Tory members sue party over nomination process

[tuvor]

Last Updated: Wednesday, September 6, 2006 | 9:50 AM MT
The Canadian Press

The federal Conservative party is facing a lawsuit from grassroots members over its nomination process, as would-be candidates complain that officials continue to reject them with no explanation.

The latest snub is to Doug Campbell, an international agricultural economist and one-time adviser to Tory cabinet ministers, who wanted to run against MP Myron Thompson for the nomination in the southwestern Alberta riding of Wild Rose.

Campbell was not given any reasons for his rejection in the riding, which includes Banff, Canmore, Cochrane, Airdrie, Olds and other communities. Instead, he was told he could submit additional documentation in an effort to appeal the party's decision.

Campbell said the nomination committee that interviewed him was handpicked by the sitting MP and his supporters. And because of gag agreements he signed with the party, he is not allowed to speak specifically about certain parts of his application process.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2006/09/06/tory-nomination.html

[IntravenousDemilo]

1. Eventually all these people will be purged from the party...

For such is the control-freak at 24 Sussex. The Conservatives' MO is to keep appealing any court decision that doesn't go their way, or even better, to ignore these decisions. David Orchard is still waiting for the $75K that the Conservatives owe him from the last time he ran for the PC leadership, even after several courts have said they have to pay up.

[MrPrax]

2. Lest we forget old Paul Lalli

Businessman loses appeal to challenge Nina Grewal

Updated Tue. Aug. 29 2006 7:59 PM ET

VANCOUVER -- A businessman who wanted to challenge Nina Grewal for the Conservative nomination in a suburban Vancouver riding says the party brass has put a final stop to his bid.

Paul Lalli said Tuesday he lost his appeal of an earlier decision that disqualified him as a candidate to unseat Grewal in the Fleetwood-Port Kells riding in Surrey, B.C.

....

He said the decision was made by a party body known as the "green light committee.''

"I believe they are protecting the incumbent,'' Lalli said, adding he is upset with the local decision, not at the national party.

"I believe this doesn't represent the party because the party does believe in democracy. This is an issue of a few people within the party that made this decision.''

CTV

Some interesting comments at Public Eye with their eariler story

Link

I really hate this type of thing and it's somehow really disappointing that the Tories have fallen into the same old Canadian tradition of democracy denied -- especially given their vitrolic attacks on the Liberals. The only thing I liked about Presto -- he seemed to genuinely want to introduce complete transparency. I guess the neo-cons like neo-libs can't stand being told what to do in a democracy by the mere public.