2009 B.C NDP provincial candidates and candidates for nomination

In terms of Burnaby North, that was won by Mondee Redman, former BCA school trustee.

And I also believe that Ginny Sims, former president of the BCTF is running for the nomination in Vancouver Kensington.

I'm confused though, is the above a list of nominated candidates, or candidates for nomination.

Southern Interior

Candidates for nomination

1.Boundary-Similkameen, nomination March 28

A.Kathy Hutton, National CUPE Representative, former Grand Forks City Councillor

B.Lakvinder Jhaj

http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:974vvHvb8SYJ:www.mountainfm.net/%3Fq%3Dnode/7028+kathy+hutton+ndp&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&ie=UTF-8

2.Kamloops-North Thompson, Doug Brown, 2005 nominee

3.Kamloops-South Thompson, Tom Friedman, English Professor/former president of Thompson Rivers University Faculty Association 

 Kamloops South Thompson is currently designated to nominate a woman, but the NDP may switch that designation to a riding on Vancouver Island

http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_thompson_nicola/kamloopsthisweek/news/37529244.html4 

4.Nelson-Creston nomination Feb 7

http://www.bclocalnews.com/kootenay_rockies/nelsonstar/news/37603909.html A.Rhonda Barter,

B.Kim Adamson,  West Kootenay Coordinator of Early Years initiatives in the West Kootenay, Former Exec Director Kootenay Kids, former CUPE Representative in Peterborough Ontario, MBA

http://www.kimformla.com/member.html 

C.Bev Lapointe, General Vice-President CUPE BC 

http://www.bevlapointe.com/cms/

D.Michelle Mungall, Non Profit Manager, Former Nelson City Councillor

http://michellemungall.blogspot.com/ 

5.Shuswap, nomination Feb 8

A.Steve Gunner, Farmer, Manager Armstrong Curling Club

B.Dale Townsend, Retired Teacher and Former Union Local President

http://www.shuswapndp.ca/

Nominated Candidates

1.Penticton, Cameron Phillips, Former Host 'Freestyle' CBC Radio

nominated Saturday January 17  http://www.pentictonherald.ca/stories.php?id=157095

2.Vernon-Monashee, Mark Olsen, CUPE Local President (nominated back in November defeating Jeet Dukhia, Hospital Chief Engineer)  http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similkameen/vernonmorningstar/news/35096039.html

 http://vernonblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/ndp-to-pick-bc-election-candidate.html

 Vancouver Island

Candidates for Nomination

1.Comox Valley

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_north/comoxvalleyrecord/news/37310679.html A.Kassandra Dycke,Comox Valley Women's Resource Center Special Projects Coordinator, former Language School Owner 

B.Leslie McNabb, Log Scaler

C.Paula Moxey, Former Forklift Operator

2.Oak Bay-Gordon Head, Nomination Jan 25

http://www.obghnewdemocrats.ca/ 

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/oakbaynews/news/37412359.html 

A.Marianne Alto,  Federal NDP National Treasurer/Former Elizabeth Cull Senior Assistant

B.Jessica Van der Veen, Acting Teacher, Education Activist, MPA

http://thenextstage.wordpress.com/2008/02/12/this-one-goes-to-eleven-jessica-van-der-veen/

http://www.jessicavanderveen.ca/ 

3.Saanich South, Lana Popham, Organic Vineyard Owner 

http://www.lanapopham.blogspot.com/ 

Nominated Candidates

http://www.canada.com/cowichanvalleycitizen/news/story.html?id=cb5fe9ed-26f8-4c73-bc5c-e4d4ab2b4f77 

1.Cowichan Valley, Bill Routley (not Doug Routley, no relation) USW-Steelworkers Local Pres , nomination Dec 7 Defeated Rhoda Taylor and Richard Hughes

I have had the opportunity to meet Jessica Van der Veen at a workshop for candidates. She's an excellent candidate and by all rights the type of candidate that fits a truly progressive party. I would have hoped that she would have gone towards school board first, then run provincially, but obviously she grabbed the opportunity now.

