Responding to this statement: “Every time someone refers to Carney as someone protecting Canadian interests against the Trump threat, I take it as an opening to explain that Carney has dramatically increased spending going to US companies like Amazon and Lockheed-Martin.”

I don’t think a couple of cherry-picked and unsourced examples really makes that case. Carney has an agenda, grounded in some core principles, and is moving on that agenda. I can only imagine a day when the NDP is organized enough to do that as an opposition, let alone as a party.

This is the time for Avi Lewis to be laying down that foundation. Sure, he has to respond to day-to-day issues (hopefully in a constructive way) and show up on the picket lines but the larger focus should be on actual actions intended to move the party ‘s agenda forward.

That doesn’t just mean writing a manifesto. It means staking out positions and starting practical organization around key sectors, which includes getting buy-in from the provincial wings and providing concrete and tangible support to people in those sectors.

You said the following and did not tell us where you got this information: “Carney has dramatically increased spending going to US companies like Amazon and Lockheed-Martin.” That’s a classic cherry-picked and unsourced example. You don’t even give us dollar figures.

What core principles of Carney’s am I referring to? I’ve read his book Value(s), how about you? In addition, Carney has been very clear about the need to diversity our trade partnerships, to build infrastructure, and to enlist indigenous support.

You say “your response sounds like stereotypical Liberal condescension”. I could call you names in return, but that would not advance the conversation.

I’ve also read Naomi Klein’s books, and it seems you may have as well. I enjoy her work – it offers a strong critique of the way governments and companies go about their business. But they are not the basis for governing; even “clear socialist principles” are insufficient. Socialism is a means to an end, not an end in itself.

Again – picket lines and community forums and policy proposals aren’t enough. The candidates we put forward should already be well-known in their communities because of the work they’ve done on school boards, in the food bank, at Habitat, etc. etc. True, some NDP candidates are like that. But far too few, especially outside core NDP regions.

That’s what Avi needs to start building. But to start building that, he has to articulate that, and to say why. And then go out and do it. I’m still waiting.