BC NDP Leadership Race Heating Up

When I first heard that Carol James was resigning I opened a new tab on my browser, signed into my e-mail account and “penned” a letter to the BC NDP leadership pleading for a leadership contest in May. My reasons were twofold:

1) It gives people time to sign up new members (since you have to be a member for 90 days before you can vote in a leadership convention) and potential candidates could recruit well into February,

2) It allows the leadership convention to happen well after the Liberal one, giving time for the newly minted leader to screw up and for the candidates to combat that,

3) It offers time for candidates to sound their policies without too much overlap from the Liberals. Let’s be honest, the race for premier is going to usurp any airtime the opposition competition might get and the more time apart from that the NDP gets the better. The NDP leadership made their decision and went with an April convention date, which means that potential leaders have until this Monday 17th to sign up new members. After that day, new members can sign up and contribute, but will not be able to vote in the convention.

Now, I’m not sure why you would want to restrict the ability for members to vote in the election of their own leader, and therefore, I find this 90 day deadline highly odd. The Liberals will be accepting members up until February 4th, just three weeks before their convention. So why do members of the NDP have to be signed up for 90 days? Is this to make sure they are serious about the party and weeding out quick sign-ups to the party? Personally, I think it shows a bit of a disconnection from the grassroots to say “yes, you can join our party, but you better do it now or you cannot vote for your leader in the convention we will have three months from now.” This just strikes me as strange.

That being said, we now have five contenders for the leadership of the party. First is Dana Larson, who was forced to pull his candidacy from the 2008 federal election because he was caught smoking pot and taking LSD while driving. You can quote me on this; if this guy gets elected as leader, I’m through with the NDP in BC. Why on earth would we, after castigating Campbell for being caught drunk driving in Hawaii, then turn around and vote this loser the leader of our party?

Next up is Harry Lali, an MLA from 1991-2001, wherein he chose not to run again, and again from 2005-present. He has been both the Minister for Transportation and the opposition critic for Multiculturalism. It also cannot be ignored that he is the best dressed of any MLA and also the one contender who we can expect to hear the most contentions ideas brought forward.

John Horgan from Vancouver Island stepped into the race last week to much fanfare. Until he had entered the race I was feeling quite disenchanted at the prospects until Horgan came in. Horgan was first elected for Malahat-Juan de Fuca in 2005 and has been a strong advocate as the critic for Energy and Mines. He is a populist with a good oratorical flare and is sure to be one of the main frontrunners for the leadership. 

Mike Farnworth jumped into the race near the end of last week after weeks of speculation. I predict that Mr. Farnworth and Mr. Horgan will be the two front runners if, as I assume, Adrian Dix bows out from the race. Like Mr. Lali he was elected to the Legislature in 1991 and for the city of Port Coquitlam. He is by far one of the most experienced of those running, having held numerous cabinet posts during the Mike Harcourt and Glen Clark governments, including: Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (1997-98), Minister of Employment and Investment and Minister Responsible for Housing (1998-2000), Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Seniors (2000), and Minister Social Development and Economic Security (2000-01). His experiences in and out of cabinet are most certainly assets. Farnworth can be considered the current front runner for the leadership.

Last but not least (unless Dix bows out, then yes, he is the last period) is Nicholas Simons. He was first elected to the Legislature in 2005 after a failed bid for a seat in the 2004 Federal election. He sits as the MLA for Powel River-Sunshine coast. He is one of three openly gay members of the BC Legislature Not much has yet been said from any of the leaders about their platforms but I’m sure more will come in the following weeks. Also, Health Critic Adrian Dix is expected to announce his candidacy this coming week, but with the sign-up date only one day away and Dix undeclared, perhaps he is giving the whole thing second thoughts.