Mayes earns the riding’s reputation

By Tracy HughesJan 31 2007 http://www.saobserver.net/

For what it’s worth Lawdy, Lawdy, Lawdy. The image people must have us, based on the words that come from the mouths (or the e-mails) of our intrepid members of Parliament! We were already notorious for previous Reform/Alliance/Conservative MP Darrel Stinson’s infamous remarks nearly a decade ago. Most of you may remember when Stinson accused Liberal member John Cannis of calling him a racist and shouted, “Do you have the fortitude or gonads to stand up and come across here and say that to me, you son of a bitch?”

Then there was the now infamous incident last April in which our current MP and our former mayor Colin Mayes suggested that handcuffing and jailing reporters might be the way to ensure their information is accurate. Mayes got stung when the comments made the national news and he later issued a public apology — after he received a call from the Prime Minister’s Office.
But like all tempests, with Mayes’ apology, this one blew over —‑mostly. Within the local riding association it seemed divisions were appearing over Mayes’ often forceful style of leadership. This was only exacerbated by a libel lawsuit initiated by mayoral candidate Greg Husband over a letter Mayes wrote. Some Conservative members wrote to the Prime Minster complaining Mayes had misled them about his role in the suit. However, the party cleared Mayes of any wrong-doing. But now there’s this.

Funny, when I predicted in my first column of 2007 that, “Okanagan Shuswap MP Colin Mayes will say something to get himself in hot water,” I didn’t think it would be quite so soon. And the water’s become pretty piping hot after Mayes, who also happens to be the chair of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, replied, “good joke” to an e-mail which was derogatory towards First Nations. The Liberals are now calling for his resignation. The Union of BC Indian Chiefs is asking for an apology or a resignation. Mayes, at least so far, has refused to apologize, calling the whole incident a smear campaign.

Do I believe Mayes is a racist? No. I have butted heads with the man many times, but I would never use that term to describe him. His own family is visibly multicultural. Nothing in his previous actions ever made me believe he is racist. That being said, I have disagreed with Mayes before for an authoritarian style of leadership and an unwillingness to accept criticisms of his performance as an elected leader — both from our newspaper or individual citizens. He has trouble admitting he could be wrong. But now might be the time to do exactly that. This story has been picked up all over the country, from Halifax, to Guelph, from Lethbridge to Victoria. A quick Internet search turned up stories in more than 35 major newspapers.

Smear campaign or no, Mayes made an obvious blunder. It seems to me the best choice of action would be to swallow your pride, admit you made a mistake and then take the next step by saying you are sorry to those you may have offended. But maybe we should just stick with tradition. After all, it seems this riding is well known for politicians whose feet are stuck firmly in their mouths.