Wow. Clearly the Conservatives were lucky to have a guy of Lalli's character in the race. Lesser candidates (the Grewals definitely included) would have walked away from the Party.

Shameful treatment at the hands of this Mike Donison fellow and Travis Trost.

I do believe that in a minority government situation, parties are right to protect incumbents. However, this should be done up-front and made clear to the membership and the public at large.

The Conservatives have done nothing but cheapen the process and hurt their party. Their continued silence speaks volumes about the connivering and cowardice they demonstrated throughout the entire process.

At least now we will not have to listen to the Conservatives rant and rave about the democratic deficit in the Liberal Party - the Conservatives have a huge debt themselves.

It is no wonder that so many good people never consider seeking elected office.

Where were the BC party elected officials in all of this? Byng Giraud and Ray Leitch had to be involved with this decision. Did they not have any sway with their counterparts in Ontario and Quebec? How could they have let this happen, as they are surely aware how this, like the Chuck Cadman fiasco of a few years back, will negatively impact the party in Surrey.

Drover Johnson,

Your friend will eventually walk away as he finds out (learns) that he made many enemies by even trying. He and the half the local CPC plus Calgary are now enemies.

As for the party protecting candidates, it is a party's prerogative to forward candidates anyway they want so long as the process is both legal and what the party publicly say it is.

The CPC says their process is democratically driven, which it is not... and that is hypocrisy... and so the CPC needs to be called out for the hypocrisy (Good job publiceyeonlye!)

Other parties openly say their process is a mixed system for selecting the best qualified candidates - having some ridings open to voting in a candidate and others appointed... and they live up to that claim; only when they are not clear up front to everyone which ridings are what is there an issue for party members or to the public.

The public just wants good choices and doesn't care how a party gets them in front of the voter... so long as legalities, honesty, and consistency is fundamental to the process.

What we see in the Grewal riding is hypocrisy... and that will reflect on the CPC and the candidate (Grewel)... and so what... the public is likely sick of Grewel controversies by now.

Four days before Paul Lalli was rejected, on August 17, Michael Donison said this to all EDAs in an email broadcast:

"...unlike the Liberal Party, our Party [is] committed to the principle that all ridings, including those held by sitting Conservative Members of Parliament should be open for nomination.."

The Tories are hyprocrites.

Since Paul Lalli has found an appropriate ballad, I thought I would offer two appropriate quotes:

What Edmund Burke said in 1789 applies to this sordid tale: "An event has happened, upon which it is difficult to speak, and impossible to be silent."

Shelley said it best when he wrote in 1813: "Power, like a desolating pestilence, pollutes whatever it touches..."

In addition to the above quote, Don Plett stated similarly in a July 17th Globe and Mail interview with Gloria Galloway:

"Conservative nomination rules have been posted and every riding will have a nomination meeting, Mr. Plett said. Former candidates, even those who are now sitting as MPs and cabinet ministers, will have to win the right to run for the Conservatives."

Mr. Plett's and Mr. Donison's statements do not seemt to correspond to reality in any way what so ever. It is also disappointing that the CPC appears to be defending a politicial such as Nina Grewal in this pathetic way.

I think so that we are clear on a few items, you should all understand the following:

None of us that were involved with Paul ever thought that we would end up with a disqualification. It was, truly, stunning. The Conservative Party has lost significant face in the manner with which this was handled. It was completely unecessary for it to be this way. There is a time and place to be ham-fisted. This wasn;t one such time.

Right out of the gate, Paul met with a number of very high profile people within the ranks of the Party in B.C. They were all extremely encouraging. In fact, one well known member of that inner circle sought out some of us and strongly supported a Paul Lalli candidacy. This behavior by the higher-ups is indeed consistent with Party President Don Plett's comments as in the press.

Paul Lalli is the kind of candidate that brings people together. We received hundreds of phone calls from people who were even willing to cross party lines to support Paul. If you look at his record in Squamish (where he topped the polls every time he ran) and in Surrey, he is a consensus builder, a moderate and very reasonable individual. His pedigree is the same as the rest of us who worked on his campaign: a progressive conservative.

The notion that some of you have expressed that Paul has made enemies out of Calgary or Ottawa and the local EDA, is patently absurd. The party brass responsible for this horrendous and irresponsible display of heavy-handedness have assured that Fleetwood Port Kells will result as a Liberal seat in the next federal election.

