Angry in the Great White North
Liberals dump David Oliver; a painful decision for Paul Martin
Friday, January 13, 2006 at 05:35 PM

Read other posts by Steve Janke published by the National Post
Leader

From CBC:

The Liberal party has dumped one of its B.C. candidates following allegations he offered an NDP candidate a job to drop out of the race and support the Liberals.

In an affidavit filed with Elections Canada, Jeffrey Hansen-Carlson alleges that Liberal candidate David Oliver and his campaign manager guaranteed him a win in the next municipal election, and offered him a job in Ottawa – if Oliver went on to win the election on Jan. 23.

Hours after the story came to light, the Liberal party issued a statement saying they were dropping Oliver as a candidate.

"Subsequent to consultations with the national campaign, Prime Minister Martin decided that it was in the best interests of the party that Mr. Oliver cease campaigning as a Liberal candidate and that he not sit in the Liberal caucus should he be elected," the Liberal party said in a statement.

Martin has also asked Oliver to no longer publicly identify himself as the Liberal candidate, the statement says, and directed the British Columbia Liberal campaign to repossess any Liberal party promotional material bearing Oliver's name.

Though this was the right thing to do in light of the brivery allegations, I can't help but think that someone else is being protected.

But do you think Paul Martin had a lump in his throat when he made the decision? I ask only because David Oliver was one of 33 BC riding presidents out of 34 who nominated Paul Martin for leader:

Canada News-wire
Thursday, March 6, 2003
Section: General News
Dateline: OTTAWA
Time: 14:37 (Eastern Time)

The Honourable Paul Martin, MP for LaSalle-Emard, was nominated today as a candidate to lead the Liberal Party of Canada with the signatures of 33 of 34 Liberal riding presidents from British Columbia.

"Paul Martin has breathed new life into the Liberal party in B.C.," said Darren Blois, President of the Kamloops-Thompson-Highland Valley Riding Association. "With Paul as party leader I believe we are set to win seats we haven't won in more than 30 years."

RIDING ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTS

Number Nominating Mr. Martin

Name / Province / Riding
David Oliver / BC / Fraser Valley

You would think riding presidents would have more sense than to try bribing their way into a win.

And I just had to include Darren Blois' comments. Instead of winning seats they haven't won for 30 years, it looks like they may have to wait 30 years to win some of those seats again.

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