Pubdate: Thu, 15 Jan 2015
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Page: A9
Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/letters.html
Website: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author: Peter O'Neil

TRUDEAU'S OPENNESS VOW QUESTIONED

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

The provocative comments this week from Emery, wife of the so called
"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 MP Libby Davies is retiring.

But that's only if Emery is not the candidate, according to polling
data obtained by Postmedia News.

Emery suggested in a wide-ranging and often disjointed interview that
Trudeau and his top 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
some hopefuls 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 controversial 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 then she pointed to recent media reports indicating that the
Liberals, in some ridings, are actively discouraging certain
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 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 isn't 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 political parties to do their "due diligence" on prospective
candidates.  
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