executive

WHEREAS other unions are granted the right of representation in the ONDP;

WHEREAS the partisan and caucus staff are essential to the success of the ONDP;

WHEREAS staff can be used to fill in delegate gaps instead of reaching out to riding associations for more delegates;

WHEREAS staff currently have little to no formal rules or regulations on how they can participate in the party;

AND WHEREAS staff have their own material conditions that make their positions in the party fundamentally different than any other group;

Provincial Convention

BE IT RESOLVED that Article 7: Provincial Conventions, paragraph 1.1 of the Constitution be amended to insert the following clause (i) and any subsequent paragraphs renumbered accordingly:

“(i) Two (2) delegates from each bargaining unit representing employees of the Party, and from each bargaining unit representing employees of the Caucus and its members.”

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Article 7: Provincial Conventions be amended to insert the following paragraph 8.2 and any subsequent paragraphs renumbered accordingly:

“8.2 Except where specifically provided for in this Constitution, no person receiving remuneration from the Party or the Caucus may be a delegate to a Convention.”

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Article 7: Provincial Conventions be amended to insert the following paragraph 8.3 and any subsequent paragraphs renumbered accordingly:

“8.3 Each employee bargaining unit shall select its delegates to a Convention and shall select those delegates in a manner determined by that bargaining unit.”

Provincial Executive

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Article 9: Provincial Executive, paragraph 1.1 be amended to insert the following clause (e) and any subsequent paragraphs renumbered accordingly:

“(e) One (1) representative from each bargaining unit representing employees of the Party, and from each bargaining unit representing employees of the Caucus and its members.”

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Article 9: Provincial Executive be amended to insert the following paragraph 1.3 and any subsequent paragraphs renumbered accordingly:

“1.3 Except where specifically provided for in this Constitution, no person receiving remuneration from the Party or the Caucus may hold a position on the Provincial Executive.”

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Article 9: Provincial Executive be amended to insert the following paragraph 2.2 and any subsequent paragraphs renumbered accordingly:

“2.2 Each employee bargaining unit shall select its representative on the Provincial Executive and shall select that representative in a manner determined by that bargaining unit.”

Provincial Council

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Article 10: Provincial Council, paragraph 1.1 be amended to insert the following clause (m) and any subsequent paragraphs renumbered accordingly:

“(m) One (1) delegate from each bargaining unit representing employees of the Party, and from each bargaining unit representing employees of the Caucus and its members.”

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Article 10: Provincial Council be amended to insert the following paragraph 1.3 and any subsequent paragraphs renumbered accordingly:

“1.3 Except where specifically provided for in this Constitution, no person receiving remuneration from the Party or the Caucus may be a delegate to the Provincial Council.”

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Article 10: Provincial Council be amended to insert the following paragraph 2.2 and any subsequent paragraphs renumbered accordingly:

“2.2 Each employee bargaining unit shall select its delegate to the Provincial Council and shall select that delegate in a manner determined by that bargaining unit.”

Resolution (J) Democratisation of the Provincial Director (Word Count 200)

Policy Group: Executive

WHEREAS the Provincial Director is one of the most important positions in the ONDP;

WHEREAS the Provincial Director is in charge of hiring and firing of organizing staff and thus is defacto the chief orgnaiser of the ONDP;

WHEREAS democracy is the most effective mechanism for decision making;

WHEREAS the ONDP needs to ensure the Provincial Director is the best possible person for the job;

WHEREAS the current hiring of the Provincial Director can prevent new talent or participants in the party from having the opportunity to hold said position;

WHEREAS the provincial director should have voting rights on the Provincial Executive;

AND WHEREAS getting elected at convention requires that the Provincial Director is capable of organizing the party.

BE IT RESOLVED that Article 8, paragraph 1.2 of the Constitution is deleted.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Article 8, paragraph 1.1, clauses (a) and (b) be replaced with the following and any subsequent paragraphs renumbered accordingly:

“1.2 With the exception of the Leader, the Officers shall be elected by Convention.

1.3. The Leader shall be elected by a vote of the membership of the Party.”

Be it further resolved that this amendment takes effect at the conclusion of this convention.

Resolution (K) New Ontario Provincial Flag (Word Count 192)

Policy Group: Arts, Culture, Information, and Communication

WHEREAS the current Ontario provincial flag represents the British colonial period of Ontario’s history it is an affront to Indigenous peoples who have occupied the territory which is now Ontario for thousands of years. As well French Canadians had settlements long before the British. Both groups suffered cultural and language suppression during the colonial period.

WHEREAS the current Ontario provincial flag that is basically a British representation, does not in any shape or form represent todays Ontario’s multi-cultural and diverse population.

WHEREAS in Ontario there was no official Ontario provincial flag for 98 years (from Confederation until 1965) when the current flag was adopted by the sitting Conservative government. It was adopted shortly after the Canadian government replaced a similar version of this flag with the new maple leaf flag. There was little debate and NO public consultation.

BE IT RESOLVED that the Ontario New Democratic Party will abolish the current provincial flag, and have it replaced with a new flag through an approved process that involves professional designers, public input, and legislative debate with the result of a flag that all Ontarians will be proud of, not just a select few.