Notwithstanding any of your opinions of me, or Chris Gardner, or anyone else who wanted only the best for the riding and the Party, this whole affair is emblematic of what still plagues all three parties, as was evidenced in the past in Delta (NDP) and recently in Kingsway (Liberals) and now with the Tories in Fleetwood with Paul: when the controls of any Party are hijacked by extremist zealots, regardless of what that zealotry is based on (religion, unions, etc.), the losers in all of this are the people of this country. It is one thing to cover an incumbent, but quite another to slight the challenger.

After all, I have worked in Surrey most of my adult life, even living there for a time, and have enjoyed the company of many whom are not of my political stripe. I found, for example, Bob Bose an very engaging and highly competent Mayor, who did some very good things for Surrey.

Reaching out to better society or a community is not the exclusive domain of any one party.

I hope this answers some of the questions that seem to have gripped this stream and previous streams of comments.

It was a privilege to work with Paul and Chris, and particularly the fine people of Surrey.

Tsakmus writes: "The notion that some of you have expressed that Paul has made enemies out of Calgary or Ottawa and the local EDA, is patently absurd. The party brass responsible for this horrendous and irresponsible display of heavy-handedness have assured that Fleetwood Port Kells will result as a Liberal seat in the next federal election."

Eugene Parks responds: If they didn't consider him an enemy they wouldn't have disqualified him. You have a lot to learn about the CPC.

Eugene,

As I mentioned before for someone who quit the party and has stated on more than one ocassion that you are not a "Harper Conservative" you sure are consumed by the CPC. You talk with vigor as if you are a disgruntled former husband of Jennifer Lopez who simply wants publicity. You must love reading your name on this site and must love the sound of your voice.

I know that I would love to hear your concession speech if you decide to run again.

NeoCon (Arnold Ziffle) writes, "You talk with vigor as if you are a disgruntled former husband of Jennifer Lopez "

Do you really see the CPC as Jennifer Lopez? There is professional help for that type of misplaced attachment... I think CPC political hacks reveal a lot of themselves in their choice of words in these personal attacks.

Personally, I love Canada and don't appreciate the level of political corruption that Steve Harper and the CPC have demonstrated in a mere 7 months in power. He has demonstrated a capricous callous approach to foreign policy, the enviroment, healtcare, Canadians civilians under fire, our military under fire, dealing firmly with Americans, attempts to evade election donation laws, supporting banned terrorist groups, untendered military contracts, hypocricy in nonimation races etc...

Canada is my country and your belief that political corruption is good for Canada is what I saw in your politics when I was close to you and frankly it discussed me then and still does. You became so desperate for power that you adopted a win at any cost any way approach and what the country got is Steve Harper... see his seven month record above.

No thanks.

Is this the same Mike Donison who was on the board of the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce when he was at Newcomb and Company?

"I think CPC political hacks reveal a lot of themselves in their choice of words in these personal attacks."

Speak for yourself. Your commentary says quite a bit about you.

"Personally, I love Canada and don't appreciate the level of political corruption that Steve Harper and the CPC have demonstrated in a mere 7 months in power. He has demonstrated a capricous callous approach to foreign policy,"

In what way? The majority of Canadians supported
Israel, not Hezbollah in the recent conflict.

"the enviroment, healtcare, Canadians civilians under fire, our military under fire, dealing firmly with Americans, "

In regards to healthcare, it was your Paul Martin that cut off healthcare transfer payments to the provinces.

It was also the federal Liberals who sent CF personnel to Afghanistan in the first place.

In regards to the Americans, have you a better solution? This lumber deal is as about as good as it is going to get. Any more wheeling and dealing means more money for the U.S lawyers.

"attempts to evade election donation laws,

It has been said by Elections Canada that no statuatory laws were broken, and as much as the donation mess was idiotic, it was not 100% true for all CPC ridings.

"supporting banned terrorist groups",

While at the same time, the federal Liberals were supporting Hezbollah?

untendered military contracts, hypocricy in nonimation races etc...

There's hypocrisy there. The federal Liberals have many times bypassed the nomination process to have the leader appoint candidates.

"Canada is my country and your belief that political corruption is good for Canada is what I saw in your politics when I was close to you and frankly it discussed me then and still does."

Corruption existed within the Chretien government within Adscam. Not to mention the excessive patronage that went on.

You became so desperate for power that you adopted a win at any cost any way approach and what the country got is Steve Harper

The federal Liberals were desperate for power and
they adopted a win at any cost any way approach
and Canada was stuck with Chretein, and earlier
Trudeau.

