In an interview, former Surrey mayor Doug McCallum confirmed he has been blocked from running for the federal Conservative nomination in Newton-North Delta. Speaking with Public Eye, Mr. McCallum said "I was phoned this morning by (constituency association president) Jim Holt. And he said that national (headquarters) said I'm not a member (of the party) and that part of my papers weren't in on time."
Mr. McCallum explained, "I think it's a bureaucratic mess. They gave me two hours to get my papers in. Part of my papers didn't get in in time. And that was the criminal record check - because you can't do it in two hours. It's virtually impossible...But I did get it by later in the afternoon...The other thing is they said I'm not a member which is completely false. I've got a fax - I've got a confirmation that I am a member. That's literally false."
Mr. McCallum also said "The timing is really suspect because of how fast they set the deadlines. Because no one can meet them unless they knew in advance," when the Conservative nomination would be. But the former mayor says he won't be fighting the decision, adding "I think I've had my fill of politics for the next little while. So I think I'm going to go back and look at some business opportunities."
So who's going to be running for the Conservatives in Newton-North Delta now? Well, some of our operatives are reporting British Columbia Fisheries Survival Coalition executive director Phil Eidsvik will be acclaimed. But Mr. McCallum told us Mr. Holt informed him two candidates had been approved to seek the nomination tomorrow.
The comment button works now! Maybe this story should go into the "broken news" category. CBC today has the same story.
Sean,
Welcome back to the online world...
Eugene
I strongly feel that Doug should show the "back room boys" something and run as an Independant candidate in the 'Ridge/N.Delta riding.
I have never known Doug to waste his time running around giving nice little "touchy, feely" speeches or proposals. Rather, he has consistently been an energetic, strong, and active proponent for what's best for Surrey.
I think many may be surprised by the strength of support he has in this community, lilely because he is a "doer" and not a "politician".
The second person to put papers in was Jesse Johal, he was actually the first one in but they said his papers were old or something along those lines
Basiclly they got rid of everyone and handed it to Phil Eidsvik
So much for grassroot and letting the membership decide
Someone should find out from someone why this thing was rigged and why they even got rid of the Johal guy. From what I've been told he was even a former candidate. The fix is in I just want to know why.
This is just another example of the leader of the official opposition's office meddling in local riding affairs. This has been done several times in other ridings and almost always to ensure the most right wing candidate gets in. Until the party drops the extremism and anti-gay, anti-women, anti-French, anti-immigrant, anti-Native attitude they will continue to lose and I will not vote for them despite being an economic conservative.
The word is out that the young man Johal has filed a complaint with the party and I say put up a fight kid.
I heard rumblings and he has a great case, plus a lot of people out here can't understand how this guy got it when know one knows who the hell he is.
Who the hell does a nomination in 24 hours! Hell only 20 people showed up to the 'nomination'.
It smells fishy out here and this guy Eidsvik after reading the vanouver sun doesn't have a chance of winning.