Singh takes NDP leadership

The Canadian Press - Oct 1, 2017 / 12:38 pm CASTANET

The New Democrats have tapped Ontario politician Jagmeet Singh to take over for Tom Mulcair and lead the embattled party into the next federal election. Singh romped to a first-ballot win with 35,266 votes, easily outstripping his three rivals: northern Ontario MP Charlie Angus, Manitoba MP Niki Ashton and Quebec MP Guy Caron. Angus came in second with 12,705 votes, followed by Ashton with 11,374 and Caron with 6,164.

With its long-haul leadership race now over, the party — which has just 44 of the 338 seats in the House of Commons — is now free to focus on presenting a unified front to battle Justin Trudeau's Liberals in the 2019 federal election. Insiders and political observers alike say it's high time the NDP regrouped, put the disappointment of the 2015 election result in the past and start laying the foundation for a strong showing in two years. More than 124,000 card-carrying members were eligible to take part in the vote, which was conducted online and by mail by way of a ranked ballot — voters were able to rank the candidates in order of preference. Kathleen Monk, an NDP stalwart who worked as director of strategic communications to former leader Jack Layton, said a new leader will now allow the party to begin growing again after two years in the political wilderness.

Tom Mulcair, who took over the party after Layton's death in 2012, carried on his shoulders the party's long-standing dream of forming a federal government for the first time. Those hopes were dashed during the 2015 election campaign when the party's support collapsed in the face of Justin Trudeau's Liberal juggernaut — an electoral disaster many blamed on Mulcair himself. Even after party members voted resoundingly to turf their leader during a spring convention in Edmonton, Mulcair chose to remain on an interim basis until a successor could be named. Following that convention, the party opted to take the long road towards choosing a new leader, culminating in Sunday's first round of voting results. "The reason I was able, with eyes wide open, to stay on after Edmonton is my profound belief that the NDP offers the only real hope for a progressive government in Canada," Mulcair said in an interview. The two front-runners brought diametrically opposed perspectives to the race: Angus the elder statesman, with years of House of Commons experience and name recognition among party members, versus Singh the outsider, a member of the Ontario legislature with a youthful, more suburban following. Former NDP national director Karl Belanger admitted it is "long overdue" for the NDP to get on with building towards 2019. "Hopefully that is what is going to happen," he said. "I think there's lots of people who are still reeling and debating the reasons behind the defeat in 2015." It's also high time the party got serious about fundraising: Elections Canada returns show the NDP has some $5.5 million worth of debt on its balance sheet.

Dorval to face Foster in election

by Kate Bouey - CASTANET Mar 12, 2017 / 4:14 pm |

The NDP has finally chosen a candidate to run in the May 9 provincial election against Liberal MLA Eric Foster. Barry Dorval, an English teacher at W.L. Seaton Secondary School, was nominated at a meeting on Sunday. Dorval defeated Harwinder Sandhu, a nurse at Vernon Jubilee Hospital, to take the nomination. “My main concerns continue to be finding really decent employment, dealing with homelessness, education,” Dorval said the meeting. “A lot of provincial issues impact what is happening locally as well.” A former president of the Vernon Teachers Association, Dorval also questioned Foster's priorities when dealing with local issues. “My concern has been his ability to listen to what's happening here and reflect that back to Victoria rather than acting the other way where he's coming and representing Victoria to Vernon.” Sandhu also took a swipe at Foster, who has won the provincial seat in two elections. “He has failed on so many levels,” Sandhu said, a proponent of better health care and affordability for people in the Valley. “He has not done the job he should be doing.” Sandhu questioned the timing of the recently announced MRI machine – expected to be in place at Vernon Jubilee Hospital by 2018 – saying it was made just in time for the election. An official at the meeting said it looked like about 80 people were present, though it's not clear exactly how many voted, nor by how much Dorval won. The other official candidate in the riding is the Green Party’s Keli Westgate.

Two Running For NDP

Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 KISS FM Ron Manz February 28, 2017 09:28 am
With just over two months until the May 9th provincial election, the NDP party has announced two candidates are seeking their nomination in Vernon Monashee. Vernon residents Barry Dorval and Harwinder Sandhu are running, with the nomination meeting set for the Vernon Elks Lodge at 1 pm March 12. Dorval is an English teacher at W.L. Seaton Secondary, while Sandhu is a nurse who has lived in Vernon since 2012. The winner will join incumbent Liberal MLA Eric Foster and the Green Party’s Keli Westgate in the race.

