Briony Penn said she is leaving federal politics because it costs too much to be a candidate in waiting.
“If you want to have people running who aren't rich, we have to find a different system,” said Penn, who ran for the Liberal Party in Saanich-Gulf Islands in a competitive race against cabinet minister Gary Lunn in the 2008 election. “Look around. Look at the people who run. They're rich or they have someone supporting them.”
A longtime environmental activist and writer, Penn became the Liberal candidate some 18 months before the election. Employers including the federal and provincial environment ministries and the Victoria weekly Monday Magazine dropped her, she said. “I can't earn a living when I'm a candidate.”
The same situation is likely to arise again, she said. The party needs to have a candidate ready to go, but with a minority government in Ottawa and no fixed election dates it is impossible to know when the vote will be.
It is particularly hard on people who are single, female and self-employed like her, she said. “I don't have any financial buffers now,” she said. “The elephant in the room for women in politics is money. It's got to be named. It's got to be addressed.”
Her decision not to run has nothing to do with the change of leadership which saw Michael Ignatieff replace Stéphane Dion, said Penn. “The green agenda's still very much alive for the party.”
Penn said she is working in her garden, spending time with her family, looking for work and trying to get out of debt. She'll remain involved behind the scenes, she said, and did not rule out running again some time in the future.
The riding association's election readiness chair Phil McLarren announced yesterday the party is looking for a candidate to replace Penn.
Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria and a former Monday Magazine reporter. Reach him here.
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G West
2 years ago
Sorry Briony
Won't be crying a lot of tears for you m'dear.
[EDITED FOR LEGAL CONCERNS. -MODERATOR.]
As for the 'money' thing - if you impress the right people I have a feeling that'll be looked after too.
As for that bit about the elephant - I'd say you ought to consider something other than money the next time around.
Enjoy your garden - ever wonder how Julian West is enjoying his?
ME2
2 years ago
Yeah sure, GWest
Gary Lunn, MP - Yay, another victory for the Greens.
ROBBINS Sce Research
2 years ago
My dear----I crow your same
My dear----I crow your same 'truths'--but people must persevere--through this--take stuff for yourself--get people on the street to identify their issues through you as their messenger.
I am obliged that Albert Einstein--the greatest mind--(Hockings) of 125 years---2 rules that most people are not aware he espoused----keep it simple--and never, never give up.
If you believe in what you are doing--the one sole purpose of the life--the Good Lord has graced you with---you will never give up on your principles--and good for you---fight harder to win--and fight on principles you believe in--you will never regret it.
carfreed
2 years ago
ignatieff
wish she would have said something about his take on the tarsands.
michael maser
2 years ago
Julian West ...
is 100% completely responsible for his own demise and reputation.
I wonder what might have happened had 2,000 of the 5,000-odd NDP post-heads who voted for West in this riding - after he resigned and withdrew from the campaign - had voted for Penn instead of him. Duh!
Gustav
2 years ago
Libs got their just desserts
If I had lived in Saanich Gulf Islands I would have voted for Julian West, not Briony Penn. Three reasons:
1) The Federal Liberals are a right-wing party masquerading as a progressive one. Always have been.
2) Julian West is an intelligent, articulate, and decent man.
3) The Liberals played dirty politics by dredging up old news about West that had long been in the public domain. For that, their defeat at the polls was richly deserved.
DPL
2 years ago
Our family is sad to see
Our family is sad to see Brioney leave politics. She is a real environmentalist an author and a all round nice person. Are we Liberals no. Did we support her when she contested the seat Yes. would be support her again. Sure would.
southpaw
2 years ago
Puh...lease......
Is there any area in society where women "won't" use the gender card?
Makes me sad for them.... Wouldn't it be more productive for her to seek out the advice of a veteran politician, instead of whining?
Rod Smelser
2 years ago
Maser: 100% completely revolting attitude!
For once, Briony Penn makes some good points! The business of being a candidate is not as easy as people think. Most employers don't want someone on their payroll running for office. Too bad this Hook item has been ruined by some really distasteful comments.
ME2
Gary Lunn, MP - Yay, another victory for the Greens.
So what? That's what a plurality of Saanich-Gulf Island voters chose, even after Will Horter and his associates tried their damndest to forcibly narrow the field of candidates in favour of the Liberals. Maybe people like you and Horter should consider the possibility that Lunn has done things that thousands of voters actually like. I can't think off hand of what those things might be, but apparently he has some supporters and so does the Tory Party.
