Earlier this month, provincial New Democrat legislator Michael Sather was temporarily suspended from caucus "as a result of his decision to vote against the Tsawwassen Treaty when it comes to the Legislature this fall." But it seems opposition legislators aren't encouraged to take have an independent voice outside the legislature either. In an email sent to MLAs in advance of this weekend's provincial council meeting, caucus whip Katrine Conroy tells them "we will not be speaking to the motions on Gateway" - which had been introduced to both support and oppose the highway expansion project (in whole or in part). "The last thing we need right now is a debate on the floor of proicncial (sic) council between MLA's. Everyone on both sides please respect this."
The email also informs MLAs the emergency resolution calling for a free vote on the Tsawwassen Final Agreement "will most likely be up first. (House leader Mike) Farnworth will be speaking to it on behalf of caucus, that's it. If it is going sidewise we might put up a few more" speakers. The following is a complete copy of the aforementioned email.
***
From: Conroy, Katrine
Sent: Sat 9/15/2007 10:47
To: NDP MLAs - PRIVATE & C. of S. & Ex Dir
Subject: Provincial Council
We need to be here this afternoon for the Nomination Review committee report, the EBC report and then the motions. The emergency motion will most likely be up first. Mike will be speaking to it on behalf of caucus, that's it. If it is going sidewise we might put up a few more.
We will not be speaking to the motions on Gateway. The last thing we need right now is a debate on the floor of proicncial council between MLA's. Everyone on both sides please respect this.
Tomorrow the policy development committee are meeting the list of the meeting rooms are on the check in tables. Co chairs need to be at those meetings. Thanks, kat
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I hadn't read this prior to my comment on the earlier item. If it's true that the Caucus was told not to engage in a Gateway debate, perhaps Chudnovsky and Simpson had nothing to do with this resolution.
That raises the question who did author the Gateway resolution? AFAIK, none of the SPEC or Livable Region people is involved in the NDP, so who wrote this item?
Sweet Jesus. Nothing is secret in the NDP. Holman even scores top level emails.
Katrine Conroy should be ashamed. I guess it's more important for her to enforce Carole's absurd positions then it is to encourage MLAs to use their own skills to save themselves.
The NDP is at complete meltdown stage.
Does anyone know why they still call this group the NEW DEMOCRATIC party?
Is it because new democracy is a lot like the old fascism?
Just wondering.....
"Holman even scores top level emails."
Of course he does. As many MLAs will privately confide, they know they're going to lose their seats in the next election. When you have nothing, you have nothing to lose.
"The NDP is at complete meltdown stage."
Nobody is even talking about the 2009 election at this stage, but instead who they will support as the next leader.
Most are resigned to the fact that Carole will lead us into disaster next time. Dropping her, even in favour of a competent leader, will do more harm than good and a new leader will not have enough lead time to repair the damage that Carole has done to the party's credibility.
Well, looks like Conroy is bound and determined to go down with the HMS Carole. Under the next leader, Dix, she can expect to be Tourism critic. That's if she keeps her seat in the next election.
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