Earlier, we exclusively reported on federal Green Vancouver-Kingsway candidate Kevin Potvin's controversial 9-11 editorial. Speaking first with Public Eye, Mr. Potvin said he still endorses the "totality" of that editorial. But what does the Green Party have to say about his opinions? In an interview, deputy leader Adriane Carr said Mr. Potvin's four-year-old article "certainly raises alarm bells in my mind." So she called Mr. Potvin this morning to discuss the matter.

During that call, Ms. Carr, "asked him the question of where does he stand on violence and war. And he is clearly against violence and war. And that is, of course, the Green Party's perspective. So I was reassured in that answer."

The deputy leader explained the Greens don't whip candidate into line like other parties, where "people don't have the freedom to express things." That being said though, Ms. Carr added, "I think he went over the top. I don't think you'd find Green Party members, in any sense, thinking that the tragic loss of life and use of violence (on 9-11) was in any way right. And I needed to hear a reasurrance from Kevin that he felt that way."

"He told me he does feel that way - and that he did use provocative language and emotion to make the point that there are a lot of lives being lost in wars that are not being reported on. And that is certainly something that I sympathize with and the Green Party sympathizes with. We have become, as a society, inured to the level of violence and death that occurs around our world. Fair enough. That's a point worth making. How he made was, in my mind, over the top. And I was happy to have him confirm for me that he doesn't support violent acts or war."

But aren't the Greens concerned about running a candidate who, for example, felt an "urge to pump my first in the air" after American Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the Pentagon? "I think, to me, it's upsetting to think that anybody would think that that kind of incident - or anything to do with the violence that's out there - may teach a lesson," she responded. "Because, obviously, it doesn't teach a lesson. It just begets fear and violent response and wars on terror."

"So it may be good literary license. But, politically, the license is a bit narrower. I felt sure that it was his creative way of putting forward a pretty awful fact about the war. It was politically risky. He was doing it as a journalist. So, politically, I would expect he would consider what he was saying in the context of our party's absolute commitment to non-violent resolution of conflict."

So will Mr. Potvin be the Green candidate in Vancouver-Kingsway when Canadians go to the polls? "I think that it's important to have a party in which candidates are able to express their points of view and they don't have to toe the line. But this one goes over the top for me...He's been nominated. He hasn't gone through the full process yet. I think I have to leave it at that. And I will have further conversations with him. But, as I say, at least today, he has reassured me."