Login / RegisterNDP MLA Gary Coons won't seek reelection
Normally, the news is that another B.C. Liberal MLA isn't running again.
But today, a New Democratic Party member of the legislature made that announcement.
North Coast MLA Gary Coons, a former teacher, said in a statement that he has been "very honoured" to have served his constituents since 2005.
“I’d like to thank the people of the North Coast for putting their trust in me," he said. "Whether we were working to keep the Skeena River fish-farm free, fighting for action to address the Highway of Tears, standing up for the Sacred Headwaters, campaigning to stop the HST, holding firm against the Enbridge pipeline and crude oil tanker traffic, or addressing ferry fares, none of the work I’ve done would have been possible without the support of the people of this region."
NDP Leader Adrian Dix described Coons as "an effective champion of our coastal waters and communities, drawing attention to how they are essential to B.C.’s economy and environment".
“In the wake of the Queen of the North tragedy, Gary's quest for answers helped bring about improvements in marine safety," Dix said in a statement. "His knowledge of B.C.’s coastline, and commitment to the people who live there, were on full display when I recently joined him for a tour of the Douglas Channel. He passionately demonstrated the importance of the tanker moratorium, now under threat from the Enbridge pipeline proposal, as we navigated through these beautiful but challenging waters."
Follow Charlie Smith on Twitter at twitter.com/csmithstraight.
You're conflating ends with means. If I favour the election of an NDP government--which I do, by the way--it doesn't mean I'd be willing to pursue that end by banning supporters of other parties from voting or running for office. That is what is meant by disenfranchisement and that is what the NDP's policy does. In ridings in which an NDP incumbent is not seeking re-election, men are barred from seeking the party's nomination and all members who may wish to support a male nominee are denied the right to do so. Systemic barriers to women's participation in politics are real but need to be tackled in ways that respect democratic principles.