As for the CUPE connection Stockholm, does that really surprise you? As an observation they are perhaps the most politically active union in Canada. It wouldn't surprise me to see more CUPE connections in the upcoming nomination races.

You should also mention under Chairman Caroles leadership white males are not allowed to run or apply to run in ridings where their is no NDP MLA.

And yet, I think the list shows that with the exception so far of Kamloops-South Thompson excellent women candidates have stepped up to the plate. 

"And yet, I think the list shows that with the exception so far of Kamloops-South Thompson excellent women candidates have stepped up to the plate. "  

Adam, I think the point wasn't so much who got to the plate, as who wasn't allowed to...we may never know. & no, I am not a whilte male, nor am I a Liberal

More candidates and news

1.Nomination date

A.Vancouver-Kensington nomination meeting between candidates Ginny Sims and Mayble Elmore is March 22.

http://www.straight.com/article-199192/sims-and-elmore-face-vancouverkensington-nomination-battle

B.Surrey-Panorama nomination meeting date is February 27 (not sure who's running) 

http://www.bcndp.ca/events/2009/02/27/surrey-panorama-nomination-meeting 

2.Rumored Candidate

A.North Vancouver-Lonsdale, Janice Harris, former North Vancouver District Councillor and Mayor 

http://northvancouverpolitics.blogspot.com/2009/02/janice-harris-ndp-candidate-in-north.html 

3.Candidates for nomination

A.Burnaby-Lougheed, nomination March 1 

http://www.bclocalnews.com/greater_vancouver/burnabynewsleader/news/38818439.html 

1.Jaynie Clark, BCGEU Director of Human Resources and Advocacy

http://jaynieclark.com/index.htm 

2. Michael Walton, Self Employed Lawyer, former Carpenter, B.A-Political Science

4.New Nominees

A.Langley, Kathleen Stephany, Nursing Instructor, 2005 Green Party nominee

nominated Feb 1, http://www.langleypolitics.com/ 

B.Prince George-Mackenzie, Tobias Lawrence, Former Bob Simpson Constituency Assistant, former Sawmill worker

C.Prince George-Valemount, Julie Carew, former College of New Caledonia Staffer and Union Representative, former National Secretary Treasurer of Pulp, Paper and Woodworker's of Canada

both nominated January 30

http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/20090131172928/local/news/ndp-leader-rallies-troops-in-prince-george.html

D.Kootenay East, Troy Sebastian Regional Represenatitve Native Courtworkers and Counsellors Association of British Columbia, Former College of the Rockies Board Chair

http://www.bclocalnews.com/kootenay_rockies/kootenayadvertiser/news/38761194.html 

http://www.cotr.bc.ca/press/fullhdLine.asp?IDnumber=345 

Nomination date updates

1.Delta South, Feb 22

http://www2.canada.com/deltaoptimist/news/story.html?id=c27c6156-1428-4151-8543-803d3753c5bb

 2.Stikine, Feb 21

http://shelleybrowne.ca/updates/article/nominating_convention_saturday_feb_21/

Other news

Apparently Tom Friedman is the NDP nominee in Kamloops-South Thompson

http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_thompson_nicola/kamloopsthisweek/news/38843879.html 

Any word from Oak Bay Gordon Head. Meeting was held on Feb 5th.

