Joyce Murray: Olympic torch relay appears to favour Conservative ridings

by The Georgia Straight Staff on November 6th, 2009 at 6:40 AM

> By Joyce Murray

I am pleased that so many Canadians across the country, especially in aboriginal and rural communities, will be able to participate in the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games through the torch relay.

At the same time it appears upon first glance that the relay disproportionately favours the Conservatives, stopping in 62 percent of Tory ridings. In contrast, the torch will stop in only 12 percent of Liberal constituencies, 13 percent of those of the NDP, and 10 percent of Bloc Quebecois ridings.

This is reminiscent of the favouritism we've seen with infrastructure and stimulus spending biased toward Conservative ridings, which are receiving a disproportionate amount of the funds.

We'll be looking into the torch relay planning process to ensure there was no partisan Conservative interference. Canadians want to know this government respects the independence of VANOC and the Canadian Olympic Committee.

My Liberal colleagues and I are strong supporters of the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. We are looking forward to joining Canadians from coast to coast to coast in counting down the days to Canada's Games and cheering our athletes every step of the way.

Joyce Murray is the Liberal MP for Vancouver Quadra.

Comments

4 Comments

meh

Nov 6, 2009 at 11:48am

Since the Olympic torch realy route follows a geographic route, it makes sense to use geographic statistics rather than ones based on geodemographic boundaries.

Using the figures on wikipedia (and please include a margin of error for stupid mistakes), we find that 49.08% of Canada's land mass belongs to Conservative ridings, 9.45% to the Liberals, 27.49% to the NDP, 13.83% to the Bloc Quebecois, and a very small percentage to other (namely, the vacant ridings and that one independent in Quebec).

When we disinclude the territories, this number comes out to 46.2% Conservative, 7.53% Liberal, 22.92% NDP, and 33.09% BQ (and then there's the others).

Statistics can be used to 'show' anything. The Olympic relay will be following a route that takes into consideration geographic and demographic figures and it's misleading to pay attention to only one part of the equation.

The real question is who planned the relay. If Ms. Murray has actual proof that the Conservatives influenced VANOC so that the route would favour Conservative ridings, then she should produce it.

Otherwise, I'll consider this opinion piece innuendo and file it under "Increasing Irrelavence of the Liberal Party of Canada, the."

urban ranger

Nov 8, 2009 at 1:21pm

"We'll be looking into the torch relay planning process to ensure there was no partisan Conservative interference. Canadians want to know this government respects the independence of VANOC and the Canadian Olympic Committee. "
Joyce, Joyce, Joyce.... is this the best you can do? Grasping at straws. Pathetic.

beelzebub

Nov 8, 2009 at 1:41pm

Murray's comments are strangely reminiscent of the comparisons by some no minds of the torch and hitler. So childish to try and spoil others enthusiasm with dead end, mind numbing claptrap. What they fail to realize is that every minute of spilling bile and vitriol on something they do not agree with, takes time away from themselves that could be spent enjoying life.