Vernon chamber reps meet with NDP MLAs

by Staff Writer - Vernon Morning Star Vernon posted Oct 28, 2016 at 3:00 PM
Reps of the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce were able to raise a number of issues with members of the provincial NDP caucus as they visited the North Okanagan this week. President Dauna Kennedy Grant, vice-president Markus Schrott and director Rob Tedham, who chairs the chamber’s policy committee, joined general manager Dan Rogers in meeting with the NDP MLAs who were led by Victoria Beacon Hill MLA Carole James, opposition finance critic.

Support for arts and culture as an economic driver, further integration of services between area local governments and the importance for all levels of government to work with industry in addressing the need for affordable housing were among the issues highlighted by the chamber.

“There is a growing need to ensure access to safe and affordable housing for those on low income as well as those with young families, and it will take a concerted effort by all orders of government to improve the situation,” said Rogers.

“The chamber’s Big Red committee has been calling on local governments in the area to streamline their processes and reduce the regulatory burden, but there is also a role for both the provincial and federal governments in assisting municipalities like Vernon and Coldstream in addressing this issue.”

Other issues raised by the Greater Vernon Chamber included:

· The chamber’s recent submission to the Ministry of Transportation that, among other things, called on the province to initiate the discussion and planning for a highway bypass route in Vernon that could act as a Dangerous Goods Route allowing heavy traffic to move smoothly and efficiently through the city.
The same submission also called for highway improvements north of Vernon to ensure unfettered and efficient movement of goods and people all the way through the Okanagan valley from the U-S Border to Highway 1 at Sicamous.
· The challenges the region is facing in addressing the need for a certainty in the supply of potable water and the likely need of provincial assistance in funding any planning improvements to the system (RDNO Master Water Plan).
· The need for further due diligence by the province in preventing invasive species such as the zebra and quagga mussels from entering B.C.’s fresh waters.
“As a non-partisan organization it is important for the chamber to work with both members of government, and with the opposition in raising issues of importance to our members and the business community in the Greater Vernon area,” said Kennedy Grant, who added, “We appreciate the time the MLAs took in listening to our concerns and issues.”

The MLAs attending the session included James; Shane Simpson, Vancouver Hastings; Maurine Karagianis, Esquimalt Royal Roads; Mable Elmore, Vancouver-Kensington.

NDP Chose Federal Candidate

Written by Glen Morrison 107.5 KISSFM Monday, 25 August 2014 07:21

The first federal party in Okanagan Shuswap has chosen it's candidate for the 2015 vote. The New Democrats chose Cathy Gingras at their Armstrong convention on the weekend. The resident of the Falkland area and a professor at Ontarios Ryerson University beat out Richard Smiley for the nod. Gingras says her focus over the next six months will be to meet people in the riding and develop a better sense of their priorities and concerns. The Conservatives are in the midst of setting up their nomination.

Richard Smiley Enters Federal NDP Race

For Immediate Release August 17, 2014

Richard Smiley is officially a candidate for nomination as the NDP candidate in the next federal election. Smiley, who has been campaigning since the spring at community events in the North Okanagan-Shuswap riding, recently received notification that federal office has approved his candidacy. "It's a bit of a relief, but I've acted all along as if it would be accepted", said Smiley who went to school in Salmon Arm. He has a degree in Political Science from UBC, a teaching certificate, and BA in Agriculture - subtropical horticulture - from Hebrew University, Israel."All my life, I and my family have been involved in social and environmental battles and this one (Northern Gateway pipeline) has to be the biggest of all: We have a planet to save, and precious little time to do it in." In 2013 Smiley was elected to the provincial NDP's Standing Committee on Agriculture and has worked locally to promote the apple cider and nut tree industries.

Two candidates, Smiley and Gingras, will be on the ballot when the NDP membership meets on Saturday, August 23rd in Armstrong to elect their representative in the next federal election.

