A spokesperson for Gregor Robertson said the mayor isn’t backing Premier Gordon Campbell’s election bid, despite a glowing quote in the B.C. Liberals’ platform.
“The mayor is not endorsing the premier and we did not give permission to use the quote in campaign materials,” a source in the mayor’s office told The Tyee.
Robertson shows up on page 31 of the B.C. Liberals’ 55-page platform, released yesterday.
“As premier, [Campbell] has shown his leadership on the environment, including overseeing BC becoming the first jurisdiction to introduce a Carbon Tax in North America,” reads the platform.
Robertson is the only elected official to appear in the document, which also quotes a film producer and an energy CEO. The mayor’s statement first appeared in an April 4 Vancouver Sun story.
It’s one of many accolades Robertson showered on the premier at a conference on the Olympics, sport and the environment.
His remarks angered many Vision Vancouver supporters who consider themselves more closely aligned with Carole James’ New Democratic Party or Jane Sterk’s Green Party than Campbell’s pro-business Liberals.
Robertson was NDP MLA for Vancouver-Fairview and considered a “star candidate” by the party before he resigned his seat to run for mayor last year.
Coalition of Progressive Electors councillor David Cadman said Campbell’s government is not worthy of support from the green community because of projects such as Gateway.
But he thinks it’s fair game for the B.C. Liberals to use Robertson’s quote in their platform.
“When you make public statements that endorse a person as he did, then any party is free to use them for their purposes,” he told The Tyee.
Geoff Dembicki is a staff reporter for The Tyee.
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Campbellwearsatutu
3 years ago
Gregor..........
He finally felt the winds of change,CKNW has been desperately trying to pimp for Campbell and despite their tactics,despite claiming the tragic consequences of raising minimum wage,the message from CKNW is falling on deaf ears.....
Campbell`s platform,no one believes him,Mustel rubbish isn`t fooling anyone...
Gregor just had a look at internal polling numbers which show Gordon Campbell is going down,so now gregor is changing his tune!
An interesting piece by Vaughn Palmer today......
Apparently Wilf Hanni is running his strongest cadidates in swing ridings,wilf Hanni was going to run in Norm Macdonald`s riding(incumbent and popular NDPer)but now has decided to run against the UN-POPULAR Bill Bennett.....
Bennett has really pissed off constituents and barely won in 2005 election, believe it or not,Wilf Hanni is targetting swing ridings where the NDP lost by 4% to 5% of the vote in 2005....
Payback`s a bitch eh Campbell
Cheers-EYES WIDE OPEN
G West
3 years ago
Of course the Liberals would use it
Sleaze is their middle name - I heard Mike DeJong on the noon show at AM 690 radio. That's all these guys do - they never EVER stand on their own and own up to their mistakes - they misspeak, misquote and misappropriate everything - just as they have with the province's assets.
Campbellwearsatutu
3 years ago
Wilf Hanni
The Vaughn Palmer piece
http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/columnists/story.html?id=9d910ff2-d076-4d91-9eb7-c6a780ff930e
Rod Smelser
3 years ago
Not endorsing Carol James, either
As Gregor Robertson's spokesperson makes clear by ommission, Robertson is not endorsing Carol James, either. That much is crystal clear.
Frank
3 years ago
Gregor
If he's not going to endorse James then I hope he's planning on running for premier as a Liberal. Because if he runs as an NDPer I won't vote for him.
realisticman
3 years ago
Kiss My
We had a hastily assembled conference, Frank and the general consensus is that Gregor will not compromise his principles.
Although every vote is highly valued, the Liberal policy that intends to improve the environment is more important.
The blackmail implication was considered to be a desperate tactic and no self-respecting politician could possible entertain it.
Frank
3 years ago
realisticman
I'm not used to you posting comedy bits. I give you a 3 on the dave allan scale.