So far, the only declared "heavy-hitter" in the leadership race (according to insiders) has been John Horgan, who announced his intention January 10th. Other 'heavy hitters' rumoured to enter but yet to declare are Adrian Dix and Mike Farnworth. (Just caught on Twitter: Farnworth is set to announce tomorrow.)
From the perspective of seriously interested nonpartisans, undecideds, dissatisfied members of other parties, and so on, the timing for membership sign-up to the BC NDP is abysmal.
All these would have to happen before I, for example, took the step and became a party member:
- All men and women who had intended to declare for leader had done so
- All leadership contenders had set out, in clear form, their proposed policies
- All leadership contenders would have debated one another at least twice; i.e., at All Candidates Meetings
- All leadership contenders would have had reasonable time to respond to questions I (and others) had asked to them
- Given all the above, I'd have had time to reflect
The timing of the new membership deadline makes all but #1 impossible and #2 unlikely. One can only assume that the BC NDP does not want new blood or fresh ideas, that it does not want new people who would make decisions on selection of a leader or, for that matter, selection of a party for membership, so seriously and thoughtfully.
Therefore, I suppose that people such as myself are left to change the channel back to the leadership race of the BC Liberals. As for the NDP, whoever the current membership of the party choose, it is likely that he or she, together with the current provincial council, will conduct business pretty much as usual.
ETA: This man's run for the BC NDP leadership would seriously interest me.
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