I know this story and its not about white man running it was about having a more diverse caucus whether it be man or women.  And isn't that just so much like our up and coming premier wanting a voice in the communities reflective of the people in these diverse communities so the Government could better represent them.  And its not that a white man or women is not capable of representing these diverse groups but really not.  As many do not even have a clear understanding of our democratic process along with our English dominate language. A Bonus in the free market along with a quality education and I'm still trying to get over hearing O Canada sung in East Indian Language as it took me to another place foreign to my roots.  And education in this province gets an "F" and whats that mean well it means you put all your money where Campbell's mouth is and now you are all left quakers.  And in real terms bankrupt when it comes to being competitive around the globe as what are you going to compete with cheap labor?  Hardly so better get on excellence in education and innovation and be the best.  Why not certainly can't be mediocre and provide cheap labor as look at the competition around the globe as no competing with China or India so why bother.  And when it comes to the environment number one is get something in place in case there is an Oil Spill as BC is now into transporting Oil across her beautiful coastlines.  And can you just imagine?  I can not only imagine it but see it and it is devastating so before they start transporting this stuff it would be a good idea to see what safety measures are put into place.  And this way as USA has has problems during a major clean up operation and has prov-en toxic so at least be ready.  A number one Province with a number one People and thats where the money is and not in some foreign bank account or some other far away place in some Coporate bank account and its CEO's as almost always safe to say white man running with cash.

Don't know about Vancouver-False Creek

Michelle Mungall won the Nelson-Creston nomination.

http://www.michellemungall.com/ 

Another nomination date, interesting possible candidate

Nomination date

1.Parksville-Qualicum, Feb 15, not sure who the candidate(s) are

Interesting possible candidate

1.New Westminster, Dawn Black, M.P

http://www2.canada.com/newwestrecord/news/story.html?id=6e1e4741-5ce7-428f-bca8-c467a636adf9 

Adam, there's an entire thread dedicated to that discussion, in the Canadian Politics forum.

MP Dawn Black Ready to Jump To BC Provincial Politics?

So far, the BC NDP has 32 male candidates, and 21 female candidates. 31 ridings are still left TBA.

Oh dear, what to think, what to think!  Jaynie Clark (a friend) defeated a male candidate (also a friend) to win the nomination.  Can you imagine, the party stalwarts thought a woman was the best candidate!

I fully support the decision to enagage more women and minority candidates.  I also note that women are beginning to overcome the "old boys club" on their own.  Enhancing access in good ridings for women is a good thing.  Being blind to gender discrimination in other ridings assists the process. 

The gender equity rules are transitional and necessary.  There are many Jaynie Clark's out there and they will be supported.  At the risk of ruffling Remind's feathers, I tend to believe the current rules will not need to be continued as the cycle of supporting males over females will be broken.

Then again, I imagine Remind would agree wholeheartedly, if my optimism was proven to be true. 

Politics, Black's decision is reported in the Globe this morning.  Unsurprisingly, the Sun appears to have missed the news.

That's the one north shore riding that was quite close last election. With no incumbent and the Liberals having apparently nominated a complete nobody - this will be a tossup.

Ridings without candidates or nomination dates, at least not that I'm aware.

Anybody know any more information? 

1. Chilliwack

2.Chilliwack-Hope 

3.Coquitlam-Burke Mountain

4.Richmond Centre

5.Vancouver-False Creek

6.Vancouver-Langara

7.Vancouver-Quilchena

8.West Vancouver-Capilano

9.West Vancouver-Sea to Sky

10.Abbotsford-Mission

11.Abbotsford South

12.Abbotsford West

13.Fort Langley-Aldergrove

14.Surrey-Cloverdale

15.Surrey-White Rock

16.Peace River North

17.Peace River South

18.Nechako Lakes

19.Saanich North and the Islands 

Vancouver-False Creek finally has a web site:

http://falsecreekbcndp.ca/

They have planned outreach days but they have no nomination days yet. The only candidate so far is Ray Lam.

http://billtieleman.blogspot.com/2009/03/mable-elmore-defeats-jinny-sims-for-ndp.html

486 voting members at the nomination meeting and 3 'provisional voters' (whatever that is). 

The result has to be considered, I think, a major upset.  

