New Democrats got all hot and bothered when some of their most prominent party members decided to run for the federal Liberals. Commentator and ex-provincial government communications guru Bill Tieleman ripped former Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers of Canada president David Haggard a new one in his Georgia Straight column. Others sent nasty messages to the turncoats - one of which has been exclusively obtained by Public Eye (along responses from Mr. Haggard, former Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray and ex-senior New Democrat bureaucrat Shirley Chan). In an email dated June 20, former New Democrat MP and Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union regional representative Joy Langan admonished them for "making political hay with untruths and changing your colours to suit your own agendas."

Ms. Chan, who is currently running an extremely entertaining campaign in Vancouver East, replied with the most vitriol and inaccuracies. In her email, the Liberal candidate writes she "left the NDP in 1993 when the party knifed Harcourt in the back and replaced him with Glen Clark, whose 'leadership' turned BC into a have not province." Astute readers will remember Mike Harcourt resigned his premiership in 1995. Ms. Chan then comments that her New Democrat competitor Libby Davies and Ms. Langan "excel at name-calling" before adding "I certainly trust (Liberal leader Paul Martin) more than I trust any of you."

Mr. Murray, on the other hand, blames New Democrat homophobia for his decision to come out as a Liberal and run in Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia. In his email he writes that, "I was disappointed and repeatedly told by (the New Democrat) Party brass not to run (for mayor). That, as a gay man, I could never win. I was told to step aside more times then I can count, and when I finally achieved the job they said I could never have, I was not supported by the NDP."

For his part, Mr. Haggard (the Liberal candidate for New Westminster­-Coquitlam) sticks to the Grit message box, explaining, "when Paul Martin asked me to run, I thought long and hard about my choice and came to the only conclusion that I could - that the best way to represent working people and stop the radical, right-wing agenda of the Alliance-Conservatives is with the federal Liberal Party." The following are copies of Ms. Langan's email and the replies she received.

-----Original Message-----
From: Joy Langan
Sent: June 20, 2004 11:32 PM
To: contact@chrisaxworthy.ca; dave@davehaggard.ca; dosanu@teammartin.ca; shirleyyingchan@telus.net; glenmurray@teammartin.ca
Subject: Not nearly as much as you've disappointed us

Dear Liberal Candidates:

You talk in your press release about how disappointed you are in Jack Layton for comments which you have attributed to him but both he and the media have said were not trueconcerning the possibility of NDP working with the Conservatives if they win a minority government.

It's rather ironic to many of us, how you can talk about ethics when you are making political hay with untruths and changing your colours to suit your own agendas.

Chris, I was your seat-mate in the house of commons for five years. Your politics were showing even then, but I gave you the benefit of the doubt. Wrong.

Shirley, how proud we were of the wonderful work you did for Vancouverites when you worked with Harcourt. Sadly, you were a political opportunist.

Glen, I only know you by reputation, as Mayor and Councellor in Winnipeg. Your switch to the Liberals speaks for itself.

Ujjal, I was thrilled to campaign for you for leader and to work on your election campaign. I wouldn't be so disappointed in you had you not said directly to my face, "I will not run for the Liberals." I believed you and I wonder if you can be believed today?

Dave, I have known you the longest. You were the president of a once proud trade union. You left the country when your organization was on strike; you allowed raiding and yellow dog contracts to be signed that the BC Labour Board has ruled against; you are leading the IWA back into an international union after years of struggle by your members for Canadian autonomy; and now you are running for the Liberals. If that is the way you are going to work for working people then we don't need you and we shouldn't believe you.

Disappointed.

Joy Langan

-----Original Message-----
From: Shirley Chan [mailto:shirleyyingchan@telus.net]
Sent: Monday, June 21, 2004 12:08 AM
To: Glen Murray Campaign; contact@chrisaxworthy.ca; dave@davehaggard.ca; dosanu@teammartin.ca; glenmurray@teammartin.ca
Subject: Re: Not nearly as much as you've disappointed us

Joy,

I left the NDP in 1993 when the party knifed Harcourt in the back and replaced him with Glen Clark, whose "leadership" turned BC into a have not province. The NDP implemented welfare cuts and eligibility criteria to give salary raises to their wives, friends and insiders. The economy was crippled due to disastrous policies such as the corporate capital tax which killed jobs and drove investment out of the province. I concluded then that the NDP was corrupt and incompetent and you have done nothing since to change my mind.

