Category Archives: BC Politics

1979 | 27-Year-Old NDP Rogue Candidate Wins Landslide Nomination

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In 1979, when VanRamblings was enrolled in a Master’s Programme at Simon Fraser University (in Policy Administration, don’tcha know), Pauline Jewett — Simon Fraser University’s President, the first woman to head a major co-educational university in Canada — was approached by federal NDP leader Ed Broadbent, who asked the esteemed Dr. Jewett to consider becoming the New Democratic Party candidate in the Burnaby riding, in the upcoming federal election. With her tenure as SFU President drawing to a close, Dr. Jewett readily agreed to the proposal made by Mr. Broadbent, the deal done, the nomination sealed.


Pauline Jewett, Simon Fraser University President | Ed Broadbent, New Democratic Party federal leader

Not so fast …

Across town, there was a 26-year-old young man who had just graduated with distinction from the University of British Columbia Law School, and moved into a condominium with his boyfriend, just “down the hill” from Simon Fraser University.

Now, we’re talking 1979, when openly living with your boyfriend was not well accepted among the general population.

Even so, this brash and very bright young man made the decision to seek the federal New Democratic Party nomination in Burnaby, turning what had been planned as a New Democratic Party coronation for Pauline Jewett into a race.


Louis Riel House, Simon Fraser University student family residence, where VanRamblings lived.

The young man had every intention of winning the nomination, and becoming the next Member of Parliament, representing the good citizens of Burnaby.

This young man made his way to Simon Fraser University, meeting with members of the Student Forum, various of the student political groups on the left of the political spectrum, staff at the student newspaper, The Peak, as well as student leaders across the university, one of whom was VanRamblings, this young man meeting with us — usually in a packed apartment full of campus activists — on several different occasions, in our student residence apartment at Louis Riel House.

In fact, this vibrant, charismatic and engaging young man made a point of introducing himself to every student in each of the student residences at SFU, often meeting with these students several times, signing them up to his campaign team.

In the three months leading up to the off campus NDP Burnaby riding nomination meeting, the young man’s campaign team had signed up 3,000 new members to the Burnaby riding association, from across the demographic and cultural spectrum. Membership in the party had grown to such an extent that the riding association kept having to book larger and larger venues. On the night of the nomination meeting, more than 2,700 riding association members arrived at the hall to vote for their candidate, the majority of whom it soon became clear would cast their ballot for this charming, fascinating, almost bewitching, and intriguing young man.


Svend Robinson, 1979. New Democratic Party Member of Parliament, May 22, 1979 – June 28, 2004

Svend Robinson went on to win the federal New Democratic Party nomination to represent the citizens of Burnaby in a walk, garnering more than 90% of the ballots cast, the writ dropped by Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau within days of Mr. Robinson’s precision, near military campaign-style run to secure the nomination.

On May 22nd, 1979, Svend Robinson became the Member of Parliament for the Burnaby riding, where he was re-elected term after term for a quarter of a century.

In the years that followed Svend Robinson’s election to Ottawa, this principled New Democratic Party Member of Parliament, working locally with Gary Cristall on the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Latin America, and with Scott Parker and Daryl Adams on the Galindro Madrid Defense Committee — Mr. Madrid jumping ship in Vancouver, to make an application for asylum, to escape the brutal regime of Chilean dictator, Augusto Pinochet — Svend Robinson played a pivotal role in gaining citizenship for thousands of Chilean refugees fleeing the Pinochet regime, in all of our meetings, a quick study always, getting quickly to the core issues at hand, as we moved together towards remediative action and resolution.

When, over time, reflecting on his initial run for office and his work to secure the Burnaby NDP nomination in 1979, Svend passed on this piece of wisdom …

“Raymond, winning a nomination or winning election to office is always a numbers game. Planning, hard work, a first-rate campaign team, commitment, knowing why you’re running, keeping an eye on the goal, working closely with people to gain their confidence, to win them over, to assure your future voters you’re on their side, that you will do everything humanly possible to represent their interests locally, to work to resolve their individual problems, while remaining aware of the macro goals of your work — that’s the key to winning, not just for yourself, but for your constituents, for society at large, and for the world.”