Sam Spade,

Thanks for trying to engage some issues. As for speaking for myself, I do. On the issues,

Sam writes, "... In what way? The majority of Canadians supported Israel, not Hezbollah in the recent conflict.

Eugene Parks responds, the above is factually false. Seventy-five percent of Canadians wanted Canada to be neutral. Personally, I was published objecting to the targeting of third-party civilians (and non-combatants), which both sides did. I believe Canadians accordingly went neutral on the conflict.

Sam writes, "In regards to healthcare, it was your Paul Martin that cut off healthcare transfer payments to the provinces. "

Eugene Parks responds: Factually false, I'm not part of any political party. As for history, after mulroney the country was virtually bankrupt with government consuming nearly 48% of GDP. Under Cretien cuts to everything was undertake - including healthcare until government spending moved to about 42% of GDP. Then, under Martin as PM, funding to healthcare was increased.... then came Harper

Your comment on healthcare concedes that Harper is capricious towards healthcare - even though the fiscal issues of the Mulroney government were reversed under the Liberals (Chretien and Martin). Harper exchanged his fifth campaign promise of waitimes improvments for militarization, which he did campaign on.

Sam writes, "It was also the federal Liberals who sent CF personnel to Afghanistan in the first place."

Eugene Parks responds: The Liberals deployed under a different mandate and risk level. Under Steve Harper more Canadians have died in 6 months than in three (3) years under the Liberals.

Sam writes, "In regards to the Americans, have you a better solution? This lumber deal is as about as good as it is going to get. Any more wheeling and dealing means more money for the U.S lawyers."

Eugene Parks responds: The US is agreeing now because the housing bubble is over and Canadian wood is not needed to the same degree. I.e. there will be less sales volume and it will not justify the current new "agreement"... hence, we should have sued until we got the money owed back because we are not going to make money under the current emerging economic situation with the "deal" Emerson capitulated to.

Sam writes, "While at the same time, the federal Liberals were supporting Hezbollah?"

Eugene Parks responds, the above is factually false. I believe the above is a so wrong as to be a lie. The liberals fired the critic for that pondering the position and issued a formal written statement against the position. In contrast, Steve Harper supports his minister for supporting a banned terrorist group.

Sam writes, "The federal Liberals have many times bypassed the nomination process to have the leader appoint candidates."

Eugene Parks responds: The Liberals publicly say that is part of their process to get candidates to the voter. The CPC does the above but then tries to say the candidates were democratically voted in. i.e. the CPC are hypocrites.

I note you don't argue that corruption inherent in the untendered military contracts.

Sam writes, "It has been said by Elections Canada that no statuatory laws were broken, and as much as the donation mess was idiotic, it was not 100% true for all CPC ridings."

Eugene Parks responds: The above is factually false. Election Canada has made not statement clearing the CPC. In fact, Kingsley is on record saying laws may have been broken and he is waiting for the CPC to comply with his request for documents.

Sam writes, "Corruption existed within the Chretien government within Adscam. Not to mention the excessive patronage that went on. "

Eugene Parks responds, Yup... hence the timeout for the Libs... but that in no way justifies CPC corruption... but CPC corruption is a building reason for a CPC timeout.

"The above is factually false. Seventy-five percent of Canadians wanted Canada to be neutral. Personally, I was published objecting to the targeting of third-party civilians (and non-combatants), which both sides did. I believe Canadians accordingly went neutral on the conflict. "

It was itneresting that Hezbollah placed their
missle launchers in residential areas and not
in open areas away from cities.

What poll was it that said 75% of Canadians wanted to remain neutral?

"As for history, after mulroney the country was virtually bankrupt with government consuming nearly 48% of GDP. "

Almost the same level as the Liberals with
Trudeau. If not a little lesss.

"Under Cretien cuts to everything was undertake -including healthcare until government spending moved to about 42% of GDP."

There wasn't much cut given to the volume of
government under Cretien. In fact if there was
there would have been alot of federal government
agencies that would have been eliminated, but that wasn't the case.

The priority should have been to retain health care transfers to the provinces while reducting
the volume of government expenditure, but that did not happen.

"Then, under Martin as PM, funding to healthcare was increased.... then came Harper"

Wasn't increased by a whole lot.

"Your comment on healthcare concedes that Harper is capricious towards healthcare - even though the fiscal issues of the Mulroney government were reversed under the Liberals (Chretien and Martin)."

Mulroney's time in office ended in 1993.

