35 replies to this topic

[Bob Fugger]

May says she's leaning to run against Lunn

'My heart is here,' says Green leader, who will decide next month on move to Sidney

By Judith Lavoie, Times Colonist
August 12, 2009 5:58 AM


Green Party of Canada Leader Elizabeth May is house-hunting in Sidney this week as she decides whether to run for election in Saanich-Gulf Islands against long-time Conservative MP Gary Lunn.

"I am so strongly leaning towards running here and I have got the most wonderful response," May said in an interview.

"My heart is here, but I just want to make sure."

The decision will be made early next month, said May, who is expecting a vote of non-confidence in the government in late September, followed by a federal election.

May, 55, who has led the federal Green Party since 2006, has had ties to B.C. for decades and believes voters in Saanich-Gulf Islands are ready to make history and elect the first Green MP.

"This is a traditional area of strength for the Greens. People have small-g green values and many people think it would be exciting and important to elect the first Green MP," she said.

May, who is from Cape Breton, N.S., ran in her home riding of Central Nova last year, even though she knew it was a long shot against cabinet minister Peter MacKay.

The priority at that time was getting the first Green elected. That didn't happen, and now the party is focusing on getting May elected.
May said she has her family's support for a move across the country.
"My youngest daughter is 18 and off to university in September and even taking the dog with her. I don't have empty-nest syndrome so much as nestless syndrome," she said.

Saanich-Gulf Islands, which Lunn has held since 1997, has seen the Green Party vote fluctuate from 16.7 per cent in 2004 to 9.9 per cent in 2006 and 10.5 per cent in 2008.

However, last year's election results were complicated by two former Green Party members running for other parties and the withdrawal of the NDP candidate.

In the end, Liberal Briony Penn, a former Green, was narrowly beaten by Lunn.

The waters were further muddied by an electronic phone message, fraudulently purporting to be from the NDP, asking supporters to vote for Julian West after he withdrew. It was never discovered who was responsible.

Investigations were also launched into four groups of third-party advertisers, which sprung up to support Lunn and spent more than $12,000. The groups all had links to Victoria lawyer Bruce Hallsor, a director on Lunn's riding association.

"Saanich-Gulf Islands did have the most dirty tricks and most skulduggery," said May, who wants to see an end to "brutal, toxic partisanship" in Parliament and to dirty tricks during election campaigns.
Lunn did not return calls yesterday, but May said she saw him at the Calgary Stampede this summer and he asked if she was going to run against him.

"I said, 'That's the rumour,' and he said, 'I will welcome the challenge,'" she said.

Penn said she would "dearly love" to see May in Parliament, but since March she's been backing Liberal nomination candidate Renee Hetherington in Saanich-Gulf Islands.

The Liberal nomination meeting will be held Sept. 12.
"I would hate to see the riding split because of two very good women candidates," said Penn.
jlavoie@tc.canwest.com
© Copyright © The Victoria Times Colonist

Wow, I nearly threw up in my mouth a little bit. I thought her heart was in Central Nova? Now her heart is in a riding where she thinks she has the best chance (which if she wasn't a complete ditzy own-hype-believing moron, she would have run here last election).

Despite Briony Penn's new political stripes, I'm sure that she will be there at the airport to help her lug her carpet-wrapped belongings to her new home.

[VicDuck]

The whole heart thing is just politics as usual, though anyone is better than Lunn.

[North Shore]

FArk, does this irritate me to no end. I'm very sympathetic to green causes in general, and the GP in particular, and have donated cash and lawn space in the past, but this is ridiculous! You'd think that there'd be some sort of requirement to actually live in a riding for a period of time before seeking to represent it in Ottawa? While I'm no fan at all of Gary Lunn, he at least attended Uni, worked, and lives in the riding.

[Bob Fugger]

FArk, does this irritate me to no end. I'm very sympathetic to green causes in general, and the GP in particular, and have donated cash and lawn space in the past, but this is ridiculous! You'd think that there'd be some sort of requirement to actually live in a riding for a period of time before seeking to represent it in Ottawa? While I'm no fan at all of Gary Lunn, he at least attended Uni, worked, and lives in the riding.

NS, I feel the same way - I was a big fan of the Jim Harris Green Party and remember in particular being turned on to it after reading their platform and thinking, "Hey, their economic policy actually makes sense - it's not the social democratic tax-and-spend, cradle-to-grave economics that I would generally associate with a Green Party." That's the first time I was able to separate socialism from environmentalism, which I think is a huge breakthrough for any Green Party. You know, except if that's who you are, like the BC Green Party.

When they canvassed me last election to do some door knocking for them, the caller was a bit taken aback by my reaction to May's leadership. What a shame, now I'm essentially disenfranchised.

[yodsaker]

She can't make up her mind.
A suicidal run against McKay where he is the Nova Scotia capo and his father before him.
Waste of time and money there.
Then talked about southern Ontario.
Now Sidney.
I'm not a Lunn fan but he brings home the bacon for his riding and people like that.
She wouldn't bring them a dime.
She's rapidly running out of cred IMO.

[spanky123]

Great news for Gary Lunn. Split the vote and he comes up the middle for a 3rd time!