Little wonder that Svend Robinson served with distinction for a quarter century.

Coda


Pauline Jewett, NDP Member of Parliament, New Westminster-Coquitlam, May 22, 1979 – July 5, 1988

Having lost her bid to become the Member of Parliament to serve the residents of Burnaby, NDP leader Ed Broadbent appointed Pauline Jewett to run as the NDP candidate for New Westminster-Coquitlam, where she served with distinction in Parliament for nearly a decade, elected to office in 1979, again in 1980 and in 1984.

In 1991, Dr. Jewett was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, and in 1992, she was appointed to the Privy Council.

In 1990, Pauline Jewett was appointed Chancellor of Carleton University, serving in that role until her death from cancer on July 5, 1992.

#VanPoli | Battle Royale | Come One, Come All To the Distaff Fight of the Century

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The BC NDP being the finely-tuned machine that they are, yesterday morning following the announcement of the decision by British Columbia’s current Environment Minister George Heyman to not seek re-election in the upcoming October 19th provincial election, Mr. Heyman introduced past three-term Vancouver City Councillor Andrea Reimer as his, and the New Democratic Party’s, chosen candidate to run in the newly-created riding of Vancouver-Little Mountain.

This was a textbook roll-out of a campaign for a BC NDP nomination.


Andrea Reimer, NDP candidate for nomination in the newly-created riding of Vancouver-Little Mountain

Given the problems the BC NDP have suffered the past couple of months — Mitzi Dean’s removal as Minister of Children and Family Development due to incompetence, and the resignation / firing of former Finance Minister Selina Robinson, arising from recent intemperate remarks she made respecting the Hamas-Israeli war — the BC NDP were looking for an unimpeded good news announcement to get their re-election campaign underway on an upbeat note.

And all went well … for an hour.


Endorsements, clockwise: former BC NDP Minister, Melanie Mark; noted environmentalist, Tzeporah Berman; community organizer, Tessica Truong; Squamish Nation Chairperson, Khelsilem

Endorsements rolled in, the party had created a first-rate campaign video featuring Joy McPhail, an impressive ‘Andrea Reimer for Vancouver-Little Mountain’ website was up and on the web almost immediately (if faulty for part of the day), the response to Ms. Reimer’s candidacy almost universally supportive, praising, respectful and hopeful.

Here was the BC NDP with a first-rate candidate for office, a pol of the first order, and a much loved community organizer. The BC NDP and almost all of its supporters were over-the-moon. What a great and glorious day to behold!

An aside

Life in politics isn’t easy. As became abundantly clear in the first half of the video interview with Naomi Klein, on the VanRamblings post we put up yesterday, those with opinions, and those in the public eye are often the subject of vicious commentary. The press weighs in, and are often unkind in their commentary, even if not meaning to be such. Then there are ne-er-do-wells like that Raymond Tomlin character and his VanRamblings blog — well, we all know he’s a scandal and rumour-monger, and any commentary he makes is to be derided and studiously avoided.

We will say at this point that VanRamblings is the subject of an injunction which prevents us from writing about Vancouver City Councillor, Christine Boyle. Tossing caution to the wind, and despite the possibility of VanRamblings being thrown into the hoosegow, we will today write about the esteemed Ms. Boyle, despite the dire consequences it may bring to our personal safety, and freedom to move about.