New Nominees or soon to be nominees

1.Maple Ridge-Mission, Mike Bocking, 2004,2006, 2008 federal nominee

Bocking, a former president of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada local 2000, defeated Ron McCabe to run as a candidate in the May 12 provincial election.

http://www2.canada.com/abbotsfordtimes/news/story.html?id=bb1bc8d1-4429-4c34-bb28-4e3c0a356680

Mike Bocking won the nomination at a Sunday meeting in Silverdale in west Mission, taking about two-thirds of the 36 total votes cast.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/tri_city_maple_ridge/mapleridgenews/breaking_news/42168967.html

2.Boundary-Similkameen, Lakhvinder Jhaj, Grocery Store Owner/T.V Reporter

Members of the provincial NDP have selected Lakhvinder Jhaj of Penticton to be their candidate for the new Boundary-Similkameen riding, which includes Osoyoos.
Jhaj, who unsuccessfully ran for the party’s nomination in the Penticton-Okanagan Valley riding in 2005, was selected during a meeting in Oliver on March 28 attended by roughly 100 party members.
She beat out former Grand Forks councillor Kathy Hutton for the nomination.

There are about 560 NDP members within the riding and according to the party, 87 people voted at the meeting and 377 mail-in votes were received.

She and her husband Amarjit run a convenience store in downtown Penticton and Jhaj is also a reporter and producer for CHBC News in Kelowna with her own segment called “Okanagan Now.” 

http://www.osoyoostimes.com/pMOT/more.php?id=1250_0_1_0_M14 

http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/election/42231987.html 

http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similkameen/keremeosreview/news/election/42233342.html 

3.Coquitlam-Burke Mountain, Heather McRitchie

4.Richmond Centre, Kam Brar

With information on the other Richmond NDP candidates:

http://www.bclocalnews.com/richmond_southdelta/richmondreview/news/42232157.html

Kam Brar was officially acclaimed as the candidate today, I regret that I was unable to attend

5.Vancouver-Quilchena, Robert Van Wynsberghe, U.B.C Sociologist

http://robertvanwynsberghe.bcndp.ca/

http://www.hkin.educ.ubc.ca/faculty/vanwynsbergher/RobVanwynsberghe.htm

6.Surrey-White Rock, Drina Allen

http://www.bclocalnews.com/surrey_area/peacearchnews/news/election/41946087.html

Ridings still outstanding (as best as I can find out)

1.Vancouver-Langara

2.West Vancouver-Sea To Sky 

3.Chilliwack-Hope

"at least the NDP looks like they'll have someone for Chilliwack-Hope by the time the writ is dropped."

http://www2.canada.com/chilliwacktimes/news/opinion/story.html?id=2aecec71-8b7d-45d3-9733-1a03cb177827 

4.Fort Langley-Aldergrove 

5.Surrey-Cloverdale

6.Peace River South

I agree 36 voters isn't good turnout, no matter the situation.  Even for an acclamation meeting this close to the election I would have expected that many people to turn out. For instance, Gabriel Yiu's acclamation meeting in Vancouver-Fraserview had at least 40 local members earlier this year.

However, there may be some explanations.

1.Ron McCabe was obviously not a great organizer and couldn't get any support.

2.Mike Bocking didn't bother to seriously organize for the meeting seeing as McCabe didn't seem to have any organization and Bocking realized he could win with little more than his friends, family and loyal supporters present.

3.The Liberals may have had several candidates each organizing (I don't know how many candidates they had).

4.The Liberal totals may have included postal votes as well  as people present at the meeting.

5.The weather and other local and factors of the day may have been an issue.

6.The meeting may have been held at an inconvenient location and the riding is fairly large geographically so it may not have been the easiest for people to get to.

7.The local NDP there may be trying to hold their cards close to their vest in order to make the Liberals overconfident. 

Shuswap, Dale Townsend is regretfully out as the candidate due to health concerns.  We wish him all the best.

Looks like his fellow candidate for the nomination, farmer Steve Gunner will take his place.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similkameen/vernonmorningstar/news/4...

