High-profile locals consider NDP spot

By Dan Hilborn
Published Jan. 14, 2004


Several high-profile names are seriously considering their chances of running for the federal New Democratic Party in the riding of Burnaby-New Westminster.

Peter Julian, the former executive director of the Council of Canadians, and Dave McKinnon, a former national president of the NDP, are both considering their options as the party prepares for a probable Feb. 29 nomination meeting.

"I'll be making up my mind this month, but I am leaning towards running because I have some real concerns about Paul Martin's priorities," said Julian, who currently works as the executive director at the Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

"I'm particularly concerned that his (Martin's) first act in office was a big tax gift to wealthy corporations," Julian said. "In our community, we're facing the closure of a major hospital, increased homelessness and the real degradation of our quality of life, and his first act was to hand over hundreds of millions of dollars as a tax gift.

"That's the kind of element that is pushing me towards running."

McKinnon, who took early retirement from the B.C. Employment Standards Branch last year, said the recent election of Paul Martin as leader of the federal Liberals gives the NDP a good opportunity to win back the riding that has a long history of electing NDP members.

"The right has finally come together under Paul Martin, and that means the hard right has gone over to the Conservatives," McKinnon said.

"This is a marvellous opportunity for the NDP because the left side of the road is all ours.

"It'll be fun to watch."