Longtime labour leader Sid Ryan is dropping out of the NDP nomination race in Oshawa, Ont., because he says the party hasn’t approved his candidacy in time to have a fair fight.
In a long post on Facebook, the former president of the Ontario Federation of Labour says “the entire process is a shambles” and complains NDP headquarters has “failed miserably to deliver on the basic principles of openness, fairness and democracy.”
He says he submitted his nomination papers in plenty of time, but hasn’t heard whether the party considers him an acceptable candidate for a nomination vote scheduled for Sept. 6.
He says there now isn’t enough time for him and other candidates to campaign for support from New Democrats in Oshawa.
Ryan has run for the New Democrats five times, in provincial and federal elections, coming a close second several times.
On Facebook, he says he’d reconsider withdrawing if the party assures a “fair process” where all candidates can campaign for members’ votes.
When Dion tried to make a deal with Layton the powers that be within the Liberal party deliberately sabotaged his interview with the CBC or CTV, I forget which. Probably amongst the worst betrayals of the Canadian people.
I am wondering if there are forces within the NDP that want Singh to fail ASAP so he can be replaced as Dion was. The buck stops at the leader's desk but everything isn't under their control.
At the same time Singh has a chance to reverse this particular error. He needs to phone Sid Ryan ASAP and tell him the problem is being addressed immediately. Anything else dooms the party.