There were some fascinating faces in the crowd at the British Columbia federal Liberals' annual leaders' dinner last Thursday. Those who showed up to see Michael Ignatieff included former Vancouver mayor Sam Sullivan, provincial New Democrat House Leader Mike Farnworth, Vision Vancouver councillor Raymond Louie and former Non-Partisan Association mayoral candidate Peter Ladner.
Bystander effect
March 30, 2009
Something else is wrong with this picture. Mike Farnworth is a provincial NDP MLA and has been touted as a future leader of the BC NDP.
As a member of the BC NDP one is also automatically a member of the federal NDP.
Then why is Farnworth attending the BC federal Liberals annual leaders dinner and, by doing so, financially constributing to the federal Liberals campaign fund?
Absent any explanation, I shared Scott's anxiety about Mike Farnworth's attendance at this event. As a local NDP treasurer, I was particularly agitated by the $250 price for tickets to this event, as well as the demonstration effect to other NDP supporters.
I have been assured by a member of Mr Farnworth's staff that he did not purchase a ticket, but rather was given a complimentary one. He attended the event to observe and to hear what Ignatieff had to say, not to demonstrate support for the Liberal Party of Canada.
The staff member categorically assured me that Mr Farnworth supports the NDP consistently at both the national and provincial levels.