Canadians don't give a lot of attention to the process by which party candidates are chosen. In the United States, primary season is well publicized and large numbers participate. In Canada, the selections are made at party organized nomination meetings, or NOT, as described below.
In Edmonton - Sherwood Park, prior to the 2008 election, according to allegations, Tim Uppal did not appear as a candidate for nomination "until the last minute" and then was supported by a large number of "last minute party members". Uppal won the nomination but the previous favourite, James Ford, choose to run anyway, as an Independent. Ford received 15,860 votes in the general election, trailing Uppal by only 1,741 votes. Ford's supporters also failed in efforts to regain control of the Conservative Constituency Association, and their efforts to precipitate a new nomination process prior to the current election were also blocked - a move obviously supported by the Conservative party hierarchy in Ottawa. All of these political machinations were also coloured by accusations of racism given Mr. Uppal's obvious Sikh background.
In the adjoining federal constituency of Vegreville-Wainwright, a strong faction of Conservative party supporters wanted to hold a nomination meeting with a view to replace Leon Benoit as the Conservative party candidate. Mr. Benoit, an MP since 1993, was viewed widely as ineffective and unresponsive to constituency concerns. The long running battle for control of the constituency organization was lost by Mr. Benoit and his critics pushed their call for a new nomination all the way to the Conservative Party Convention in Winnipeg. Despite their best efforts, the Conservative Party hierarchy derailed the attempt, disillusioning a number of formerly active Conservative Party workers who have promised to sit on their hands this time around. Their withdrawal is unlikely to hurt Mr. Benoit's chances of re-election as he routinely wins by huge margins (24,042 votes more than all opponents combined in 2008).
While the two examples above are both from the Conservative Party, such "guided democracy" manipulations are extant in all parties. To some extent they may be justified to prevent candidates from the lunatic fringe emerging. On the other hand, careful examination of the processes within parties reveals the hypocrisy of much of the preaching about "purer than thou" democracy.
In the last election 6000 votes spread over 12 ridings would have produced a Conservative majority. In our Vegreville-Wainwright riding we spent about $50,000 to help Mr. Benoit win in a constituency that could hardly be lost. Had we sent that money to targeted ridings, there might have been a CPC majority and we would not be fighting this present election.
ReplyDeleteMr. Benoit says he wants a majority government and that he wants to be elected in Vegreville-Wainwright. However, it seems there is no record of him ever contributing to the Conservative Party of Canada or to his local constituency association. In 2009, when the newly elected CPC V-W board of directors asked him to stand up for a candidate nomination meeting he said, "We don't need a nomination meeting, it is a lot of work and costs a lost of money".
The National Council of the CPC, ignoring appeals at the annual convention, decided arbitrarily that incumbents would automatically become the official candidates for the next election. Mr. Benoit took refuge in this decision in spite of the obvious loss of confidence in his candidacy. A nomination contest at this point would have been an normal democratic procedure and would have settled the question if Mr. Benoit had been able to defeat all other nominees. As it is, many formerly devoted party members and workers have withdrawn both their financial and working support.
There is no question that the manner in which the Federal PC Party thumbed its nose at Party Members in the Vegreville-Wainwright riding has caused many of us to feel cut loose or disconnected from a Federal Party that will represent the best interests of our region. The alternative, however, is...well; there is none.
ReplyDeleteMr. Harper, Mr. Benoit and the Executive of the PC Party, I realize you are busy with a needless election, but right after that, can we return to sensible democracy that demonstrates the appropriate accountability to the people you represent and those that afford you the privilege of public service?