Adrian Dix tells constituents that he feels pretty good about stepping down as leader of the B.C. NDP
Unburdened of the perils from holding on at the helm of his party, Adrian Dix came home to hero’s welcome in Vancouver-Kingsway.
In the evening hours after announcing today (September 18) that he will step down as B.C. NDP leader, Dix received a warm reception from his constituents at the Collingwood Neighbourhood House, a block south of his district office on Joyce Street.
“I feel pretty good,” Dix told them in a half-lit room that cast shadows around. “I feel pretty good about that decision.”
With his sleeves rolled up, he said that “there are worse things in life than losing.”
His wife Renee Sarojini Saklikar sat at the front row of the packed room, gazing tenderly at the man who could have been premier of British Columbia.
Several members of the B.C. NDP caucus showed up, including those whose names have been mentioned as likely to replace Dix, who failed to lead New Democrats to victory in the May 14, 2013 election.
These are Port Coquitlam’s Mike Farnworth, John Horgan of Juan de Fuca, George Heyman of Vancouver-Fairview, and Vancouver-Point Grey’s David Eby.
In his speech, Dix said that his decision to give way to a new leader shows one thing.
“It’s not about me, and it’s not about our interests,” he said. “It’s not about me becoming premier. It’s about us succeeding.”
Dix also defended the campaign he ran that eventually led to what he described as a “heartbreaking” loss.
“We didn’t fail because we were too positive,” he said.
According to Dix, the NDP didn’t succeed because it wasn’t able to communicate effectively with the voters about its message.
“I could have done a better job,” Dix also said. “And I’ll reflect on that for a long, long time.”
The Vancouver-Kingsway MLA made a number of references to the Collingwood Neighbourhood House, which he described as an “extraordinary place”.
He related that the neighbourhood house hosts a weekly breakfast for homeless people who come from other areas outside Renfrew-Collingwood.
“This is the B.C. we want to be, and right here in Renfrew-Collingwood,” Dix said.
Dix also said that while the B.C. NDP didn’t win the election, there is much for the party to do.
“It is not the time to descend into bitterness or unhappiness,” Dix said. “It’s the time to reach higher. And I believe together we can reach higher.”
According to Dix, "People need the NDP."
Dix also left a promise: "I will not rest until there is an NDP government in British Columbia,"
Before he went to the podium, Dix was introduced by one of his key allies, Vancouver Kingsway MP Don Davies, as of the "finest" MLAs the province has had.
According to Davies, this is not the end for Dix.
Comments
6 Comments
anonymous
Sep 19, 2013 at 8:03am
As the NDP struggles to move forward now that Adrian Dix has delivered his swan song, it is significant to note that the Left has always been outsmarted by the Right in gaining the support of the so-called minorities.
Dix was referencing Manitoba’s Gary Doer who finally made it after several defeats. What he should know is that the NDP in Manitoba is adept at winning the support of the ethnic vote especially Filipinos who comprise the largest demographic in the City of Winnipeg. The Manitoba party did not achieve it overnight but through painstaking work in the community, carefully establishing their networks and nurturing them to the point of honing a formidable political machine.
Until the B.C. NDP moves away from the perception of a ‘white-dominated’ and elitist party, I am not confident that it can gain power in the future.
Its backroom operators are the same tired strategists who are not willing to give way to new immigrants and citizens of colour.
Perhaps, among the possible leadership contenders, Mr. David Eby could be a change. He is young and articulate and do not carry the baggage of the old party stalwarts.
Eby’s history of working with the poor and the marginalized in the downtown eastside could be a spark that can start a grassroots movement the party so badly needs to redeem itself.
Jeff Archer
Sep 19, 2013 at 8:30am
statistically the NDP had very little chance of winning anyway.
Dix does not convey leadership qualities and bringing Brian Topp and Jan O'Obrien into the mix simply sealed his fate.
Let him step down and fade into the shadows.
Whoever the new leader is will find himself or herself beholden to the to the unions.
They should change their name to the Old Democratic Party as there is nothing new about them.
Their values are obsolete and archaic.
It is what it is...nothing more and nothing less.
Your tired Mr. Dix and you failed, so why the heroes welcome? I just don't get it.
And oh yes, this is the end for Dix. He'll continue to be an MLA as the money is good, there is a pension and nobody wants to hire a loser in private sector.
William GIbbens
Sep 19, 2013 at 10:46am
Contender for best NDP/Dix Qoute of 2013:
"Our experience and investigations have shown that the B.C. NDP, including their recent leaders (Adrian Dix, Carole James), former Health critic (Mike Farnworth), Seniors critic (Katrine Conroy) and Justice critic (Leonard Krog) as well as MLAs (Lana Popham, Norm Macdonald, and newly-elected David Eby in his former position as president of the BC Civil Liberties Association), took actions to ignore and/or cover up abusive, unlawful and even criminal conduct by health care providers and government agencies brought to their attention by the public."
from http://www.seniorsatrisk.org/
DavidH
Sep 19, 2013 at 11:33am
I'll try to ignore your inability to communicate in basic English, and focus on your points. Oh, wait, you have no points.
Except for that really cutting comment about the private sector not hiring "a loser". Good one. Zing!
Oh wait ... Glen Clark was hired by Jim Pattison and is now in the senior management ranks of the Pattison empire.
Know8all
Sep 19, 2013 at 11:33am
And I'm sure your constituents (along with members & former members) are feeling pretty good that you're stepping down as well...
Even so with this move you're still a day late and a dollar short. The damage is done...
morgus3
Sep 19, 2013 at 11:50am
"Until the B.C. NDP moves away from the perception of a ‘white-dominated’ and elitist party, I am not confident that it can gain power in the future.
Its backroom operators are the same tired strategists who are not willing to give way to new immigrants and citizens of colour.
Perhaps, among the possible leadership contenders, Mr. David Eby could be a change. He is young and articulate and do not carry the baggage of the old party stalwarts.
Eby’s history of working with the poor and the marginalized in the downtown eastside could be a spark that can start a grassroots movement the party so badly needs to redeem itself."
What? The NDP has done much better with minorities than the BCLP with the exception of Chinese and Korean voters. And the reason they have done poorly with them is because the majority of the two don't care about the poor and marginalized, look at the CHinatown business owners do in regards to anything done to help the poor in th downtown east side.
Indians have a huge influence on the party; Sihota is the prime "backroom mover" you complain about and there was considerable grumbling about Dix being selectred on mass, sketchy voting by new Indian supporters.
Eby would be a poor choice, the last several elections would suggest the overwhelming majority of th province does not share his concerns, including most NDP suppporters. The only reason he was even elected was the NDP pored an inappropriate level of resources into getting him elected. They got to act snarky about making Clark lose her seat which accomplished exactly nothing in the end.