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. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D