Uppal Faces Indy Challenge

EDMONTON — James Ford confirmed Friday he plans to run as an independent in Edmonton-Sherwood Park, setting up another divisive conservative scrap in the riding.

Ford came within 1,668 votes of toppling Conservative Tim Uppal in 2008, a staggering result in a riding that has been solid Tory blue since its inception.

If you remember, Uppal was parachuted into the riding in '08 over the wishes of the local EDA. Ken Epp, the guy he was replacing, refused to endorse him. Still not much of a chance of a Lib or Dipper coming up the middle though, based on 2008's result.

An Interesting Tidbit Re Uppal Motion

The CIC [Canada-Israel Committee] Commends the Conservative Party, the Liberal Party and the Bloc Quebecois for Denouncing Israeli Apartheid Week and Condemns the NDP for Refusing To Do So.

While it is clear that the Uppal motion condemning Israeli Apartheid Week failed, as Marky Mark pointed out, the vote was unrecorded. Would it have been a voice vote? Nevertheless, the above suggests that support/dissent fell entirely along party-lines. I'm not sure how the CIC could know that.

Tory Turmoil In Edmonton! Retiring Tory MP Refuses To Endorse Hand Picked Successor

I've written a number of times about issues the CPoC has been having with its grassroots. In Edmonton, the pattern has once again repeated itself: the party ignores its own riding association to parachute in a candidate from elsewhere, this time Tim Uppal, and once again, riding association board members quit en masse, this time to support Independent candidate James Ford.

Not only that, retiring Tory MP Ken Epp has apparently decided to sit out this intramural feud, and will not endorse either Uppal of Ford

I've fired off emails to some of the Edmonton—Sherwood Park riding association members and hopefully will be able to update this later in the day.

The Illustrated Guide To Tory Turmoil

OTTAWA - A former MP says he and many other Conservatives in his Manitoba riding are upset with how the party handled finding his replacement, calling the nomination process there undemocratic

[...]

Mark said in an interview that he purposely announced he was leaving a year early, so that the party would have time to hold a competitive nomination process.

Instead, only a single nomination contestant — Robert Sopuck — was ever recognized by the party, despite other local Tories wanting to run.

Mark said he complained about irregularities in the process to his Manitoba caucus colleagues at least twice.

"After spending over 13 years in the riding, not allowing the membership base to have a say in who should replace me is just not right, and not one of (my fellow MPs). . .would utter one single response," he said.

Inky is hardly the first to complain, though. Every since they came to power in 2006, the Tories have been wrestling where their Reform Party instincts in regards to local democracy.

For example, most of the Calgary West riding association quit after CPoC Central quelled their attempts to replace Rob Anders with someone less embarrassing.

Gilles Rancourt complained about the "Party Brass in Ottawa" stifling his bid for the federal nomination in London-Fanshawe, and eventually left the CPoC.

And then there was The Blue Network, a short-lived reform movement within the CPoC that worked towards restoring "grassroots democracy" to the party. It went nowhere.

Opposition to Lisa Raitt's parachute candidacy among Halton Tories was legendary. Local Tories even whomped up an anonymous website urging her defeat in '08. She won anyway.

Ken Epp refused to endorse Tim Uppal in 2008 when he was parachuted into Epps old (Edmonton) riding. Uppal won the seat regardless.

But perhaps most tragically, nine directors of The Mississauga East-Cooksville Conservative Party executive quit when smoking hot Melissa Bhagat was selected by the Tory braintrust in Ottawa to run in that riding. She lost.

That's all I can remember; I'm not sure the protests against Julian Fantino count because I'm not sure the opposition comes from local Conservatives. But here's a link anyhow.

PS. I think this is the only website on the planet that still has this particular picture of Ms. Bhaghat. I believe she had it pulled from the original source after she was nominated.

Tim Uppal's Motion Fails

No MSM coverage yet, but Tim Uppal's anti-Israeli Apartheid Week motion has been defeated.

Which makes me happy, for reasons I've given here.

Would this have been a voice vote where its impossible to who voted which way? Presumably it would have been non-whipped.

Tim Uppal Finally Speaks Out

...condemning the implicit threats threats aimed at Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh or provincial Liberal MLA Dave Hayer in advance of the annual Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, B.C.:

Mr. Speaker, last week marked the Sikh celebration of Vaisakhi, which is the celebration of the birth of Sikhism as a collective faith.

Thousands of Canadians are celebrating throughout the country. For Sikhs it is an opportunity not only for celebration but for community service, which is a foundational principle of the faith. Sikhs have a long and proud history of contributing to the community and to this country, such as Sikh Canadian soldiers serving in our armed forces and in Afghanistan.

Sikhism preaches remembrance of God, truthful living and selfless service.

It is therefore extremely saddening that a handful of individuals have tainted this celebration by indicating possible violence and glorifying some of Canada's listed terrorist organizations. This is not the proper way to convey a message.

This government stands with the Canadian Sikh community in condemning those individuals who have overshadowed this celebration of shared Canadian and Sikh values of equality, humanity and justice for all.

Good to see, if a bit late in coming.

And from the parade organizers, something resembling an apology.

Say No To Tim Uppal's Motion

That this House considers itself to be a friend of the State of Israel; that this House is concerned about expressions of anti-Semitism under the guise of "Israeli Apartheid Week"; and that this House explicitly condemns any action in Canada as well as internationally that would equate the State of Israel with the rejected and racist policy of apartheid.

Because some good people say it is an apartheid state, and some say it ain't, and some (like myself) think the phrase is an exaggeration that hides a germ of truth. None of us needs the federal government to step in and offer guidance on the issue.

(PS. What will actualy happen when the motion--which has no legal force--is introduced? I suspect gutlessness, at least from the Liberal benches. I would like to be pleasantly surprised.)

Uppal Gone AWOL

Big talk from the Tory MP on Israeli Apartheid week, but when Sikh militants parade around Surrey and actually threaten Canadian politicians...the sounds of silence.

Time to step up and testify, brother!