B.C. NDP under Adrian Dix strikes a tone of unity at provincial convention

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      Bitterness has given way to sweet rapture among B.C. New Democrats just a little over a year after infighting almost rent their party apart.

      Juan de Fuca MLA John Horgan spoke in ecstatic terms about the affairs of the party on the second day today (December 10) of its 50th founding anniversary convention.

      “We’re coming together as a caucus; we’re coming together as a party,” Horgan told the Straight in an interview at the sidelines of the three-day event lasting until Sunday at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

      Horgan came third in a leadership race held this spring following the bitter resignation of then–B.C. NDP head Carole James in the face of an open revolt by 13 members of the caucus.

      Vancouver-Kingsway MLA Adrian Dix emerged victorious in that contest, and Horgan only has glowing praise for James’s successor.

      “Adrian Dix has demonstrated that he can bring us together in a way that I don’t think anyone would have predicted 12 months ago,” Horgan, the party house leader, said. “So when I look back over the past year, I was a despondent camper last year at this time. And I’m very excited now.”

      As Horgan put it: “It’s a good time to be a New Democrat.”

      Another former leadership contestant, Mike Farnworth, shares Horgan’s keen optimism about the fortunes of the party.

      With the B.C. NDP leading in the polls, the Port Coquitlam MLA noted that the mood is “very good”.

      “People are upbeat,” Farnworth told the Straight at the convention. “I think you know this convention, there’s an excitement and a calmness all at the same time.”

      Is better than 12 months ago? “Oh hell yeah,” Farnworth said without any signs of hesitation. “Absolutely. It’s night and day. I wouldn’t want to go through last year again.”

      Powell River–Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons dropped out of last spring’s leadership race to support Horgan. Like Horgan and Farnworth, Simons likes what he’s seeing.

      “People seem to be really focused on making sure we have all our ducks in a row,” Simons told the Straight. “People are in a good mood. And I like the feel in the convention hall.”

      Comments

      3 Comments

      Dianne G

      Dec 10, 2011 at 2:38pm

      Sure get all your ducks in a row, swim towards similar goals, BUT most of all please start talking about policy and what the NDP's priorities will be for revenue and spending when elected.

      We need to know in concrete ways what we are voting FOR.

      Don Stang

      Dec 10, 2011 at 3:25pm

      I would like to know what the official opposition is doing about the HST. I thought it was defeated but I'm really starting to wonder. How much longer is removing it going to take.
      Another year is passing by quickly.
      Don

      Change the NDP, Change the Government

      Dec 11, 2011 at 11:13am

      The NDP is made up of bunch of the lightest of liberals ever to congregate under one roof. Think Vision, Think the US Democrats and you pretty much have this sterile brood. Oddly enough their leader, Dix, is as good as you get nowadays as far as politicians go. Will he be able to change this conservative bunch? It's doubtful. The NDP is controlled by its bureaucrats and by its largest labour backers. BC Labour is as pathetic a bunch of minions of the status quo as you can get. The NDP should easily win the next election, but they will not change the basic policies that have been in place in BC since the late 1980s.

      16 7Rating: +9