B.C. NDP's gender requirements put Moe Sihota in an awkward position
One of the B.C. NDP's top elected party officials might have to resign, depending on the outcome of the leadership race.
That's because the B.C. NDP's constitution states that "both genders" must be represented in the three positions of leader, president, and treasurer.
Former NDP MLA and political pundit David Schreck recently informed me of about this requirement, which is stated in section 13, following his December 31 appearance on CKNW Radio.
Bob Smits is the elected treasurer and Moe Sihota is the elected president. And up until December 6, Carole James was leader.
With James leaving, the B.C. NDP must, under its constitution, find a new female leader or replace either Smits or Sihota.
So far, no women have indicated an interest in seeking the party leadership.
If a male wins the leadership (such as Mike Farnworth, Adrian Dix, Harry Lali, Peter Julian, or anyone else with a "y" chromosome), Sihota or Smits must quit.
Either that, or the party will have to amend its constitution.
Schreck also stated that Sihota is a political pundit (on CBC Radio) as well as the president. In his role as president, Sihota should have said that Dana Larsen's eligibility to run for leader should be determined by the rules committee and the party leadership, according to Schreck.
As long as Sihota remains the NDP "pundit" on CBC Radio, the party is less likely to face criticism from its own side on the Monday morning political panel.
That might not be the case should CBC choose to replace Sihota with another pundit, such as Schreck or Bill Tieleman.
Follow Charlie Smith on Twitter at twitter.com/csmithstraight.
Comments
22 Comments
Bobbie Bees
Jan 1, 2011 at 12:52pm
Moe Sihota could try gender reassignment.
time to go moe
Jan 1, 2011 at 1:55pm
Moe Sihota should resign, not because he's a man, but because he made extremely prejudicial and incorrect statements about a leadership candidate's eligibility. The BCNDP Executive has no Constitutional power to stop any member of the party from running for Leader.
Taxpayers R Us
Jan 1, 2011 at 2:17pm
If the person who gets voted in is male, amend the Constitution - that PC nonsense has got to end anyway.
Besides, aren't the dippers still catching flack for banning men from running in 15 ridings?
Hopefully common decency returns now that James is gone.
http://www.southasianpost.com/portal2/c1ee8c4220c4708e0120cf1b6a0a002d_N...
Chris016
Jan 1, 2011 at 2:41pm
I've always voted NDP, but these gender requirements of the party have always been bull$h!t... Whoever's right for the job should fill the position no matter what the gender or race the person may be... "Requirements" don't seem very democratic to me.
Bruno15
Jan 1, 2011 at 6:37pm
Its positions like this -- the ones that seem to make sense in theory, but make zero sense in practice -- that keep the NDP on the side lines as a protest vote only. Once anyone wants to start talking about positions that make any sort of practical sense in real life, they get stabbed in the back by the old guard. Good luck with all that.
Tania Glovebox
Jan 2, 2011 at 7:42am
This is just one more reason that the NDP will remain a sideline party - they have no sense of practicality. They are far too driven by ideology
KOOTENAYS
Jan 2, 2011 at 8:14am
The gender requirements of the NDP are crap it should be the best person. That's one of the biggest problems i have with the NDP. I want the best if your a man or a woman .if you want my vote do away with that crap.women only how SILLY
donmor
Jan 2, 2011 at 8:29am
That's how crazy the NDP is. Don't take the best, but make sure it's a woman etc. This kind of BS should be looked into in all the parties. What happened to the good old days when the MP's came from the grass roots and it didn't matter who or what gender. Now people are put into different riding's etc because of their name etc. Look at Justin Trudeau. God help us all.
maryanne
Jan 2, 2011 at 8:36am
It's policies like this that turn people off for voting for the politically correct party... which is all nonsense. It's time for some common sense to rule in this party or remain on the sidelines for eternity. It's people like Moe Sahota with his dubious background that also contribute to a lack
of credibility and continue to show the NDP a little less than up front and
a transparent party... we don't need more of the same.
Realist
Jan 2, 2011 at 8:53am
Further proof that the NDP is a complete and utter joke of a political party.
All want in BC politics is a party i can vote for and not against.