Editor:
The results of the election on May 9 have created an interesting political dynamic in B.C., one that became more interesting on May 29 when Andrew Weaver, Leader of the BC Green Party, signed an agreement with the NDP to gain power. The Green Party ran on a principled approach to governing in B.C., a sentiment that resonated with many British Columbians, including some in Powell River-Sunshine Coast.
Sadly, in Weaver’s pursuit of power, he has adopted the Groucho Marx approach: “These are my principles, and if you don’t like them … well, I have others.”
Over the last month, I have been approached by many who voted Green and feel that the principled approach was thrown out by Andrew Weaver when he signed that agreement.
Weaver’s willingness to abandon his principles has far-reaching implications that extend to his team of local candidates. Surely this agreement presents a problem for Kim Darwin, who stood and committed to stopping Site C, only now to be told that a GreeNDP government would hand over the decision-making to the BC Utility Commission. I assume she has an even bigger problem about what to do in the next election, because she repeatedly stated that if she had to be part of a party with “whipped votes” she would run as an independent.
Now she finds out that her leader has agreed to obligate his caucus to be whipped, and even worse, whipped by another party, the NDP, on all confidence votes over the next four years! This leaves her with a tough decision – follow your leader and abandon your principles, or follow your principles and abandon your party. I wonder which she’ll choose.
Mathew Wilson, Roberts Creek
