Straight Talk

NDP prospects eye by-election nomination in Vancouver-Mount Pleasant

by Carlito Pablo on April 8th, 2015 at 11:53 AM
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      Vancouver–Mount Pleasant needs a “kick-ass” MLA, according to former park-board commissioner Sarah Blyth.

      “Mainly, what I want to see, and I think what is really needed…for everybody in East Vancouver is a person who can seriously come forward and kick some ass, and let people know that people are having a hard time and they deserve better,” Blyth told the Straight in a phone interview.

      Although she noted some folks have encouraged her to seek a B.C. NDP nomination, which she hasn’t ruled out, Blyth said that an aboriginal candidate would be good for New Democrats.

      When asked about Diana Day, Blyth said she has “heard a lot of great things” about the Oneida Nation woman, who is co-vice chair of the Vancouver District Parent Advisory Council.

      Day ran for school trustee in last year’s municipal election, getting the most votes among candidates fielded by the Coalition of Progressive Electors for council, park board, and school board.

      “I would love to, you know, help out with her campaign,” Blyth said about Day, who didn’t make herself available for an interview regarding her plans.

      Vancouver–Mount Pleasant will be up for grabs in a by-election after long-time NDP MLA Jenny Kwan leaves to campaign as the federal NDP candidate for Vancouver East in this year’s national election.

      Mira Oreck, a former strategist with Vision Vancouver, anticipates a “lively campaign” for the B.C. NDP nomination, one that may include her.

      “I haven’t made any decision yet,” Oreck told the Straight by phone.

      Another name being mentioned in New Democrat circles is Emma Wan-Chin Lee.

      As for the B.C. Green party, tech entrepreneur Matt Toner is pursuing its nomination for Vancouver–Mount Pleasant. Toner, who ran provincially as a New Democrat in 2013, now maintains that the B.C. NDP is a “flawed” institution.

      “In fact, it may be even getting in the way of progress in this province,” Toner told the Straight by phone about the NDP. “Once you look at the math that way, you really only have one choice.”

      With files from Travis Lupick.

      Comments

      7 Comments

      in agreement

      Apr 8, 2015 at 1:04pm

      I agree with Sarah Blyth. An Aboriginal candidate, in particular an Aboriginal woman candidate, would be a great choice and would give a voice in legislature to underrepresented communities.

      John15

      Apr 8, 2015 at 10:27pm

      Toner says: “Once you look at the math that way, you really only have one choice.”

      So, according to Toner's "math" you need to look away from the party that won 39% of the vote, and join the party that won 8% of the vote. That's some unique logic.

      Matt Toner, Green

      Apr 9, 2015 at 9:28am

      @Carlito when you say "Toner... NOW maintains that the BC NDP is a flawed institution" , you're overlooking my quite public critique from 2013, some of which was published here in the Georgia Straight. For example, www.tinyurl.com/rebootndp - this is not a sudden epiphany on my part.

      Ugh

      Apr 9, 2015 at 12:28pm

      I dislike it when people call Mount Pleasant 'East Van' like it's some sort of smug dookie chain that we can just affix to ourselves.

      I vote that everything between Cambie and Fraser be called 'Mid Van'.

      Tara Sundberg

      Apr 9, 2015 at 12:50pm

      Jenny Kwan was very successful in this riding, with tremendous ethnic support. It's a shame that she's not going to run. Who will engage the Chinese community to the degree that she has? I love the idea of Aboriginal representation in the Legislature, and she or he will need to be savvy with regard to the Chinese community, having a Chinese right-hand person would be ideal in this traditional NDP stronghold.

      ursa minor

      Apr 17, 2015 at 3:28pm

      From Toner's 2013 critique: "This means recognizing that it is time to strip away stale elements from our offering and concentrate on those core concepts that are unique to our philosophy. We need to challenge ourselves to pivot from this foundation into the 21st century and begin speaking to a new range of issues that resonate with a new generation of voters...using language and media to which they respond. "

      So essentially, a lot of corporate buzzwords and catchphrases which amount to kicking out Labour and binging on Snapchat and Instagram. It's lucky for New Democrats that Toner defected to the party of telling people whatever they want to hear instead of sticking with the party that's willing to tell the truth.

      Larry

      Apr 19, 2015 at 12:34am

      I seriously want to run in the next provincial election for NDP. The question is should I run for the next by-election or wait until 2017? The issues are more than having "a kick-ass" candidate. The issues are many, and I believe as a resident of East Vancouver, ethnic favoritism is ridiculous. As a member of the minority of Canadians for centuries (400 + years), I see East Vancouver as one people or nothing. We need to stand together. A wrong against one, is a wrong against all.