John Horgan should worry when two progressive NDP MLAs eye Vancouver East nomination

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      When an email goes out from "Team Mable" announcing a news conference in Vancouver East, it's safe to assume that the MLA for Vancouver-Kensington is getting ready to enter the Vancouver East NDP nomination race.

      The federal seat long held by Libby Davies is up for grabs now that she's not seeking reelection.

      Mable Elmore, a former labour and peace activist who was first elected in 2009, is the latest in a growing list of New Democrats thinking about succeeding Davies.

      A news conference featuring Elmore "and other special guests" is scheduled for 4 p.m. today at the Philippine Diamonds Society Clubhouse at 842 Powell Street.

      Former Vancouver city councillor Ellen Woodsworth is also considering seeking the party's nomination in Vancouver East.

      The same is true for Vancouver–Mount Pleasant NDP MLA Jenny Kwan.

      Jenny Kwan has represented East Vancouver residents since 1996.
      Stephen Hui

      Kwan and Elmore were on opposite sides in an internecine B.C. NDP war over whether Carole James should have kept her job as party leader in 2010.

      For NDP Leader John Horgan, it won't look good if two of his Vancouver MLAs publicly declare that they want to move on to federal politics. 

      You can bet that the B.C. Liberals will take great delight pointing out in next spring's legislative session what this means about the party's level of confidence in Horgan.

      Horgan has already alienated some New Democrats with his tepid response to Premier Christy Clark's LNG initiative. The minister responsible for LNG development, Rich Coleman, has been given a free pass by the Opposition.

      Anyone who's paying attention to demand for LNG knows that Clark won the 2013 election by creating a Potemkin village for voters, promising an industry that's not likely to materialize.

      Yet Horgan has been reluctant to call the premier's monumental bluff, preferring to go along with labour leaders who naively believe there might be jobs created from this nonexistent sector of B.C.'s economy.

      Similarly, the NDP under Horgan has held its fire on the idiocy of the upcoming transit referendum. This has likely alienated municipal politicians and those eager to move more people out of cars and onto buses and rapid transit.

      So where are the NDP private member's bills calling for a referendum on Clark's silly $3-billion plan to build a bridge across the Fraser River, even though vehicle counts have declined in the George Massey Tunnel?

      These private member's bills don't exist under Horgan, who may be even more conservative than James. Some might seem him as a throwback to former premier Dan Miller, who was once his boss.

      Come to think of it, it probably makes sense for both Elmore and Kwan to want to flee the NDP caucus. That's because both are among the more progressive MLAs on the Opposition side of the legislature in a party that's become increasingly right wing.

      It's clear from recent developments that there's not a great ideological divide between their current Opposition leader and the premier he's supposed to be holding accountable. It begs the question why Elmore or Kwan would even want to stick around for the next provincial election.

      Comments

      5 Comments

      Charlie....

      Dec 21, 2014 at 6:35pm

      No one cares.

      Shawn

      Dec 21, 2014 at 10:50pm

      LNG had soooo little to do with the Liberal's win. It was all about NDP NFG.

      Adrian

      Dec 21, 2014 at 10:58pm

      Actually...John should just worry.

      Marysue5252

      Dec 24, 2014 at 9:15am

      The NDP has to change and become environmentally conscious AND socially progressive. It also has to renew its commitment to democracy, instead of being a bunch of tired old citified tyrants (some older than me!) who have wandered far off the path to social justice and sustainable economies. Big Labour has become less interested in labour rights and equality, and more concerned about stock markets' "performance" and other euphemisms for "creating wealth" by exploiting labour and wrecking the natural wealth already there that we must share with other species.

      Christina Bratus

      Feb 24, 2015 at 2:32pm

      Mr. Horgan if you really are for the people of B.C. you should force the BC Liberals a referendem on the Site-C dam. We don't need it...I DO HOPE SHE GETS KICKED OUT LIKE GORDON NO-MINE.