Nick Hodge, President North Okanagan-Shuswap NDP 250 309-7393. http://okshuswapndp.blogspot.ca/

Gingras seeks federal NDP nomination

by Staff Writer - Vernon Morning Star posted Jul 21, 2014 at 8:00 AM

The race to represent the NDP has started. Jacqui Gingras has announced she wants to be the NDP candidate for Okanagan-Shuswap in the 2015 federal election. “It is now more important than ever to become engaged in the democratic process,” she said. Originally from the Okanagan, Gingras lived in Toronto for six years but now resides in Falkland with her two school-aged children. Gingras has a professional background in nutrition and has campaigned for climate justice with LeadNow, for a fair economy with the Occupy movement, and for indigenous treaty rights with Idle No More. “I believe the people of North Okanagan-Shuswap are impacted by regional and national issues that need to be urgently addressed. For one, many people who live here need to travel great distances for work,” she said. “We need to invest in green jobs for local hands; that is just one of many practical economic policies the NDP and I will bring to the people of this region.” Most recently she was elected treasurer of the Canadian Women’s Voter Congress. “My passion is bringing dedicated people together to work towards and accomplish ambitious goals. There is nothing that groups can’t accomplish when they unite their collective efforts,” she said. “There has never been a more urgent need for citizens like you and I to act. Our families, our environment, and our way of life as Canadians depend on it. This election is about standing up for each other and making sure we are better off today then we were eight years ago. Unfortunately, people are working harder for less and I am committed to making things right for the people of this region.”

The NDP’s Okanagan-Shuswap nomination convention will be held Aug. 23 at 2 p.m. in Armstrong.

Local NDP to Select Federal Candidate

For Immediate Release
North OkanaganShuswap Federal NDP Electoral District Association
PO Box425 Lumby, BCV0E 2G0

July 11, 2014

Members of the NDP will choose their representative in the next federal election at a nomination convention in Armstrong August 23. “We have had interest from several potential candidates. One has been accepted by the party’s vetting process, and another has made an application”, said Nick Hodge, local association president. "We have had discussions about forming a coalition of opposition parties locally for the next election. Our executive has decided that we will not be involved in restricting the choices on the ballot. While we understand the sentiment, in a democracy more choice is always better, and so we will putting forward an NDP candidate in the next election."
Voters at the convention must have been a member of the BC NDP for at least 30 days prior to the convention. New candidates may still join the race. Those interested should be a member of the party and be prepared to file an application with the federal NDP prior to the convention. The meeting is open to the public and everyone is welcome.

NDP Release Fiscal Plan

Written by Peter McIntyre  107.5 KISSFM Thursday, 11 April 2013 17:42  
The N-D-P says it will expand the carbon tax, raise taxes on the highest income earners and boost corporate taxes if it's elected government next month. Finance critic Bruce Ralston says the new taxes and reallocation of other funds will give the N-D-P 300 million dollars in its first year in government. He says it's better to get the bad news out of the way early. ''We're making difficult decisions in the sense that we are announcing tax increases before we announce our spending, not after the election." Vernon Monashee NDP candidate Mark Olsen says the party will release details on new spending in its platform next week -- once the election campaign is officially under way. Olsen says the personal tax hike would only impact the highest income earners, over $150,000. "That only affects two percent of the income earners, so 98 percent of taxpayers will not be affected by our increases," Olsen told Kiss FM. Liberal Finance Minister Mike de Jong says the N-D-P plan will hike spending by up to five billion dollars, while BC Conservative leader John Cummins say it would be a "job killer" and hurt the economy.

NDP Rent City Building For Campaign

Written by Peter McIntyre  107.5 KISSFM Wednesday, 20 March 2013 18:06 

NDP campaign office on 31st Ave (Kiss FM file)

A city of Vernon-owned building is being put to use for the upcoming B.C. election. The NDP has rented the former Vernon Flower Shop site on 31st Avenue by Cenotaph Park for candidate Mark Olsen's campaign office. A public opening will be held from 5 to 7 Friday night. The NDP's critic for seniors care, Katrine Conroy, will visit the office Saturday from 2:30-4pm.

NDP Critic To Hear Green Issues

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM  Friday, 25 January 2013 12:02 
  The NDP's environment critic will be in Vernon this weekend. Rob Fleming will join local NDP candidate Mark Olsen, environmental groups, and the public, to talk about Vernon area environmental issues at the Halina Centre at 12:30 Sunday. Fleming, MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake, says he will be discussing some practical ideas the New Democrats have for protecting the environment. "Everywhere I go in the province, people are concerned that the Liberals have dropped the ball when it comes to protecting our environment," said Fleming. "I'm looking forward to hearing from people in Vernon about local environmental concerns." The Halina Centre is located in the Vernon Rec Complex at 3310 37 Avenue.