A OneCity Vancouver poster for Christine Boyle’s 2018 candidacy for Vancouver City Council

Upon being elected to Vancouver City Council in 2018, Christine Boyle found herself turning to Andrea Reimer, a successful three-term Vision Vancouver City Councillor, who mentored Ms. Boyle, and over the years became a confidante and something of a mother confessor. Both Ms. Reimer and Ms. Boyle had sat as City Councillors, both are women of some note, both are relatively young yet well-experienced, both share much in common. Ms. Reimer became a sympathetic ear for Ms. Boyle, and a source of valued input and counsel for the novice Councillor.

To say that Ms. Reimer and Ms. Boyle are close would be to understate the matter.

Imagine the surprise, then — to Andrea Reimer, the BC NDP, Premier David Eby and Environment Minister George Heyman, and many others — when within an hour of the announcement of Andrea Reimer’s BC NDP-endorsed candidacy in the riding of Vancouver-Little Mountain, current Vancouver City Councillor Christine Boyle announced her candidacy to seek the Vancouver-Little Mountain BC NDP nomination!

As we wrote to friends yesterday, “There is no honour in politics.” Sadly.

VanRamblings figures that Andrea Reimer — on one of the best days of her life — must feel devastated. We figure, too, that there are those within the BC NDP — particularly those who were involved in the meticulous roll-out of Andrea Reimer’s BC NDP candidacy in the newly-created riding of Vancouver-Little Mountain — who are feeling a degree of disappointment and anger, directed at Christine Boyle.

From Katie DeRosa’s article in The Vancouver Sun, on the nomination battle …

(Andrea) Reimer has been involved with the NDP riding association for Vancouver-Fairview for years and is now on the executive of the Vancouver-Little Mountain riding.

“George asked me to consider taking it on when he stepped down,” said the 52-year-old.

Reimer said she has first-hand experiences with the gaps in the system, as she spent time as a youth living on the streets and has been renovicted from rental homes more than a dozen times. Reimer was adopted at six months old and only discovered her Cree and Métis ancestry in 2015.

“I’ve dedicated my life to closing gaps,” said Reimer, who is now an adjunct professor of practice at UBC’s school of public policy and global affairs.

Reimer said during her time on council she was able to garner support for “world-leading” policies such as renewable energy strategies and pushed for Vancouver to become one of the first local councils to back the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

(Note: We were kidding about the injunction respecting writing about Vancouver City Councillor and BC NDP Vancouver-Little Mountain nominee candidate, Christine Boyle. Although, truth-to-tell, we sometimes wonder, given the vitriol to which we are subject whenever we write about the good Ms. Boyle).

Let us state for the record: Christine Boyle has every right to seek the BC NDP Vancouver-Little Mountain nomination — and, we imagine, feels an obligation to do so, otherwise she would not have put her name forward for nomination.

Councillor Boyle has served her constituents well and with honour in her five years in elected office at Vancouver City Hall. Hers is a voice of compassion and of community, and if we might be so bold as to say so, “fighting for the little guy,” the most recent example? Her (sadly, unsuccessful) work to reinstate the Livable Wage Policy at Vancouver City Hall.

From Katie DeRosa’s article in The Vancouver Sun, on the nomination battle …

(Christine) Boyle, a United Church minister and a social justice advocate who spent years working on the Downtown Eastside, was endorsed by veteran federal NDP MP Libby Davies.

She said it was unusual that Heyman endorsed Reimer but said she doesn’t think that will be a hindrance in the nomination race. Boyle worked on Heyman’s team when he was competing against former Vancouver city councillor Geoff Meggs for the nomination in 2012.

Boyle, who considers Premier David Eby a personal friend, said she has a long history with the riding. She was born and raised in the riding, where her parents still live, and was heavily involved in advocating for those who lost their homes when the Little Mountain social housing complex was demolished.

Boyle, the most left-leaning member of Vancouver council, pushed for Vancouver council to declare a climate emergency and for the city to ramp up its emission reductions efforts. She’s also been a strong proponent for more affordable housing and higher density buildings in residential neighbourhoods.

Boyle said she and Reimer share many of the same values which is why “I do think it’s unfortunate that we’re running against each other.”