[mat]

Saanich Gulf Islands for Elizabeth May - c'mon. Nice lady with a homespun image - but politically naive. Whenever the next Federal election comes along there will be Liberal and NDP candidates running against Gary Lunn (seems he is being quickly rehabilitated in the eyes of the Conservative party - tours with Harper etc.). Frankly - even if it was just her against Gary, with no competition, it is unlikely she would win in this riding (my own)

Have to agree with North Shore and others: parachuting candidates into ridings is one of my personal bug bears, and any candidate that does not have real live-in experience with a riding needs to work hard to convince, and get my vote.

[Bernard]

Saanich and the Gulf Islands is by nature a Conservative riding. The only time it has not been won by the most right wing party in Ottawa was in 1988 when Reform the PCs split the vote and the NDP won.

Averaging the results of the last five elections gives you:

• Conservatives - 40.3
• Liberals - 31.2
• NDP - 15.2
• Greens - 9.1

This is a LONG shot for anyone to win other than the Conservatives. The Liberals have the best chance, but if they could win this riding, they would realistically be looking at a big landslide nation wide.

Victoria would be the best riding for Elizabeth May to run in. It is has been held by parties from across the spectrum over the last 25 years. It has a strong base for the Conservatives, Liberals and NDP making for a four way race if there is a strong Green and making it winnable with about 30% of the vote.

[Bob Fugger]

Victoria would be the best riding for Elizabeth May to run in. It is has been held by parties from across the spectrum over the last 25 years. It has a strong base for the Conservatives, Liberals and NDP making for a four way race if there is a strong Green and making it winnable with about 30% of the vote.

I doubt May would win in Victoria, but she may succeed in dethroning Denise Savoie by splitting the lefty-enviro vote (which is ironinc, given the Green's fiscal platform). Savoie is a farily good constiuent rep and well respected in the community. I think the only negative thing (which is how it was characterized) I've heard about her is that she's NDP. Mind you, I haven't been in Victoria long and am more familiar with Saanich & the Islands.

[yodsaker]

I don't think she has a prayer either in Vic or S-G.I.
What can she do better for those voters than the incumbents are doing?

I would never vote for her on the basis of a personal experience with her years ago in Cape Breton. She and her mother operated a tourist resto on the Cabot Trail. We stopped for a snack and sprung for the strawberry shortcake.
It was very expensive and hard as a rock. When asked, I mentioned this to the server (Elizabeth herself).
Without preamble I got a loud and shrill torrent of "don't you know REAL strawberry s'cake? this is the way WE make it, its traditional and you should learn about it, yadayadayada..."

I concluded that listening calmly and customer relations (isn't that what politicians do?) was not her strength and vowed I would never darken her door if I was ever again up that way. When she came on the national political scene my reaction was, "Her!!!!??? You gotta be kidding."

[Bernard]

I doubt May would win in Victoria, but she may succeed in dethroning Denise Savoie by splitting the lefty-enviro vote (which is ironinc, given the Green's fiscal platform). Savoie is a farily good constiuent rep and well respected in the community. I think the only negative thing (which is how it was characterized) I've heard about her is that she's NDP. Mind you, I haven't been in Victoria long and am more familiar with Saanich & the Islands.

Victoria is as good as the chances get for the Greens in BC. It would be a long shot for her to win, though not entirely out of the realm of possible. Saanich and the Gulf Islands is unwinnable.

The Greens can achieve 30% in a riding, this means they need to seek an existing four way race to have any chance of getting the right sort of split to win.

Vancouver Centre is also a potential for the Greens in BC.

[Chris J]

I'm mostly politically naive. I admit that. I grew up on network news, and am still puzzling the playing field out.
It does seem to me that a REPRESENTATIVE would REPRESENT their constituents. Like I said, I am politically naive that way.
Where is this person from? Can she not get elected where she lives?
How can I be certain, even if she represented my ideals (which she doesn't) that she would represent me?
I don't appreciate being a stepping stone to someone's political career. I long for the day when our representatives represent us.
And yeah, way to split the vote. Gary Lunn could fondle a teenage girl on camera and have it go viral on YouTube and still win that riding if there were enough candidates in it. Thanks Green Party.

[VicDuck]

Gary Lunn could fondle a teenage girl on camera and have it go viral on YouTube and still win that riding if there were enough candidates in it. Thanks Green Party.

I'm pretty sure he would lose if that happened.

[Bernard]

I'm mostly politically naive. I admit that. I grew up on network news, and am still puzzling the playing field out.
It does seem to me that a REPRESENTATIVE would REPRESENT their constituents. Like I said, I am politically naive that way.
Where is this person from? Can she not get elected where she lives?
How can I be certain, even if she represented my ideals (which she doesn't) that she would represent me?
I don't appreciate being a stepping stone to someone's political career. I long for the day when our representatives represent us.
And yeah, way to split the vote. Gary Lunn could fondle a teenage girl on camera and have it go viral on YouTube and still win that riding if there were enough candidates in it. Thanks Green Party.

Gary Lunn wins because he is personally popular and he is a good constituency MP. He also happens to be in a riding that is right of centre and will likely always elect someone on the right baring a new Reform party.