My bad on the Richmond Center nomination meeting.  According to my dad, it wasn't last week, it's tonight.  I think it starts at 6:30. It's at the West Richmond Community Center, 9180 #1 Road (I think that's 1 Road and Francis)

More nominees or soon to be nominees

1.Shuswap, Steve Gunner 

"In 36 hours, Steve Gunner went from cleaning his chicken barn to addressing the United Steelworkers 

annual general meeting in Kelowna as the NDP's Shuswap candidate."

http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/election/42640802.html

2.Fort Langley-Aldergrove, Gail Chaddock Costello

http://www.bclocalnews.com/surrey_area/aldergrovestar/news/42637797.html

The Fort Langley-Aldergrove NDP nomination meeting will be held Tuesday, April 14 at 7 p.m. 

at the Steelworkers Building, #202 at 9292 - 200 Street.

Completing the slate, will post more information if/when I get it.  The names are from the B.C NDP candidate website.

1.Vancouver-Quilchena, James Young

2.Vancouver-Langara, Helesia Luke

3.Surrey-Cloverdale, Deborah Payment

4.Chilliwack-Hope, Gwen O'Mahoney

Vancouver-False Creek, Ray Lam drops out

http://www.straight.com/article-215116/ndp-candidate-ray-lam-withdraws-r...

If a Liberal candidate were to put a hand on a women's chest the howls of indignation from the femimist movement would become a huge issue whether it was consenual or not.

While I agree that this is a tempest in a teapot it still raises questions about the vetting process and perhaps the morality standards of some of the progressives in the NDP.

Lots of people touch each other consensually.

They do not post their escapes on facebook in order to advance their political fortunes. If it wasn't bad or didn't cause harm to the party or candidate, it would be a non issue. Infact it could well backfire as it did in Nova Scotia.

Not the case this time.

The picture is here at News1130: http://www.news1130.com/news/local/more.jsp?content=20090419_195740_5624
It looks like Ray is considerably younger in that picture.

I wish he'd stood up for himself too. People are already used to the idea of gay men who play with their female friends' boobs. Will & Grace, anyone?

That being said, it probably wouldn't have been a bad idea for Ray to scan through his profile and look for anything that would "have bad optics".

Ray's electoral neighbour, the brilliant and outspoken Spencer Herbert, is one of my Facebook friends. Shortly before his byelection campaign began, he disabled the tagged-photos feature completely and exerted full control over which photos would appear (entirely appropriate to do). That being said, it didn't stop him from marching in the Pride Parade wearing a shirt and underwear with no pants! Nor did it stop him from appearing in public in a Wonder Woman costume. Neither counted against him.

What are the chances that Liberal-leader hopeful Carole James is behind this resignation in lieu of a concerted rebuttal that reveals the smear tactic this almost certainly is? I generally don't pose for pictures grabbing my female friends' breasts for various reasons, but it seems obvious that the people who released these photos to the press don't have womens' rights at heart...

If Carole James were worthy to lead a political party, she would have publicly declined Lam's resignation as a candidate, followed by a public condemnation of Mary McNeil as a homophobe - with a demand for an apology.

Of course, the same fictitious Carole James would have vigorously defended Mabel Elmore against the vicious attacks launched on her.

Instead, we have the real Carole James.

This party must think it is going to pander its way into power. Fat chance. We already have enough parties which have long since earned the respect of the wealthy and powerful.

You have no idea how campaigns work, do you? Seriously. You leave this issue out there for more than 15 minutes and it becomes a significant distraction for days afterward. There is no talking about issues that might change some votes. Instead, if you deal with it quickly, then it becomes a one-day story and everyone forgets about it afterward.

Reading some of the nonsense on this site makes me well aware of why the left is always out of power: everyone wants to take a stand on principle  - on EVERY principle. And then that becomes the story.

You pick the hills you want to die on. Lining up behind a candidate in a longshot (at best) riding whose youthful indiscretions are (at best) a significant distraction is a stupid thing to do if  you want to form government.

