Frequently Asked Questions

How can I get involved?

Following us on social media and subscribing to our email list are great ways to stay informed.

If you choose to become a member, you’ll get access to our online organizing forum, be able to participate in our meetings, and we’ll introduce you to other Courage folks in your area.

How do I become a member and what’s involved?

Membership is open to anyone who:

• Agrees with our Basis of Unity
• Is willing to dedicate 5 hours per month to helping with Courage activities and movement-building
• Pays the annual membership dues (sliding scale, starting at $15 annually, with exemptions available)

Ready to join? On to the membership form.

How does decision-making work?

Everything that Courage does comes from a mandate granted by the membership (by referenda or general membership meetings), and we aim for each decision to have the widest participation possible.

That said, all decisions are not equal and the more consequential the decision, the more participation (especially from those affected) is required. So a change to the basis of unity or a three-month action plan would require a consultation, discussion and general vote, while a decision about who the wording of a press release can be limited to an organizing committee.

What is your position on issue X?

The Basis of Unity is our foundation of shared values. We won’t necessarily be taking positions on every issue. We are interested in social and economic transformation and decolonization, and will be working towards those goals with the best tools we can find.

Do I have to be a member of the NDP to get involved?

No!

I am involved in the NDP. Isn’t this like joining another party?

Also no. Lots of NDP members are involved in Courage as well as lots of different political organizations and social justice movements. Courage is a movement organization with an interest in elections among other tactics, but not a party.

What is Courage’s relationship to the NDP?

We have members inside and outside of the NDP. One of our goals is to engage with the NDP and electoral politics in a constructive way.

All of us agree that elections aren’t enough to bring about the kind of change we want. But, elections and electoral politics do matter.

We would like the NDP to be more democratic, more open to social movement activists and to be more courageous in pushing for transformative, progressive politics.  

Were you secretly a front for NDP leadership candidate Y?

No.

Did Courage endorse a leadership candidate?

No. We held a vote about how to intervene in the leadership contest. Our members voted to issue an analysis of the various candidates’ platforms.

Now that the NDP has a new leader, what are your plans?

We issued a statement that outlines our reaction and our views about the way forward.

Why have an Advisory Panel?

The Advisory Panel is a way for us to gain the benefit of perspectives of people who don’t have time for intense involvement, and it’s also a way to honour people who have a wealth of experience that can help make our work more effective.

Do advisors have the right to veto decisions made by the membership?

No. The opinion of those on the panel are strictly non-binding, but they are taken seriously by the organizers.

How does Courage organize locally?

Informally, and energetically! We are currently developing our structures and procedures for local organizing, and we encourage informal local meetings and collaborations between members until something more official is up and running.