Yesterday, the Toronto Star's Linda Diebel paraphrased federal Liberal British Columbia party president Jamie Elmhirst as saying leadership candidate Gerard Kennedy "pulled in 4,000-plus new members by the deadline, compared with 1,500 each for his nearest competitors, (Bob) Rae and MP Stephane Dion." Continued Mr. Elmhirst, "Certainly the campaigns are going to say I'm wrong, but I think these tallies are fairly accurate." Needless to say, Mr. Elmhirst has ruffled more than a few feathers - especially among Rae supporters in Lotusland who maintain their candidate was, at the very least, in a close membership race with Mr. Kennedy as the campaigns reached the finish line. And now, Public Eye has learned, the party president is retracting some of his comments.

In an email sent to but not yet published by the Star, Mr. Elmhirst writes "The membership figures were presented without proper diligence and investigation on my part. This oversight on my behalf has resulted in a misrepresentation of the actual number of memberships delivered to the party by the Bob Rae campaign. After proper investigation it is now apparent that the Bob Rae campaign has delivered a number twice as high as earlier speculated - approximately 3000 memberships."

"I want to assure all members of the Liberal Party of Canada in B.C. that the party and its staff are intent upon administering a transparent and fair leadership process and that we will faithfully adhere to these principles," continued Mr. Elmhirst. "I apologize to the entire Bob Rae campaign team and in particular those in British Columbia who deserve our thanks for helping to contribute to the strengthening of the Liberal Party."

Earlier, Public Eye reported the leadership race has resulted in at least 10,000 membership forms being filled out in British Columbia (online and otherwise), with the Kennedy and Rae campaigns being the sign-up leaders. The following is a complete copy of that email, which was also sent to the Rae campaign.

***

From: Jamie Elmhirst
Sent: July 13, 2006 10:09 PM
To: bc@bobrae.ca
Cc: lettertoed@thestar.ca
Subject: RE: Toronto Star article

As you are aware I was the source for new Liberal Party membership recruitment figures for the party in British Columbia that were published in a story by Linda Diebel in today's issue of the Toronto Star. The membership figures were presented without proper diligence and investigation on my part. This oversight on my behalf has resulted in a misrepresentation of the actual number of memberships delivered to the party by the Bob Rae campaign. After proper investigation it is now apparent that the Bob Rae campaign has delivered a number twice as high as earlier speculated - approximately 3000 memberships.

I want to assure all members of the Liberal Party of Canada in B.C. that the party and its staff are intent upon administering a transparent and fair leadership process and that we will faithfully adhere to these principles.

I apologize to the entire Bob Rae campaign team and in particular those in British Columbia who deserve our thanks for helping to contribute to the strengthening of the Liberal Party.

Sincerely,

Jamie Elmhirst

President, Liberal Party of Canada in B.C.