Dear Editor:
RE: BC United Announce New Candidate in West Vancouver-Capilano
According to the news in your publication earlier this year, the day after West Vancouver-Capilano MLA Karin Kirkpatrick declared that she will not run in the next election as BC United Party candidate, Kevin Falcon the BC United leader the next day introduced a new person to be the candidate for the West Vancouver-Capilano riding in the next provincial election.
As former North Shore Multicultural Society president, I have had the privilege to get to know many of the multicultural communities and their leaders in the North Shore. When I became vice president, delegate and nominee of the party, I introduced this party to North Shore new Canadians and signed many members. Also I assisted many to get elected.
Myself and many of my friends who are prominent members were shocked by this non-democratic process, because I have already mentioned to Honorable Kevin Falcon last year during the PS752 memorial, this is our riding. There are members who want to run in the nomination. Please do not declare anyone by acclamation like last time when Honorable Ralph Sultan retired, this will upset the grassroots again.
This non-democratic act of Mr. Falcon reminded us very like the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran who chooses the representatives through a committee appointed by himself and calls them the people’s choice and asks people to vote for them.
As a result of this non-democratic decision, all of us boycotted the recent AGM and the acclimation process. We all made a decision together not to vote for the appointed candidate in the next provincial election, because she is the candidate of Mr. Falcon, and is not the grassroots candidate.
I would appreciate it if the BC United Party and the executives avoid sending me emails and stop calling me to assist them in the next provincial election.
Sid Mirhashemy
Former BC Liberal Party
North Vancouver