Your pride in me for the excellent work I did with Harcourt was not something I sought and I find your name-calling offensive. You and Libby seem to excel at name-calling. But truth be told, I am ashamed at the lack of results from those NDP politicians who climbed to office on the backs of the long-suffering people in Strathcona and the Downtown Eastside. What do you call them?

I joined the Liberals when the Prime Minister asked me to run. He made a commitment to work for the people of BC, the people of Vancouver East. He demonstrated his commitment to the Aboriginal people who live in Van East with his new Aboriginal strategies. He proved his understanding and recognition of the importance of cities with the Cities Initiative. I am prepared to work with him to make the changes I feel are needed in the riding. I certainly trust him more than I trust any of you.

Shirley

----- Original Message -----
From: Glen Murray Campaign
To: contact@chrisaxworthy.ca ; dave@davehaggard.ca ; dosanu@teammartin.ca ; shirleyyingchan@telus.net ; glenmurray@teammartin.ca
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2004 10:41 PM
Subject: RE: Not nearly as much as you've disappointed us

Joy,

I have been disappointed by the NDP for a decade - which was the last time I held membership in the Party. Since we do not know each other I simply want to tell you that I did not "switch" to the Liberal Party and therefore it does not "speak for itself."

Before lambasting me for my choice of Party, I would appreciate if you would look at my history in the NDP and then you will see that I was disappointed and repeatedly told by Party brass not to run. That as a gay man, I could never win. I was told to step aside more times than I can count, and when I finally achieved the job they said I could never have, I was not supported by the NDP.

The Prime Minister asked me to run, and I am proud to carry the Liberal banner. The NDP didn't want me.

Glen

-----Original Message-----
From: Scott Lunny [mailto:scott@davehaggard.ca]
Sent: Monday, June 21, 2004 9:54 PM
To: Shirley Chan; Glen Murray Campaign; contact@chrisaxworthy.ca; dave@davehaggard.ca; dosanu@teammartin.ca; glenmurray@teammartin.ca
Subject: RE: Not nearly as much as you've disappointed us

Joy,

Since you claim to know me so well, you would know that I have never been strongly onboard with the federal NDP. You should know that it was the IWA, under my leadership, that fought for years to bring some economic sense to the Party. We struggled for policy that acknowledged the unmistakable reality that working people and their families in British Columbia depend on a strong economy, particularly a strong export economy to sustain our standard of living. Unfortunately, we were not successful.

Joy, if you know me so well, you would know how I feel about the same-old, same-old NDP policies as contained in the 320-something-promise platform. When Paul Martin asked me to run, I thought long and hard about my choice and came to the only conclusion that I could - that the best way to represent working people and stop the radical, right-wing agenda of the Alliance-Conservatives is with the federal Liberal Party.

Since the election began, everything I have heard from the NDP confirms my decision: increased corporate taxes, an inheritance tax, reckless spending and little or no mention of BC or of building a strong economy. I have listened to NDP candidates talk about BC moving away from the resource economy. I don't agree with these policies and would not support the NDP in this election even if I hadn't chosen to run as a Liberal candidate.

Joy, I know where I stand and it's where I've always stood. You can criticize the IWA all you like, but that's just sour grapes over the fact that the IWA leadership decided merging with your union wasn't in the best interest of our membership. Those members now have an opportunity to choose what they want for the future of their union and, quite frankly, they don't need your help to make that decision. As for the other issues you raise, your statements are way off-base and show an appalling lack of knowledge of the facts.

I don't apologize to you or anyone else for choosing Paul Martin's Team. I'm proud to be running for the only party in this election that will bring a balance between prudent fiscal management and progressive social policies to build the kind of Canada I want for my children and grandchildren.

Dave