Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons said he was "outed" at a New Democratic Party (NDP) provincial council meeting last Saturday.
Simons was one of 13 MLAs who did not wear a bright yellow scarf at the Nov. 20 meeting in Victoria, a sign of support for leader Carole James.
"Clearly I've been identified as someone who has some serious concerns with leadership in the party, and that doesn't just mean with the leader," he said. "I think that's the kind of thing that should be discussed privately and I was quite disappointed it became a public display. It wouldn't have been my choice."
Simons is one of 13 MLAs who have been described as dissidents by other media outlets. He said he has some concerns that have to be addressed.
"I don't see that as a weakness, I don't see that as a threat, I don't see that as anything other than an MLA who is thinking about how we are going to be best positioned to implement good public policy in this province," he said. "I have been outed, in a sense, without choosing to be. I've been respectful of caucus confidentiality and provincial council confidentiality. But, it's fair to say I have some serious concerns that I will be continuing to try and have addressed."
Simons said he was never offered a yellow scarf when he walked into the room.
"I don't think that is necessarily the way one is supposed to deal with any issue," Simons said. "There were media reports suggesting that I didn't stand or clap and I certainly did stand and I certainly did clap."
Other media reports about a "heated discussion" between him and Vancouver-Kensington MLA Mabel Elmore were inaccurate as well, Simons said.
Global TV reporter Keith Baldrey reported on Global's 6 p.m. Saturday newscast that he witnessed a confrontation between Simons and Elmore, a James supporter. Baldrey said Simons was jabbing his finger at Elmore and saying, "Do you want to fight? Do you want to fight?"
Simons said Baldrey never asked him about the incident, adding that Elmore has formally apologized to him and that he accepted the apology.
"I think the details of it don't serve any interest to my or anyone's cause," he said. "The reports were inaccurate. I obviously did have a disagreement and I was somewhat incredulous, but obviously I'm not picking fights. I've spent my career trying to prevent fights."
In an email to the Peak, Baldrey wrote that he couldn't ask Simons about the incident because he quickly disappeared.
"I couldn't find him for the rest of the day. What I reported is accurate. He may not have meant it, but I quoted him accurately," Baldrey said.
It's unclear to him what led up to the episode, Baldrey also wrote. "Mable didn't want to discuss it. Given the atmosphere in that room, and the obvious tension between dissident MLAs such as Nicholas and the pro-James MLAs, I thought it fair and relevant to report on what was obviously a heated situation between the two MLAs," Baldrey added.
The council voted 84 per cent against a motion calling for a leadership convention in December 2011.
In a speech after the vote, James reached out to the 13 MLAs who appeared not to support her leadership. She called on them to get united behind the message from the council, to "get on with it" and stop the infighting.
Simons said he doesn't think anyone would suggest that he has not been doing the work to address the concerns of constituents.
"I'm going to continue to do that and continue to point out where the current government has failed British Columbians. That's my number one priority, to represent the constituents of Powell River-Sunshine Coast. I understand the desire to move forward. Clearly there are some issues that still need to be addressed. The attempt will be done to make that internal, which is where it really should have remained," he said.
Simons said he spoke to James on Sunday, the day after the provincial council meeting.
"She knows my concerns and I'm hoping that our further dialogue will address those," Simons added.
