Editor The Record:
I was interested in the debate between councillors on whether or not to require more than two nominators to nominate a candidate wishing to run for office in the next civic election Nov 15. However, that is a minor change allowed by Bill 7 to the local government Act.
The changes that will have a dramatic effect on New Westminster are the new requirements for "campaign organizers" - organizations or individuals that run campaigns related to an election. Campaign organizers must have financial agents, like elector organizations and candidates. It is an offence to fail to have a Financial Agent and declare all revenues and expenses. It also appears that the legislation may apply to internal parallel campaigns, like those run by the labour council and CUPE in New Westminster in 2005.
During the 2005 city election Councillors Harper, Cote, and Williams ran with the endorsement of the labour council sharing the same Burnaby campaign office, campaign manager, phones and lists. They also assisted CUPE endorsed and self-professed choice of labour Wayne Wright over long-time CUPE member Casey Cook. School Board candidates Watt, Ewen, Janzen and Bennett shared the same resources. All of the above while claiming there were no slates in New Westminster.
Indeed, Voice New Westminster was formed as an independent multi-party response to the CUPE controlled labour council slate, and the significant unclaimed resources they are able to muster for their candidates.
I believe the changes brought by Bill 7 to municipal campaigning will shed some light on how the process really works in New Westminster .
Steve McClurg
(Royal City Record July 16, 2008)
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Your opening comment that there was a debate between two councillors is difficult to believe. I have never seen anything that would pass for debate go on in that chamber. This 'no opinion Mayor' , his crooner sidekick 'Senator Fogbound', Johnathon Coat-tails, and Glorie(seeking)Williams simply don't have what it takes. Harper, the ideologist, could, but his strings are being pulled. There you have it, it's a sequel of Giligan's Island.
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