Liberal claims gender blocked political plans

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: August 14, 2008

Gender may play a role in who represents the Liberals in the next federal election. Jake Ootes, a Celista resident, claims he was told by a senior Liberal organizer not to seek the Okanagan-Shuswap candidacy because he is a man. The implication was that I couldn’t run because they want a woman candidate,” said Ootes, who had pursued the nomination in 2007. Ootes had considered seeking the nomination this time around, but he says he won’t to ensure party harmony. He admits, though, that he isn’t pleased about the situation “It’s an affirmative action-style program and it doesn’t work,” said Ootes. He is unwilling to describe the Liberal policy as discrimination against men. “I’ll let other people decide what to call it,” he said. Ootes believes the Liberals could attract more women into politics if there was a program that educated both men and women about the positive aspects of public service. I think there are a lot of women interested and I support more women getting involved,” he said.

The Liberal Party of Canada confirms leader Stephane Dion wants one-third of candidates in all provinces to be women, but it states that everyone is invited to participate in the nomination process. “There is nothing preventing any candidate from taking out nomination papers and filing them,” said Bruce Young, the party’s campaign co-chairman in B.C. Janna Francis, Okanagan-Shuswap riding association president, says her executive wants an open nomination process. “I’m disappointed that he (Ootes) didn’t put in his nomination papers,” said Francis, who has announced she is seeking the nomination. “It would be nice to have a woman candidate but no one is precluded from running.” Young supports Dion’s goal of having women represent the party in one-third of all ridings. “We will have a more thoughtful and compassionate government if we have more women in Parliament,” he said. No date has been set for a nomination meeting in Okanagan-Shuswap. The party began looking for a candidate after Buffy Baumbrough resigned from the position earlier this year. Baumbrough was elected as a candidate in 2007, but she has decided instead to seek re-election as a City of Vernon councillor this fall.