I think I would rather make a last stand on a substantive policy issue as opposed to a petty distraction like someone;s facebook page.

Although I have never met Ray Lam, I am sure I know how he came to resign.

Gerry Scott, the BC NDP Campaign Coordinator for the past federal election and this current provincial one, is an incompetent, angry man who believes in forcing candidates to resign instead of standing up for them.

When I resigned my NDP nomination in the last federal election, it was after Gerry Scott spent an hour swearing and yelling at me, telling me he was going to announce my resignation to the media whether I liked it or not. Scott gave Kirk Tousaw the same treatment due to a single video of Kirk smoking from a bong.

When you take on the former Leader of the BC Marijuana Party as a candidate, maybe you shouldn't be surprised that he smokes pot, and did so on camera. And when you take on a gay-rights activist and Board Member of Pride Vancouver, maybe you shouldn't be surprised that there are a few mildly titillating photos out there.

In my opinion, these resignations hurt the party more than standing up for their candidates. I know that many supporters of marijuana-law reform were disappointed by the resignations of me and Kirk, and didn't support the NDP after we stepped down. I wonder if any gay-rights advocates will be upset by Lam's resignation and now see the NDP as hostile to gay rights?

There was absolutely no reason for Ray Lam to resign his nomination. Gerry Scott and the BC NDP have panicked and failed the GLBT community on this one.

Shouldn't this discussion about the Ray Lam resignation be in a different thread than the list of nominated candidates? This discussion will end up dominating and confusing this thread which is about a different topic.

You are making the assumption that a candidate resigning has no impact on other ridings, while standing up for a candidate will have a negative impact.

Isn't it possible that those who support gay rights will be upset by Ray Lam's resignation? Isn't it possible that Lam's resignation will cause the NDP to lose support for other candidates?

In my opinion, Lam's resignation makes the BC NDP appear to be both incompetent and cowardly. Incompetent because they didn't know about these "shocking" photos, and cowardly because they so quickly sacrificed a candidate over a non-issue.

If Lam had not resigned, do you think this would have been a problem for the NDP? Does anyone think the Liberals could have gotten much traction or public support by continuing to attack the NDP and Lam over these silly photos?

I think that if Lam had not resigned, either this issue would have died, or else the Liberals would have started looking like homophobic prudes for continuing to harp on the photos. So forcing Lam's resignation may very well have been a tactical error by Gerry Scott, which will hurt the party for no good reason.

The issue isn't whether this would make the NDP look like a bunch of raving hedonists and cost votes. The issue is whether the party wants to spend its time and energy talking about this - because left alone, reporters would go digging and would start asking more questions. That distraction means less opportunity to talk about the NDP's issues. It doesn't help the party to have the distraction; sever ties and move on.

Ray Lam has an extensive biography as an activist and community builder for the GLBT community as well as environmental activism.

I don't know a lot about Ray, but from what I have seen and read, he would have made a strong candidate and a great MLA.

For a party which claims to support diversity and seeks to recruit candidates from politically under-represented groups, dumping Ray Lam as a candidate because of some pretty tame photos is an act of hypocrisy which makes the NDP look like we have no spine and no moral centre.

http://www.raylam.ca/about.html

I agree with the unionist on the leadership question.

prime time to end the BC Lib rule and we have this asinine women-only policy designed not to actually bring women in to the legislature but to stack the party with women that James can "get along with" instead of leading.....

I am as feminist as the next straight common-good guy working the phones for my dyke lesbian candidate during the last by-election but c'mon, if you want to play the game that this firing of Lam is a good political idea, how can you square that circle? 

Telling half the population to sod off? That is smart politicking?

Please. Who allowed Scott to be in charge of all this btw? James.

Who decided a non-confrontational way was best with Gordo when she went to Victoria? James.

