Pubdate: Thu, 15 Jan 2015
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Page: A4
Copyright: 2015 Times Colonist
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html
Website: http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Peter O'Neil

ACTIVIST CRITICIZES TRUDEAU OVER SELECTION PROCESS

Marijuana legalization activist Jodie Emery, a candidate for the
Liberal nomination in the Vancouver East riding, has raised questions
about her leader's honesty in committing to a wide-open nomination
process across Canada.

The comments this week from Emery, wife of "Prince of Pot" Marc Emery,
coincide with the release of internal Liberal polling results saying
that the party has a shot at winning the Vancouver East riding now
that NDP potentate Libby Davies is retiring. But that's only if Emery
is not the candidate, according to polling data obtained by the
Vancouver Sun.

Emery suggested in an interview that Justin Trudeau and his aides are
nervous about her political ambitions. Emery's candidacy still must be
approved by the Liberal "green light committee," which has
considerable latitude under party rules to deny candidates the
opportunity to run for a nomination.

She said she respects the party's desire to make sure the best
candidates run, and said she and her husband, who last year completed
a jail sentence in the U.S. on drug charges, will be loyal Liberal
supporters even if she doesn't take the nomination.

But she pointed to reports indicating that the Liberals, in some
ridings, are actively discouraging some candidates in order to clear
the way for so-called "stars."

That, she suggested, would be a violation of Trudeau's 2012 leadership
campaign vow to hold only open nominations.

"I'm known for only speaking the truth, and anyone paying attention to
the news can see that, in some ridings, the Liberal party seems to
have preferred candidates," she said.

"I can see why they're nervous and trying to control the campaign from
top to bottom.

"I just wish that Trudeau would stop saying they're committed to open
nominations in every riding, because again if you're about truth, then
that's clearly not true."

Party spokesman Olivier Duchesneau said a party vetting process that
blocks some candidates for specific reasons set out in party rules
does not mean the nomination process is not open.

"Open nominations does not mean that anyone can have their name on the
ballot at the nomination meeting," he said, adding that Canadians
expect parties to do their "due diligence" on prospective candidates.

"We have always said that candidates need to follow a rigorous process
and that they need approval from the green light committee to go forward."

It's not the first time an Emery has challenged Trudeau's
truthfulness. In 2013, Marc Emery challenged Trudeau's assertion that
the two men never got high together in a Vancouver restaurant in 2003. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D