Duncan K. Brown, GCIU vice president, is strongly suggesting that Canadians join the New Democratic Party because:

Politics matters enough for the big corporations to spend millions of dollars lobbying politicians and donating to their campaigns.

Over the years, Brown observed, the Liberals and other pro-business politicians have turned back the clock on working people:

• Ottawa wants to legalize an 84 hour work week for truckers

• Students are graduating from university with an average bank debt of $25,000

• In Ontario, it is now legal to make people work a 60-hour week

• British Columbia plans to make it legal for children to work

• Nova Scotia and Alberta have legalized for-profit medicine

When working people get involved in politics, things can change for the better. The NDP, the only national party that stands up for working people and their communities, can become strong enough to challenge the pro-business parties. That's how people got Medicare, unemployment insurance, the Canada Pension Plan, maternity leave, student loans. It's how weekends and vacations were won.

The NDP will elect its next leader in January. For the first time, every party member will have a vote. Canadians will mail in their ballots or cast a vote over the Internet to decide who will lead the NDP into the next election.

To take part of this opportunity, you need to become a member of the NDP before Dec. 10. Help build a stronger New Democratic Party so the things that matter to working people in every part of Canada are the issues that matter in Ottawa.

Voters can join the NDP at www.ndp.ca, Brown said.