Resignation of John Cummins creates a potentially big problem for Christy Clark
One of B.C.'s original Reform party candidates, John Cummins, has decided he won't run for reelection after serving 18 years as a member of Parliament.
He first sought federal office in 1988 and was elected to Parliament in 1993 on a right-wing wave that brought Preston Manning and Stephen Harper to Ottawa.
Cummins's departure from the federal scene potentially raises a serious threat to premier-designate Christy Clark's political career—just two days before she's about to be sworn in as premier.
Cummins, an outspoken maverick politician who represents Delta-Richmond East, has been hobnobbing with provincial Conservatives recently.
If he seeks the leadership of the provincial party, he will siphon off votes from those who feel that Clark can't be trusted to reduce the size of government.
A former teacher and fisherman, Cummins is an adept and articulate debater with widespread appeal to more conservatively minded voters. He could have strong support in resource-based Interior communities and in coastal constituencies, which are mostly held by the NDP.
That's because Cummins has been one of the most ardent opponents of fish farming in Parliament. Unlike most of his caucus colleagues, he has also stood up for owners of leaky condos.
The antiabortion group Campaign Life Coalition has described Cummins as "pro-life, pro-family".
In 2005, Cummins opposed legalizing same-sex marriage, saying in Parliament: "I support the traditional definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others."
Delta South independent MLA Vicki Huntington issued a statement today calling Cummins "a politician of whom his constituents have been justifiably proud". She added that he "leaves huge shoes to fill".
"I admire John's determination to remain true to his beliefs and work tirelessly for his objectives even when doing so has attracted criticism from within and outside his party," Huntington said. "He has never kept silence or changes his stance on issues he felt to be critical—fisheries is just one example—and he has done this willingly and at a cost to his own political advancement within his party."
He often riled Native leaders with his opposition to the Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy. It was developed as a result of a Supreme Court of Canada ruling recognizing First Nations' right to fish for food and ceremonial purposes ahead of other user groups.
Cummins turned 69 today, which might put him out of the running for the gruelling job of heading a provincial political party. However, that won't stop some of his friends and supporters from urging him to take the plunge.
Follow Charlie Smith on Twitter at twitter.com/csmithstraight.
Comments
19 Comments
NDB
Mar 12, 2011 at 11:40pm
im anti abortion...not because I dont think woman should have a choice, but because the only way we can allow men to have a choice to be on the hook for being a father is to threaten to remove the choice of a woman being a mother :)
hAYOKA
Mar 13, 2011 at 10:43am
anouther wrong winger jumps ship when the water is to0o ruff
Bruno15
Mar 13, 2011 at 11:17am
So a 69-year old guy retires from his pretty safe federal seat to spend a decade or so building a new right wing party provincially while at the same time giving the provincial NDP the biggest gift they could possibly ask for??
Must have been a slow news day.
Steve Y
Mar 13, 2011 at 2:44pm
Whatever will the world do without john cummins?
monty/that's me
Mar 13, 2011 at 7:45pm
Steve Y--rest assured we will be fine. His ego has no limits. He can take his fancy laptop home and write a book---How I failed to help the Fishing Industry.
glen p robbins
Mar 14, 2011 at 8:29am
Cummins, Day and Strahl are all moving to BC Conservatives politics as I am told the prospect of an earlier provincial election - and an outcome that could produce a gay Premier or Christy Clark (for real) is untenable to the federal government under Harper. NDP is polling equal with BC Liberals in Point Grey - she won't run alone and face potential humiliation - she and friends in the news will stall off announcements - but the reality is September general election in BC with HST vote underneath.
Bruno15
Mar 14, 2011 at 9:45am
@GPR - Cummins, Day and Strahl running for BC Conservatives ENSURES a gay premier. They will totally split the right vote down religious/non-religious (urban vs. rural) lines. Why would they want to ensure an NDP premier? Could they possibly be that self-enamored?
Evil Eye
Mar 14, 2011 at 11:41am
Living in Cummins's constituency in Delta, he was the best MP, I never voted for! Unlike the windbags that haunt the NDP and Liberals, Cummins spoke his mind and actually helped his constituents.
I wish Cummins would run as an independent federally, as he would win hands down.
As for the NDP in the next provincial election, if Horgan wins the leadership, I would vote NDP, if not, Huntington will be guaranteed my vote!
You people are disgusting
Mar 14, 2011 at 2:52pm
oh no! a gay premier? you sound no different than those horrible rednecks in middle america complaining about a black president. if you don't like it, leave!
glen p robbins
Mar 14, 2011 at 4:39pm
ypadBruno15- "you sound no different than those horrible rednecks" -
I am not the social conservative - read the article ypad. Social Conservatives don't want a gay premier---fact of life accept it.
Not all rednecks are social conservatives. The redneck is the farmer - some rednecks could care less. I don't personally care what someone does in their private life----
Bruno15- These federal Conservatives aren't thinking about splitting the vote - they are thinking of winning the whole enchalata. Watch for Hollington to move BC Conservative-John Van Dongen - and maybe John Les and Bill Bennett who is not allowed back into caucus. Remember Bob Simpson (former NDP) is a Reformer type New Democrat who is not socially conservative.
The BC Conservatives won't all be social conservatives - Brian Peckford former Newfoundland Labrador Premier is a progressive conservative.
The BC Conservatives have their application period for leadership right now - at the same time as these three have left the federal government. Jim Prentice (Calgary) also left and may be eyeing provincial politics.
Stephen Harper's core supporters in the social conservative movement will not accept a Paul Martin Liberal (Christy Clark) leading a provincial coalition with their mutual fund raising apparatus--nor a gay premier.
My company invested heavily in US. public opinion which supported Barack Obama as President in January 08 - the Canadian news was decidedly pro Hillary - my business partner Van Rassel nominated Mike Farnworth and supports him completely (and isn't looking for anything in return) - so I'm not leaving----anytime soon.
Again, this has nothing to do with me personally - it's how ideology impacts on politics in BC right now.