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MONTREAL – New Democrats have voted overwhelmingly to strip the more stridently socialist language from the party books.

It’s part of a bid to moderate and modernize the NDP in the eyes of voters before the next election.

The party rank-and-file has been toying with changes to the preamble of its constitution since 2009.

Two years ago proposed changes were sent to a committee of party elders to revise.

The new, longer statement of core principles drops references to socialism, including social ownership.

It instead talks about a rules-based economy and a just, equal and sustainable Canada.

Some convention delegates had been preparing for hours to debate the changes.

But members moved quickly to dispense with the discussion and go straight to a vote.

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