New Westminster-Coquitlam Federal By-Election
The New Westminster-Coquitlam riding is facing a by-election Monday due to Dawn Black’s resignation to transfer to provincial politics so let’s take a look at the candidates…
NDP – Fin Donnelly
With a strong environmentalist like Fin running under the NDP banner in a recently NDP dominated riding I can’t image the left splitting its vote much at all with the Greens. Why vote Green when you have an environmental activist running with the NDP? It’s the best of both worlds.
Conservative – Diana Dilworth
A former city councilor she brings some political experience to the game but her focus seems to be taxation and hating the Liberals. Her slogan “stand up for Canada” doesn’t exactly make sense. Stand up against whom? She seems upset about alleged Liberal arrogance but I don’t see how any of this presents useful policies.
Liberal – Ken Lee
His mailer is all about Ignatieff rather than himself – it’s important and informative but it seems more like he’s being used to improve Ignatieff’s image than actually win the riding.
Green – Rebecca Helps
I could make a joke about her last name but it’s just too easy. Her background isn’t very impressive: a girl guide leader, instituted a recycling program at a junior high, and worked at Yellow Pages and BC Housing. She’s also still on about STV which I disagree with and has been rejected by voters two general provincial elections in a row.
Conclusions
Fin Donnelly is probably going to win by uniting in the left. Diana Dilworth is simply too negative. If you want to vote for Michael Ignatieff then vote for Ken Lee. I frankly don’t think Rebecca Helps has the comprehension for federal politics. So my recommendation is to vote NDP or if for some reason you have an aversion to doing so then go Liberal.