The fiscal imbalance was reversed, the aspect of
massive cuts to healthcare was very much part of the picture.

"Harper exchanged his fifth campaign promise of waitimes improvments for militarization, which he did campaign on."

You're confusing two things. A government can
invoke waittime reductions, while increasing the
military budget. Did you ever think that the CF
could be used for disaster assistance and rescue
efforts? Probably not. The CF was neglected for
a very long time by both Mulroney and successive
Liberal governments.

"The Liberals deployed under a different mandate and risk level. Under Steve Harper more Canadians have died in 6 months than in three (3) years under the Liberals."

You're forgetting one thing. Conditions over there have changed considerably since the Liberals sent the CF over there on their first tour.

What if the Liberals had retained the CF forces
over there while still in government? They assented to the decision to keep the CF forces
over there last spring.

"The US is agreeing now because the housing bubble is over and Canadian wood is not needed to the same degree. I.e. there will be less sales volume and it will not justify the current new "agreement"... hence, we should have sued until we got the money owed back because we are not going to make money under the current emerging economic situation with the "deal" Emerson capitulated to.

Wouldn't work. The lawsuit would be clogged up
in the courts for years with no deal. This is about as good as it is going to get. I think the
Americans will come out on the short end eventually since they simply cannot manufacture
enough lumber for their own market.

"The above is factually false. I believe the above is a so wrong as to be a lie. The liberals fired the critic for that pondering the position and issued a formal written statement against the position. "

Ah, but the fact remains that the Liberals were
not severe critics of Hezbollah which started the whole mess in the first place.

In contrast, Steve Harper supports his minister for supporting a banned terrorist group."

Give it a rest. Jason Kenny was flim-flammed and
the Liberals know it. Jason only spoke once and
his staff didn't have any idea as to who exactly the group was as it was never really given to them.

The Liberals have supported the Tamil Tigers
another terrorist group for years.

"The Liberals publicly say that is part of their process to get candidates to the voter."

Bullshit. It's undemocratic and a slap in the face to all Liberal members. It should be eliminated.

"The CPC does the above"

The CPC has never had the leader appoint candidates. It simply does not exist.

"but then tries to say the candidates were democratically voted in. i.e. the CPC are hypocrites."

Say again?

"Election Canada has made not statement clearing the CPC. In fact, Kingsley is on record saying laws may have been broken and he is waiting for the CPC to comply with his request for documents. "

The key word is "may" not "did". The CPC has
handed over documents to Kingsley.

"Yup... hence the timeout for the Libs... but that in no way justifies CPC corruption... but CPC corruption is a building reason for a CPC timeout."

There hasn't been any documented corruption in the CPC, you're just manufacturing again as per usual.

If there is in your opinion, provide cites and locations to original resources.

Sam asks, "What poll was it that said 75% of Canadians wanted to remain neutral? "

http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/12747

As for your claim that under Trudeau the government consumed 48% of GDP. That is facutally so wrong as to be rediculous. Mulroney ballooned GDP-to-spending and very high deficit spending ($43 billion/yr) resulting in high inflation and high interest rates... remember???? Mulroney dwarfed Trudeau's deficit spending and debt practices.

Sam next writes re exchanging military spending for the campaign promise of reducing healthcare waittimes. He says, "You're confusing two things. A government can invoke waittime reductions, while increasing the military budget. Did you ever think that the CF
could be used for disaster assistance and rescue
efforts? Probably not. The CF was neglected for
a very long time by both Mulroney and successive
Liberal governments."

Eugene Parks responds, Sigh! Sam, the election was January 2006, five (5) years after 9/11. If Steve wanted a war budget he should have said so. He lied - face the facts.

As for your second comment, "Did you ever think that the CF could be used for disaster assistance and rescue efforts? Probably not. "

I've been calling for a civil defense system for years and have been published saying so.

Sam, you just are not working with the facts in your comments.

Again I bring to your attention that Steve Harper promised $150,000 to a sourth Ottawa candiate to step down so Steve Harper could *appoint* a candidate. In fact, he did appoint the candidate.

Again I bring to your attention that both Day and Kenny spoke to the terrorist group and there is plenty of evidence that they knew they were using military force to make their political points.

As to the rest of your comments you directly contradict yourself and are factually wrong on neverly every turn.

Gotto run for now but I say to you that you need to be factual... It was ignorance of the facts that first caused me to question the validity of the CPC as a legitimate alternative to government. Your lack of knowledge of the fact just confirms the matter. Do some research.