Editor:
Several hundred coastal residents attending last week’s all-candidate’s early-evening forum at the Sechelt Band Hall were stood up by Conservative candidate John Weston. Again. Though this one was arranged to suit Mr. Weston’s schedule, and he was at his office into the early afternoon, it’s becoming a habit for Weston to duck these forums.
Party insiders have confirmed this is actually a time-tested Conservative strategy, forged by party officials in the 2011 federal election, urging candidates to avoid all-candidate meetings and interacting with media. There were dozens of reports of this happening in 2011 and there are now dozens of reports of Conservative candidates doing the same this election. The thinking here is, if a candidate doesn’t say anything, or respond to criticism, then there’s nothing to report and the candidate is off the hook for accounting to the electorate.
It is another repugnant gesture by the Stephen Harper Conservatives, thumbing its nose at its obligations to account for its actions. Mr. Weston, I am so done with you and your party’s lack of accountability for the real damage you’ve done to this country. If you accept the responsibilities of your office, at least have the guts to show up and be accountable for your actions.
Michael Maser, Gibsons