Well, munroe, I respect your opinions mightily - and so, I will have to agree with you that these distractions should be avoided. I simply opined that there was a better way to do so - namely, by the leader standing up and saying: "This is our candidate - s/he has done nothing wrong - we defend and respect our candidates, who come from all walks of life, and together will proudly lead this province out of the morass into which this government has led it. I will answer no more questions about personal matters that distract from the fundamental needs facing the people of B.C. That file is closed. Now let's get back to the issues."

If one replies, "Ah, the media are all-powerful, they can destroy anyone", then why bother? They will always find another diversion. I personally believe nothing of the kind. I believe voters will see, recognize, and support leadership, character, principle. I believe that if the NDP has anything to offer Canadians, it's a way of life - not a series of policies and platforms (like Carole James' glossy interminable book of promises).

In a normal open free society the media are there to keep the governments toes to the fire and not shill for one or the other.

they are a pillar, a branch of democrcy that we have allowed to become totally the opposite. all for fear of some etheral reprisals from oligarchic owners.

It is 2009, we have no need to fear them but to stand up to the corrupt forces in our country. That is leadrship.

But with testosterone being outlawed by the BC NDP it is no wonder they cave cave cave.

"And when you take on a gay-rights activist and Board Member of Pride Vancouver, maybe you shouldn't be surprised that there are a few mildly titillating photos out there."

What makes you think that being a gay rights activist has anything to do with having "titillating photos" on their facebook page?

Carole James weighs in on the Ray Lam matter: Candidate's racy Facebook photos showed 'lack of judgment': B.C. NDP leader.

James said candidates had been warned something like this could happen, saying even though the pictures were posted on a private page, "once you become a public figure, everything is public."

"I saw the pictures on TV. I thought they showed a lack of judgment. It's his age, you know, we all recognize that, but when you're in politics and you are going to be a public figure, it's important that you recognize that," she said.

Good Lord. "It's his age, you know." Yeah, that wasn't condescending at all. How are young people supposed to feel welcome in politics with these types of attitudes being espoused in the media? Mary McNeil looks ridiculous pandering to the blue-rinse "well I never!" crowd (and really, how many can there be in this riding?) by demanding an apology, and I'm disappointed to see the NDP playing that game. This is a riding where I'd wager the vast, vast majority fall into the 25-39 age demographic. You know, people who actually know how to use Facebook. Ms. James sounds out of touch with this quote. No wonder the NDP gets written off by so many under-40s as "your grandparents' party".

I'm not questioning her 'courage'. (And by the way, I live in Vancouver-False Creek - not sure where the Montreal comment came from - and guess what, I too have met Carole James, so I don't think I'm somehow disqualified from commenting on this.) I am questioning whether it's wise to throw a promising young candidate under the bus over something relatively minor. I am questioning the precedent that sets. And yes, I'm questioning Carole James when she makes condescending remarks about younger people like those quoted in the article. It's great that the NDP has some exciting young candidates under 40, but I have to question the party's commitment to engaging young people when the leader makes comments like "It's his age, you know, we all recognize that".

Maybe you're right, and I'm just overreacting. And you know what, some of my language was over the line, so I've edited it. But it still bothers me that anytime there is some controversy, no matter how minor, there is a knee-jerk rush to distance the leader from the candidate. Why isn't anyone in the party taking Mary McNeil to task for her ridiculous partisan attack?

Read the comments on the CBC story. People are backing Lam, not Campbell or McNeil or James. I wonder of Lam knows how much support he has with the general public? Maybe he'll replace James as NDP leader after the election.