“When people look from the outside I think they see conflict,” Reimer said. “But from the inside in politics, nomination (races) between two strong candidates is a sign that your party is very healthy.”

Imagine Ms. Boyle’s desire, if you will, to be a Member of the Legislature within a BC NDP government that sets about —  as has consistently proved to be the case —  to implement Ms. Boyle’s most cherished personal and political goals, to be an unfettered part of change for the better, in a government that means to do well.

For less colourful coverage of the upcoming battle for the British Columbia New Democratic Party nomination in the Vancouver-Little Mountain riding, you’ll want to read Katie DeRosa’s thorough and even-handed coverage in The Vancouver Sun.

As Ms. DeRosa writes, “The nomination vote will take place in April.”

VanRamblings wishes Christine Boyle and Andrea Reimer the best of good fortune in their quest to secure the Vancouver-Little Mountain nomination.

History. Tomorrow on VanRamblings, a related 1979 nomination battle. You’ve got to organize to win.

Grifters, The Mirror World, The Far Right & Late Stage Conspiracy Capitalism

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UBC professor Naomi Klein: revered academic, author, social activist and filmmaker in a wide-ranging conversation, talks with PoliticsJoe’s Oli Dugmore about her 2023 book Doppelganger, A Trip Into the Mirror World, diving into the industry of conspiracy theory & right-wing propaganda in the digital age.

In the video above, University of British Columbia Associate Professor Naomi Klein — whose work within the university’s Department of Geography focuses on the intersection of crisis and political transformation, and the large-scale shocks which follow — sits down with Oli Dugmore, PoliticsJoe’s Head of Politics and News for a wide-ranging, insightful and subtly exploratory conversation on “truth” in politics.


In large measure, moreso than in Klein’s well-received previous books —  1990’s No Logo, 2007’s The Shock Doctrine, and 2017’s This Changes Everything, to name just three — Doppelganger, A Trip Into the Mirror World offers more of a first-person memoir,  the book an in-depth critique and analysis of late-stage capitalism.

Down the Rabbit Hole Equation, How The Right Has Gained a Foothold Among So Many of Our Friends

Narcissism [grandiosity] x social media addiction + mid-life crisis ÷ public shaming = right wing meltdown.

Don’t be put off by the high falutin’ words above. Naomi Klein is a wonderfully engaging and entirely human scale —  and dare we say, vulnerable — interview subject, whose life is not too dissimilar to yours or mine, believe it or not. Ms. Klein puts on no airs as she helps us understand where we stand as a society in the early part of the 21st century, what bedevils us, the lies which have taken in too many among us, and the threat of the far right to our increasingly fragile democracy.

For VanRamblings, the most distressing aspect of the first half of the interview above arises from the discussion Mr. Dugmore and Ms. Klein have on the attacks, the unrelenting casual cruelty to which Ms. Klein is subject — and has been subject for a very long time — from those on the right, as well as the left, as if offering an opinion, and verifiable truths, somehow translates into committing a crime, leaving Ms. Klein open to death threats and other challenges to her personal safety.

Call us naïve, but VanRamblings has never understood the motivation of those who choose cruelty over kindness as a way of bringing themselves to the world, who choose to attack over finding common cause, and acknowledging our common humanity, and our innate oneness. We find the cruelty to which Ms. Klein is subject to be disturbing, abhorrent and utterly unbecoming in a civil society.

As Angela Y. Davis, author of Freedom Is a Constant Struggle writes “Doppelganger swirls through the bewildering ideas of the ultra-right that often appear as a distorted mirror of left struggle and strategy,” as Klein’s book sets about to distill the political economies of corruption, crisis in our time, and necessary remediation.

Why Doppelganger? You’ll have to listen to the interview, or buy the book for the answer to that pungent, provocative, easily answered and heartrending question.

