With Parliament in summer break, local federal Liberals are full swing behind the scenes with the party headhunting prospects, and candidates applying to take over where MP Blair Wilson left off. And the process is causing a few waves.Liberal representation for the riding is still in upheaval since a scandal alleging the former Liberal, now independent MP mismanaged campaign funding, resulting in his resignation from the Liberal caucus. One of the possibilities could bring a federal election campaign very close to home. Squamish Mayor Ian Sutherland, who recently announced he would not seek another term as mayor, said he's been approached to represent the Liberals in the West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country riding. He said he's yet to decide on the matter, however, with a trip to Ottawa slated for the very near future, some locals are wondering whether Sutherland is on his way to connect with party insiders.The suggestion is offensive, said Sutherland, since he's clearly stated he's going to Ottawa on official Squamish business with the Department of Oceans and Fisheries, adding a council decision is sending him there. "The short answer is no," he said when asked whether he'll also be investigating a potential seat in Parliament. "And frankly it is repugnant that they'd say that because we've been working on this file for four years."Sutherland also noted that he's not currently a member of the federal Liberal Party.Meanwhile, UBC professor Michael Byers recently declined an invitation to contest for the local Liberal candidacy, which led to accusation of "political cowardice," according to Byers.Liberal leader Stéphane Dion himself approached Byers, who holds a Canadian Research Chair in International Law and Politics, said Byers, adding he seriously considered it."Stéphane Dion asked me to consider the possibility and asked to meet with me, and when the Liberal leader of a federal party asks to meet and consider a possibility, I take that seriously."But it was Dion's recent environmental "Green Shift" plan that caused Byers to run instead to the NDP in the Vancouver Centre riding."The idea of imposing an additional tax on fuels at a time when the market has already imposed $350 a tonne of additional cost on carbon - I'm very concerned about issues of social justice and poverty, and it struck me as a policy that wasn't appropriate for the current pressures that face Canadians," he said. "I didn't see a major commitment to helping Canadians retrofit their homes to make them more energy-efficient. I didn't see a major commitment to investing in public transportation." Most notably, said Byers, there was no commitment to a cap and trade program, which uses economic incentives for achieving reductions in the emissions of pollutants.The respective party's popularity in B.C. did not deter his decision, he said. "There's a difference between politics and advocating the right policies."But Bruce Young, the Liberals' B.C. campaign co-chair, has publicly said that it was precisely a question of politics that led to Byers decision. Young said Byers was unwilling to run if the party didn't guarantee him Liberal representation in the next election. Byers instead would have to contest for representation along with all other potential Liberal candidates. Byers said this amounts to accusations of "political cowardice," which he dismisses in light of his recent decision to run for the NDP's Vancouver Centre seat, which would pit him against the formidable Liberal MP Hedy Fry.Ken Halliday, president of the West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country Liberal Riding Association, said on Monday (July 7) "several" would-be candidates have taken out application forms, which is the first step for potential candidates to take. The matter then goes to the Liberals' national "Green Light Committee," which checks out credentials and determines fitness to stand as candidates."I can't tell you any names because that's a confidential matter, but people have to be greenlighted first, and after that they have to decide whether or not they want to run it's up to those people to announce that they're running," he said.
