Fundraising is ramping up on the Coast for MLA Nicholas Simons, and although the next election is more than two years away, that didn't stop a capacity crowd of 70 headlined by Carole James from digging deep for the cause on Oct. 16.
The event at the Blue Heron in Sechelt was part three in a busy day that started with a daybreak meeting of the NDP caucus in Victoria.
Coming off a week of trials that began with the ousting of Cariboo North MLA Bob Simpson from caucus and ended with the resignation of caucus chair Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald, James appeared in good spirits.
In a old-fashioned barn-burner of a speech, James told those gathered that the present government is failing B.C. children, giving away resources and guilty of foisting the "ultimate insult" on the province - the HST.
James railed at the Liberal government's record on child poverty. Currently just under 20 per cent of children live under the poverty limit in B.C., a statistic that drew murmurs of, "Shame, shame," from the audience.
"I'm pretty ashamed of what we see," the former director of Northern First Nations Child Services said.
She went on to remind those present that no child lives by itself, but that the statistics represent whole families living well below the national poverty line.
James also commented on the second part of the day spent at the Sechelt Nation Longhouse for a repatriation ceremony of a 3,000-year-old artifact from the Vancouver Museum.
"It was a very emotional ceremony," James said.
She attended the rare event with Simons, whom James said is the funniest MLA with the biggest heart in caucus. Simons, who had a similar career path (he worked for many years with the Sechelt Nation Child Services), appears to be on excellent terms with his party's boss. Both spent a great deal of time during the evening speaking to people one-on-one, answering questions about the direction of the NDP.
James was most adamant about changing the minimum wage, helping young people and seniors.
"We would increase the minimum wage in the first 100 days and index it to the cost of living so this [having the lowest wage rates in Canada] never happens again," she said.
In a later interview, James added that the reduced wage for novice employees would be eliminated.
"It's an insult to first-time workers," she emphasized.
Asked about what it's like to be a female politician on the provincial level, James recommended the job to any woman.
"Take the plunge, take a deep breath. It's hugely rewarding. It's a rare thing when you have a job where people are passionate about what they're doing," she said, smiling widely, with her brown eyes flashing.
She has few regrets, but shared that her decision to oust Simpson over public criticism he levelled at James' lackluster speech to the Union of B.C. Municipalities was a difficult one.
"You're hard if you do and soft if you don't. You can't win," she said.