#VanPoli | Humility | Critical, Yet Missing, in Our Municipal Electoral Politics

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In the era of Donald Trump and Pierre Poilievre, humility has become so out of fashion as to almost have been forgotten. Nonetheless, it is worth articulating why humility is an essential attribute of civic life.

Genuine humility and good governance is defined by grace and an intense interest in the lives of others. The perspective of the public, our neighbours, must always be taken into account in the taking of decisions in the public realm.

In the fabric of democracy, humility will always stand as a cornerstone that fortifies the integrity and efficacy of electoral processes and the governance that ensues.

At the municipal level, where governance directly touches the lives of citizens in their communities, the significance of humility becomes even more pronounced.

Humility plays a critical role in the electoral process and among elected officials at the civic level, in fostering trust, co-operation, and effective leadership.

If we in Vancouver have suffered in the civic domain for most of the past quarter century, bereft of an otherwise recommendable civic administration of conscience, the central failure of governance in our city has occurred as a consequence of an unremitting arrogance, and a certitude that what is being done is right and in the collective interest, whether or not community consensus has been achieved.

Humility in the electoral process serves as a linchpin in maintaining the democratic ideals of fairness and equality.

Municipal elections are the bedrock of local democracy, where individuals come together to choose representatives who will voice their concerns, make decisions, and shape policies that directly impact our day-to-day lives.

Humble candidates prioritize the needs and aspirations of their constituents over personal ambitions, engaging in genuine dialogue and actively listening to the diverse voices within their communities. They eschew grandstanding and instead focus on authentic connections and constructive discourse, thereby fostering an electoral environment that is characterized by respect, civility, and inclusivity.

Once elected, those persons who are elected to City Council, Park Board or School Board bear the weighty responsibility of representing the interests of their constituents, while navigating the complexities of policy making and administration.

In this capacity, humility serves as a guiding principle that grounds officials in a recognition of their fallibility and the limitations of their knowledge.

Humble leaders understand that they do not possess all the answers and thus remain open to diverse perspectives, expertise, and feedback from both constituents and fellow stakeholders.

By embracing humility, elected officials cultivate an environment of collaboration and collective problem-solving, transcending partisan divides and fostering innovative solutions to the myriad challenges facing their communities.

Furthermore, humility engenders trust and credibility among constituents, essential elements for the legitimacy of municipal governance.

In an era marked by heightened skepticism towards traditional institutions, humility offers a powerful antidote to the erosion of public trust in government.

Humble leaders prioritize the common good over personal gain, earning the respect and admiration of their constituents through their humility, authenticity, and commitment to serving the public interest.

The challenges confronting municipalities require leaders who possess the humility to acknowledge the complexity of these issues and the willingness to collaborate with diverse stakeholders to address them effectively.

Fostering trust and cooperation to promoting effective leadership and governance, humility serves as a guiding principle enriching the fabric of local democracy.

Let us be very clear here: we as a voting public in Vancouver do not want more arrogance in civic governance of our city.

We do not want holier-than-thou elected civic officials, whether they are with the so-called “progressive coalition” or the nominally right-of-centre ABC Vancouver civic party dictating what is best for us, and ignoring our voices. We’ve had a quarter century of that, and that is more than enough.

In Vancouver, to be a respected, successful and admired politician, one must know what one stands for and what one is fighting for, to know how to work with others, to listen to the public and be a voice for change for the better.

If you’re an elected official, you better darn well listen to the public, bring them along with you, and not find yourself sitting back on your high horse telling the public …

“Oh, deary, I know what’s best for you. Oh sure, I know you think you know what’s best for you, but believe me, I know better than you what’s good for you. Just trust me. And even if you don’t trust me, I’m going to go ahead and do what I damn well please, anyway.”

That’s a recipe for electoral disaster, and a very pissed off public — and if you’ve got any caring, compassion and humility at all, you don’t want that.

Take heed elected officials. Should you fail to do so, you proceed at your peril.