I will be swearing like a sailor so I suggest you walk along if that offends you. Now, commencing rant:

You know, I've consistently defended Carole James, mostly due to the lack of alternative offered by her critics. But the fact is either her, or as Dana alluded to, Gerry Scott, or maybe even both ought to go after this coming debacle. The whole Ray Lam thing is ridiculous on principle, and pathetic on strategy. And frankly, I have to admit, that it's just yet another example in a long list of them since the end of the last provincial election and the decision to "bring a new tone" to BC politics. I cynically ask if that new tone is impotence and incompetence? But seriously, regarding Ray Lam, I have to ask who even gives a fuck if he was touching his friends boob? Mary McNeil? So what. Who cares what she has to say, she's the fucking Liberal candidate. (P.S. I didn't even know that until I just did a google search on it, but why doesn't it surprise me that she called for his resignation). Ohh, scaary, boobies, oh no - don't touch the boobies. As others have said, he's probably gay, but even if he isn't - considering the context - who gives a flying fuck. Uptight old fogies? This is one of the most socially liberal ridings in the province, nobody whose votes are up for grabs anyways, gives a fuck. The fact that James accepted Lam's resignation just shows how inept, incompetent and impotent her leadership has been. Oh and btw, this isn't only about principle, accepting Lam's resignation shows how easily bullied James and the BC NDP "braintrust" is. One thing parties need to keep in mind is to almost never do what the opposition demands, because guess what? They don't have your best interests at heart! In accepting Lam's resignation James has A) shown that the NDP is full of stodgy old prudes, B) is apparently offended by drunken antics, C) can't even vet their candidates to prevent these "horrible" drunken antics from coming back to haunt them which leads to D), the question that if they can't even vet their candidates, or at the least give in to stupid demands from the opposition how can one trust the party to form government. It is just ridiculous.

Oh, and FYI, I know the argument about dropping the candidate and hoping the story will die quickly so the NDP can focus on their core issues again is out there. But my question is, what the are the NDP's core issues in this campaign? I know they're against the Carbon Tax, they're talking about privatization and blah blah blah. But my question is why? No one gives a fuck about that shit. They ought to be talking about the economy, how the Liberals aren't helping the average person through this downturn, and how they will. But no of course they aren't because they're still, for some stupid reason, scared about the 1990's and criticism of their economic record. But why are they scared? Were Liberal criticisms of Conservative incompetence during the late 80's and early 90's effective?!? It was years ago, and nobody whose votes are up for grabs anyways, gives a fuck. I mean just look at Carole James' pathetic response to Gordon Campbell's charge that she didn't have business experience. She should've pointed out that he didn't have significant business experience, but in any case, she understands people's concerns and will put the average person ahead of his special interest backers (or something). Especially considering that you know, the economy, and people's concerns regarding it, is the biggest issue out there. It's almost as if they want to lose this election. I mean let's face it people, they're going to get the shit kicked out of them. And decpite the fact that I do not want Campbell to win, at least it will lead to a cleaning of house, and hopefully some smarter leadership.

Oh lord! Carole, are you trying to make like the St.Louis Blues, and have the NDP experience a sweeping? (Okay, I don't see that, but if they loose by 10 points, which seems likely, their caucus will be decimated). I'm going to still vote NDP, maybe my riding will still be close, and I think Jenn McGinn has the sort of financial background I'd like to see in the party. And though I saw Adrianne Carr mainstreeting downtown today, I don't think they're ready for prime time, now or any time soon. But the attitude she expressed doesn't surprise me, looking at the NDP's website is like looking at some sort of timewarp. Even the federal NDP has more on the ball when it comes to connecting with the youngins and using the intertubes.

Is Gerry Scott in an  elected or appointed position - if elected can't someone run against him and try and defeat him and if he is appointed can't the leader sack him.

If the knock against Ray Lam is that he showed poor judgment by having those (very tame) pictures - maybe the federal Liberals should expel Ruby Dhalla  from their caucus for the "poor judgment" she showed by appearing in some Bollywood shlock musicals!

What? I remember well the comments you made about Dana.

Yes, and you, like gordo, will make sure it won't. 2 champions for 1 cause.

You do not know whether or not I have defended Mable, and thus are just making empty comments. In fact, I wrote to the NDP and voiced my displeasure, not once but twice, not that I owe you that information. I am just stating it to indicate how off base you are.

And no frankly, I can't tell the difference, as it is my perceprtion you and Gordo both want the same thing, but are just accessing it from differing directions.