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NDP Leader Jack Layton raises his cane as he takes to the stage to deliver his keynote speech to the party's 50th anniversary convention in Vancouver, June 19, 2011.Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press

Jack Layton is calling on New Democrats to sharpen the organizational skills the energized party will need to become Canada's next government.

The tactical priority, mentioned in Mr. Layton's concluding address to the party's biennial convention, stood out as a pragmatic to-do item amidst the policy commitments to help small business, work towards "open" trade deals that lifts the standards of all Canadians and advance worker's rights.

"We have to continue to build our organization and bring together all Canadians looking to build a better Canada," Mr. Layton told 1,500 New Democrats.

The effort is integral, said Mr. Layton, to a larger mission.

"We end this convention once again united behind a common goal - to build an alternative to Stephen Harper's Conservatives, to continue to earn the trust of Canadians, and to form the government of Canada in four years' time," he said.

In a news conference following his speech, Mr. Layton said the party has to strengthen riding associations, especially in those ridings where New Democrats came second, and build riding organizations for new MPs.

"It's kind of a constant process. It's like tending to a garden. You can't sit back and watch. You have to work at it all the time."

Mr. Layton said fundraising is also part of the exercise especially with the Conservative decision to eliminate subsidies for parties.

"We will be working hard to increase the number of people who give us a little bit of money. We have improved our fundraising dramatically over the last number of years, but we have more of that to do," he said.

The NDP leader has faced media questions during the three days of the convention about whether he will moderate the NDP's ties to labour to expand its base.

But Mr. Layton said he won't be backing off on a commitment to labour, noting, as an example, he does not support the idea of federal legislation to force Canada Post workers back on the job.

He said he does not believe in any major changes to the party's current strategy, noting it has paid off with the record 103 seats in Parliament.

"The approach that brought us here to our most successful result in our history is one that we should be continuing to follow, " he said.

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