Okanagan-Shuswap NDP stand behind new leader

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: March 24, 2012 6:44 PM 
Okanagan-Shuswap New Democrats are rallying behind the party's new national leader. Quebec MP Thomas Mulcair beat strategist Brian Topp to replace the late Jack Layton as the leader of the country's official opposition Saturday. "He's going to be a great leader. With the support of the new members in Quebec and Quebec supporting a federalist party, it's a great thing," said Nick Hodge, Okanagan-Shuswap NDP riding president. Hodge started off supporting Niki Ashton's leadership bid, but then moved to Nathan Cullen through preferential balloting Saturday. Once it was down to Mulcair and Topp, Hodge voted for Mulcair. "It's important that the leader of the opposition be in Parliament Monday. I didn't want to wait six months for a byelection," said Hodge of Topp not having a seat in the House of Commons. Mark Olsen, provincial Vernon-Monashee NDP candidate, supported Mulcair right from the beginning. "He's the right guy to take us to the next level," said Olsen of the NDP trying to form the federal government in 2015. "He's well spoke and bilingual in both official languages, which is important. He also strikes me as someone who stands up for what he believes in. He will hold (Prime Minister Stephen) Harper's feet to the fire." Nikki Inouye, a former Okanagan-Shuswap NDP candidate, is urging Mulcair to continue with what she considers was Layton's positive message. "He has charisma and speaks very well, a good contender to take on Harper," she said of Mulcair. "I just hope he sticks to Tommy Douglas's plan and doesn't try to move our party to the centre! Positive thinking is what got the orange wave surge and the popular vote. Jack Layton's message will prevail."

New NDP Leader

Photo of Bill Darnell (and Robert Keziere)

Okanagan Shuswap NDP January 16, 2012  For Immediate Release

In 1971 the Greenpeace sailed towards Amchitka to stop the testing of nuclear weapons. Bill Darnell, one of the twelve crew members, will be telling the story of that voyage and the early days of the Greenpeace organization in Armstrong January 22nd. Darnell will use his personal collection of photos, newspaper clippings and artefacts to bring to life this world-changing event.

Bill Darnell lives in the North Okanagan and is still actively involved in creating change, although now is less likely to put his life at risk as he did in the Gulf of Alaska."It was a different time at the beginning of great changes, but I see some similarities with today's climate and Occupy movements."

The event will begin at 2.30pm on Sunday, January 22nd at the Odd Fellows Hall (Sunset Coronation Hall) on Wood Avenue in Armstrong following the AGM of the NDP riding association. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Contact; Bill Darnell  (250) 558-9990  bdarnell@telus.net

Nick Hodge Okanagan Shuswap NDP  250 309-7393 president@okanaganshuswapndp.ca

Mark Olsen elected - Vernon-Monashee NDP

Vernon-Monashee NDP  6, 3107A 31st Avenue Vernon, BC  V1T 2G9
September 11, 2011 For  Immediate Release
NDP members of Vernon-Monashee selected Mark Olsen to represent the NDP in the next provincial election. Olsen was the NDP candidate in the 2009 election where he finished second. "We're back, and we are going to build on that momentum. We are going to make some changes here in the Okanagan", stated Olsen in his acceptance speech. Nikki Inouye, the federal NDP candidate in the May 2011 election, challenged but finished with the silver. "We will work together, and we will win this riding in 2013," she declared after the ballots were counted.Seventy-three members turned out for the election. However, the final count of the election was not announced.

Contact:
Mark Olsen cel. (250) 308-8360  email. markolsn@telus.net

Craeg Pohorelic, President  home. (250) 260-1758 email. craegp@shaw.ca

Nikki Inouye  home. 250 503-0195 email. nikkinouye@gmail.com

Election Readiness - NDP nomination meeting set

Kate Bouey 105.7 SUNFM 8/26/2011

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Vernon Monashee New Democrats are getting ready for a provincial election.  She ran in the federal election in May, now the NDP's Nikki Inouye is hoping to have a shot at provincial politics. Inouye is one of two nominees hoping to become the NDP's Vernon-Monashee candidate for the next provincial election. The other is Mark Olsen, who ran in the last BC poll, winning almost 32 percent of the vote. He says the Liberals appear to be getting ready for an election that could come at any time. Olsen says an NDP nomination meeting will be held at the Schubert Centre on September 11th.
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Vernon-Monashee

2009 Election Results:

Party	Candidate	Votes	%	$ Spent
BC Liberal	Eric Foster	9015	37.3	58808
NDP	Mark Olsen	7698	31.8	43069
Green	Huguette Allen	4029	16.7	13656
Conservative	Dean Skoreyko	1972	8.2	5806
No Affiliation	Gordon Campbell	1397	5.8	0
Refed BC	RJ Busch	76	0.3	253
Total / Turnout		24187	53.8