Orchard Breaks Silence On Nomination Dispute
Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 15:18
David Orchard says he never would have campaigned to become a Liberal candidate in northern Saskatchewan if he had been told Leader Stephane Dion was going to appoint a woman.
Liberal MP Ralph Goodale says Orchard knew full well that the party wanted an Aboriginal woman to run in an upcoming by-election.
Goodale says Orchard and anyone else who expressed interest in running for the party even signed a paper warning them that Liberal Leader Stephane Dion may appoint a woman candidate if one came along.
But, in his first comments on the controversy, Orchard refutes that assertion — and is challenging Goodale to produce the paper he alleges all would-be candidates signed to that effect.
Orchard says he was assured that there would be an open contest for the Liberal nomination in Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill.
Joan Beatty, a former provincial NDP cabinet minister, was appointed by Dion last week, foregoing a nomination process that would have included Orchard — a development that has angered his supporters.
But Goodale says Dion had every right to appoint Beatty, because the Liberals’ constitution allows it. Goodale also says other parties have similar stipulations in their bylaws.
Goodale made his comments as the Liberals parachuted some high-profile members into northern Saskatchewan yesterday to launch Beatty’s campaign.
Goodale, MP Ken Dryden and former Ontario premier Bob Rae were all in La Ronge to offer Beatty their support.
Goodale was also adamant that a meeting of disgruntled Liberals in Prince Albert this weekend is not endorsed by the party, and is not a nomination meeting — even though organizers say they will use it to try to initiate what they believe will be a more democratic nomination process.
Beatty says that although she feels she made the right decision for herself and the people of the riding, she has felt the criticism.
Beatty adds that she would have run for the position, even if she had not been appointed.
(includes files from The Canadian Press)