After Adrian Dix swore that his Party would keep the upcoming election 'clean' and free from 'negative attack ads' -- obviously, Fraser-Nicola MLA Harry Lali didn't get that message but I wasn't surprised as Lali loves attacking the BC Liberals at any time for a cheap political point or two... I wonder if Lali will be penalized for his comments or will Dix simply say one thing and allow his MLA's and the NDP's "friends" (aka BC Fed of Labour) to do another...
Fraser-Nicola NDP MLA Harry Lali says “the more things change, the more they stay the same,” referring to the appointment of Jackie Tegart as local BC Liberal candidate almost two weeks ago.
“Though I welcome the entry into the provincial realm by the Liberals’ appointed candidate in Fraser-Nicola, she will have to answer for the destruction of the social and economic fabric of British Columbia by the Campbell/Clark Liberals during the last decade,” said Lali.
“The appointment of the Liberal candidate by Premier Christy Clark is further evidence of the BC Liberals’ “top-down”, heavy-handed approach when dealing with local constituency nominations,” said Lali. “Their news communique about the appointment (dated January 16) that appeared in The Vancouver Sun was released out of BC Liberal Party headquarters in the Lower Mainland by Sam Oliphant, Communications Officer from the BC Liberal Party in Vancouver.”
“It was ten more days before local Liberals would be invited to so-call ‘nominate’ their candidate in Ashcroft,” said Lali. “The Liberal communique even admitted that local Liberals would do the “formality” of candidate anointment in Ashcroft on January 26th.”
Lali said: “There is a clearly-established pattern of the BC Liberals’ heavy-handedness with local nominations. Liberal MLA John Slater, from Boundary-Similkameen, was unceremoniously dumped by Premier Clark from running as a Liberal in favour of another person. In Abbotsford South, BC Liberal brass also dismissed Abbotsford city councillor, Moe Gill, from seeking the Liberal nomination in favour of someone else.”
Adrian Dix, Harry Lali and the New Democrats believe that the true essence of democracy is when respective constituency association memberships are allowed to elect their candidates through democratic nominations free from any interference from Party Leaders and Party brass.
“Unfortunately for BC Liberal members in many constituencies like Fraser-Nicola the rubber-stamping of candidates appointed by Premier Clark and Liberal Headquarters is the order of the day,” said Lali. “There are many questions the appointed Liberal candidate needs to answer, such as:
- As a former School Trustee why did Ms. Tegart remain silent when Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark, as Education Minister, closed over 200 schools, especially in Rural BC, including Fraser-Nicola?
- Where was she when Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark, as BC Children and Families Minister, cut 42% funding for BC’s needy children and families and closed 50% of women’s shelters in the province?
- Why didn’t she speak out against the massive cuts to Health Care by Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark that resulted in multiple emergency room closures, including ERs in Ashcroft, Lytton, Princeton and Logan Lake?
- Why was she silent when the Liberals’ punitive forest policies closed over 90 sawmills and laid-off 42,000 workers across the province, including in Merritt, Lillooet, Lytton, and Boston Bar?
- Why was she silent when the Liberals’ BC Rail corruption scandal, investigation, and court case took place?
For their part - the BC Liberals say:
Two days after Adrian Dix said he would launch a “positive” campaign, one of the BC NDP’s highest profile MLAs has launched a personal and negative attack from his non-partisan constituency office.
"We all knew it wouldn't last, but I thought they'd keep the spin going for at least the first week," said cabinet minister and campaign spokesperson Mary Polak. "Did Lali just not get the Dix memo on being positive, or is Mr. Dix trying to take the high road, while his MLAs throw stones from their constituency offices?"
Lali’s personal attacks, which are incorrect, are in stark contrast to the type of local campaign that Jackie Tegart is putting forward to Fraser-Nicola voters. Tegart has a proven record as a longtime school trustee and Ashcroft municipal councillor.
"I’m running because I believe Premier Christy Clark’s vision for a strong, resource economy is vital for our region," said Tegart. “I’m focused on jobs and the issues that matter to people in my riding."
"It’s wrong to launch negative, personal attacks from a constituency-based MLA office," added Tegart. "We need representation that puts our communities first."
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