Angry in the Great White North

First off, congratulations to James Curran.  He's not just a Liberal blogger, he's the president of the Niagara Falls Federal Liberal Riding Association, and almost became the candidate.  His nomination was derailed when he was charged with fraud in April, but those charges have recently been dropped.

Curran has posted a letter from Jim Durocher, a former president of the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan, in which Durocher makes it clear to Stephane Dion just what the cost to the Liberal Party would be if David Orchard is not allowed to fight for his seat.  The entire letter is worth reading, but I'll post the best bits here:

I’m appalled — and there is no other expression I can use — at what I observe unfolding in my beloved northern homeland of Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River.

By way of background, the North has been for decades on the receiving end of colonial attitudes and unforgiveable arrogance coming from the south and centre of our country. In my life I have seen many examples. We have had candidates selected and foisted upon the riding. We have had nomination meetings held outside the riding itself. I could go on, but I’m sure you are an intelligent man and understand something of colonialism and racism.

The central point is that the people of this riding resent, and I personally resent mightily, the attitude of certain southerners that they know what’s best for our riding.

One of those "southerners" is Ralph Goodale, who is pushing for Joan Beatty's appointment as the candidate for that riding.  This "interference" is compared to colonialism:

So, I was stunned to read in my local paper that all of this is about to be shoved aside in Desnethé and a candidate imposed by the elite powerbrokers of our party.

To say that I am angry is an understatement, to say I am insulted conveys only a part of what I wish to say.

My people know in their bones about colonialism and I believe that you as a French-Canadian Québecer should be able to understand something of that.

I really do object to the idea that Ralph Goodale, sitting in Regina, can attempt to impose a sitting NDP MLA on our riding and expect the people to swallow that and play along.

The end result of an imposed candidate?  One less Liberal seat:

Let me tell you something bluntly. If you impose Joan Beatty, the Liberals will lose this riding. How do you think Ms. Beatty will be able to draw votes from the roughly 50% of the voting population that inhabits the white farm belt? How do you expect her to fare on the west side of the riding?

Ralph Goodale gets a rough ride over the situation, but Durocher thinks Stephane Dion needs new advisors for letting things get this far:

I strongly believe heads should roll in your inner circle over this, but I am writing in the hope that we don’t have to lose this seat for you to find that out.

Is Derocher giving David Orchard too much credit?  Perhaps.  But it is clear that not all Liberals are appreciative of Stephane Dion deciding who will run and who will not.  Sometimes a nominee or a candidate has to be replaced because of some problem.  That doesn't seem the case with David Orchard, and with the Liberal Party still fighting to meet the 33% female candidate goal set by Stephane Dion, it looks like David Orchard might be told he's not welcome as candidate for the fault of being the wrong gender.

If Derocher is right, Stephane Dion will be made to regret his decision.  The problem for Stephane Dion is that he will likely regret whatever decision he makes.

Check out other entries from the David Orchard category
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