ABSTRACT
Canada, unlike the countries of Western Europe, has a relatively weak socialist party. The New Democratic Party has never either formed the federal government or even participated in it. Generally the Canadian democratic left was at one in opposing the arming of Canadian military forces with nuclear weapons. It saw these as useless both for the defence of Canada and as a contribution towards NATO’s deterrent; and as only serving to tarnish Canada’s reputation in the international community. The attitude of the NDP to the Cuban missile crisis of 1962 differed from that of the other Canadian political parties. By 1969, as tensions mounted in Europe and NATO was committed to the use of tactical nuclear weapons in case of war, the NDP at its convention took the position that “this confrontation should be reduced and eventually disappear.” The NDP position on Canada’s membership in NATO has gone through several changes.
