We Albertans have been living in a bit if a bubble – a bitumen bubble. As a consequence, we may not all have noticed what’s been happening on Canada’s West Coast. So the potential significance of the victory in a federal by-election Monday by Paul Manly of the Green Party
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The Disaffected Lib: A Green Wave? No, But Possibly a Green Ripple.
It was just a by-election. Even if the governing party had an outside chance (it didn’t, the Liberal brand out here rarely is competitive) voters “punish” the part in power in by-elections or so goes the claim. This is generally reliable NDP territory. Up my way the Conservatives dominated for
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A New Day
Having abandoned any notion of voting for the Liberals in the next election, I find it irritating beyond expression to be constantly confronted by the binary thinkers among us who shrilly declaim that a vote for someone other than Trudeau is a vote for Andrew Scheer. This kind of absolutist
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Paul Manly Now Seeking Green Party Nomination in Nanaimo-Ladysmith
Richard Hughes-Political Blogger The Federal NDP has turned their backs on many NDP values and shifted to the centre under the leadership of Thomas Mulcair. A disturbing number of NDP member activists have been blocked from even seeking nominations. What has happened to today’s NDP federally and provincially was once
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Tom Mulcair and His Centralized Control Leaves NDP Democracy Begging
Richard Hughes-Political Blogger NDP Federal nominee Ian Morrison sent out this email to many Cowichan-Malahat-Langford members as well as our MP Jean Crowder-National Vice Chair of the Federal Campaign. Ian’s email followed yet another top down decision from Ottawa delaying the second scheduled nominating convention without explanation. Clearly the centralists
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: iPolitics–Is Mulcair Just Another Harper With a Beard?
Richard Hughes-Political Blogger In the quest for power Federal NDP leader Thomas Mulcair has abandoned previously held NDP principles and beliefs and that is causing heartburn on the left, and centre-left. The shift to the right that has taken place has left many NDP supporters wondering if the NDP is
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: NDP Continue Blocking Members Seeking Nominations
Richard Hughes-Political Blogger Long time New Democrat Laurie Gourlay, MLA Doug Routley’s-Nanaimo-North Cowichan’s Constituency Assistant, was blocked from competing for the nomination in Nanaimo-Ladysmith. He was the second and one of 14 across Canada. Here is his opinion piece that ruffled the somewhat jumpy and trigger happy NDP National Director
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Thomas Mulcair-Anne McGrath Stop Interfering In Local NDP Nominations
Richard Hughes-It is time the NDP risked democracy The Federal NDP often tries to favourably compare themselves as being more democratic and grass roots driven than the Liberals or Conservatives. It may well have been that way in the past but they certainly cannot claim that high ground today. The
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, contrasting the NDP’s hard-fought Regina nomination elections against the stories of Paul Manly, Chris Rendell, and the apparent trend of federal and provincial NDP candidates being disqualified from seeking nominations for entirely insufficient reasons. For further reading…– The Leader-Post reported on the nomination victories by Erin Weir in Regina-Lewvan
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Mulcair Denies Paul Manly the Right To Seek Nomination In Nanaimo Ladysmith
Dear Friends and Supporters I would like to thank you all for your support and encouragement for my bid for the nomination to be the NDP candidate for the new federal riding of Nanaimo-Ladysmith. It is with regret that I write to tell you that the federal NDP has refused
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Message From Paul Manly with Video Message From Jim Manly & Eva Manly
Richard Hughes-Political Blogger Jim Manly is a former MP for Nanaimo Cowichan and a retired United Church Minister. He has long stood for justice on many fronts where disadvantaged peoples needed help and voice. He presently resides in an Israeli Jail, arrested as a protester participant on board the Humanitarian
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