If Saanich and the Gulf Islands were a two person race, I would very surprised if the Liberals could win. I would estimate that in a two party race the result would be 53% CPC to 47% Liberal.

There are three approaches to the idea of political representation.

One is that the representative should represent the views of the electorate, this viewpoint was the fundamental foundation of the Reform party, Herb Grubel of North Vancouver was the biggest advocate of this position. This view is normally referred to as populist. The Reform party allowed MPs to vote as they wanted to in parliament.

The second is the idea that you are electing the best person to be a representative and this person has carte blanche to do as they feel because they know best. This is the traditional view of the Liberal party.

The third approach is that you are electing a party first and foremost and your representative is there to act as the party wants, this is declared position of the NDP. NDP MPs that do not vote as the leader says will be expelled from the caucus

I personally I most like the populist view of political representation.

[Chris J]

I fear the tyranny of the masses in most cases, but would rather see a populist approach out of principle. I think most people are misinformed, which could be an arguement against the populist approach or direct democracy, but it just means that we have to work harder to get the truth out.
It's easier to believe Saanich/Gulf Islands voters are actually conservative than believe that the average small town working class social conservative is represented by the right. I lived in Ontario during the rise of Mike Harris and I saw how poor working class folk were turned against other poor folk not because the Conservatives were actual champions of the working class,but because the Conservatives exploited certain populist values.
In S/GI, there are wealthier people, who probably are best represented by Gary Lunn. Though I'm sure even a great deal of those folks would be appaled if they knew what went on in their names.

[LJ]

In S/GI, there are wealthier people, who probably are best represented by Gary Lunn. Though I'm sure even a great deal of those folks would be appaled if they knew what went on in their names.

First you tell us that you are politically naive then insinuate that you know of political misdeeds going on in a constituency.

If you have some facts please supply them, if not it is usually more prudent not to spread rumours or worse.

[G-Man]

I fear the tyranny of the masses in most cases, but would rather see a populist approach out of principle. I think most people are misinformed, which could be an arguement against the populist approach or direct democracy, but it just means that we have to work harder to get the truth out.
It's easier to believe Saanich/Gulf Islands voters are actually conservative than believe that the average small town working class social conservative is represented by the right. I lived in Ontario during the rise of Mike Harris and I saw how poor working class folk were turned against other poor folk not because the Conservatives were actual champions of the working class,but because the Conservatives exploited certain populist values.
In S/GI, there are wealthier people, who probably are best represented by Gary Lunn. Though I'm sure even a great deal of those folks would be appaled if they knew what went on in their names.

I tend to agree with your thoughts on this, but hey if it works why stop them

[Chris J]

First you tell us that you are politically naive then insinuate that you know of political misdeeds going on in a constituency.

If you have some facts please supply them, if not it is usually more prudent not to spread rumours or worse.

I don't mean to insinuate any political misdeeds going on in that community. What I meant was that I feel that not everyone who voted Conservative realizes what kind of policies the Conservatives have federally. I am insinuating federal policy that is publicly known which favours big business over the concerns of the working class.

So no rumours or worse about Garry Lunn. Sorry.

[Chris J]

And I'm probably above-average politically astute, to tell you the truth, unless I am in a room with people who know what they are talking about, then knowing more than the average CHEK or AChannel News viewer reduces my knowledge to below acceptable.

Which is not to insinuate anything about the average TV news viewer, who may know more than me about the political issues that the news deems worth knowing that I might not be following as closely through online news.

Is Trudeau still our governor?

[Bernard]

I don't mean to insinuate any political misdeeds going on in that community. What I meant was that I feel that not everyone who voted Conservative realizes what kind of policies the Conservatives have federally. I am insinuating federal policy that is publicly known which favours big business over the concerns of the working class.

So no rumours or worse about Garry Lunn. Sorry.

I am wondering who out there thinks that the Conservatives are not a party that favours the business sector over the working class? The only people who voted Conservative that feel burned are the libertarians and Neo-Cons.

Certainly there are still voters that voted for the Conservatives in hopes that the party is still the Reform party and not the PC party, but the last Harper budget kills any illusion that the party has any connections to the ideals and desires of the Reform party and are just classic Tories again.

Meanwhile many people who hate the right ignore things that they would like about MPs like Gary Lunn. As an example, Gary Lunn is one of the few federal MPs that has actively supported electoral reform for years now. The new crop of Conservatives, especially from the east, and the Liberal party remain opposed to changing the voting system.

Gary Lunn is a voice at the federal cabinet table in favour of electoral reform and a more democratic system. He is now a lone voice, but at least there is a voice, something that has not been at the federal cabinet table before.

Gary Lunn also has the best constituency staff of almost any MP from any party in BC at the moment. They know how to get things done for people that have problems with government and they are completely non-partisan in their work. Much of it comes down to one very smart and hard working staff person he has.

You may not like Gary Lunn's politics, but the man is honest and acts on his principles. He is one of Canada's better MPs. As MPs go for the Victoria area, I would rank him as the best, though Denise Savoie is good but still learning and needs better staff.