If you don't like his position on tanker traffic, fine, neither do I. But people need to wake up and realize that trying to jury rig the election isn't going to work, even when people like you and Horter have gone flat out for two plus years attempting to do that.
Instead, why not give democracy a genuine try, and start the process by assuming that most other people are just as honest and intelligent as you are. Take your message directly to Conservative voters and persuade them that tanker traffic is a really bad idea. Can you do that? Is there some reason why not, other than laziness and cynicism?
michael maser
[Julian West] is 100% completely responsible for his own demise and reputation.
I wonder what might have happened had 2,000 of the 5,000-odd NDP post-heads who voted for West in this riding - after he resigned and withdrew from the campaign - had voted for Penn instead of him. Duh!
How is West responsible for the fact that extremely aggressive green politicos, addicted to American hardball style tactics, packaged a smear on him twelve years ago, used it repeatedly in Green Party strugggles, and then re-packaged it and used it again in the 2008 federal election? Maybe you can tell me how these people found compliant commercial media outlets willing to give a twelve-year old non-story some big national play?
The people you contemptuously call "post-heads" are just as intelligent, well-informed, and honest as those who voted Liberal. They decided to vote for the party they prefered in spite of some very McCarthyist methods used by players like yourself to force them to switch. I guess you don't like people who stand up to your tactics, do you Mr Maser?
To put it mildly, Mr Maser, I find your attitude towards the political process to be 100% completely revolting and dangerous as Hell. Should we assume that your attitude is typical of Canadian Greens, or are you an outlier who doesn't represent the majority of members and supporters of that party?
freebear
2 years ago
Green Agenda alive and well
Yeah right!
With Iggy the Carbon Tax is history (probably would have been a symbolic one anyway!).
What about Liberal's asbestos policy Ms. Penn?
So the allure of political opportunism has lost its sheen?
I hear IPP's of BC is hiring, I am sure Briony knows Ms. Berman!
Perhaps there is a juicy Directorship, oh wait that is the provincial Liberals!
crackpot
2 years ago
now we know why
... the Tyee introduced the "Best Comments" filter: so we don't have to read the juvenile backstabbing of BC's puritan "left". Guess you really do love the politcal wilderness, folks. Maybe a Harper majority will teach you all a lesson.
maudiebones
2 years ago
Sorry this had to happen
This a real shame because Briony Penn would be an excellent MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands.
The article makes clear that along with her professional qualifications and the strong showing she achieved in the last election, she's honest and will speak truth to power.
So, what about the issue she raises? Do we have to accept that our politicians must be either independently wealthy or funded by somebody behind the scenes? Have they found ethical solutions to this problem in other parts of Canada or elsewhere? Because if we can't solve it we could be in for a heap of trouble, being perpetually represented in parliament by people who buy their way into power.
Rod Smelser
2 years ago
What would Liberals learn?
crackpot
Maybe a Harper majority will teach you all a lesson.
What would Liberals learn from such a development?
freebear
2 years ago
Why won't the Liberals give Briony an 'advisor' job till
the next election whenever that will be brace Iggy!
freebear
2 years ago
Oops!
that was: right Iggy!
Wasn't Briony a 'star' candidate?
As I said, surley David Suzuki Foundation could hire her as a environmental consultant; or Berman's IPP group?
freebear
2 years ago
Since when are the Liberals Green!
How many years did the Liberals and Env Minister Stephan manage to do nothing on Kyoto, which they so noften bragged of being signatory to?
Oh, yeah too many!
Would the Liberals support or maintain a tanker moratorium on the inside passage?
Does Iggy have asbestos shares?
Hmmmm, maybe Briony left because there is no integrity or legitamacy (as evidence by BC politics) in politics?
michael maser
2 years ago
Some important, recent political history ... fyi
let's cover some history, for fun and learning, and the edification of various readers and posters here.
Which federal political leader was it who refused all entreaties by national and int'l enviro orgs to not defeat a Liberal gov't, on the cusp of Canada's most significant international enviro conference, ever, knowing that it would bring down a minority gov't and trigger a federal election ...
Why, that was Jack Layton, and he did so, and it did trigger an election, the result of which was ... the election of Stephen Harper at the expense of Paul Martin's Liberals.
Was this insignificant, given Canada's and BC's political make-up today?! How about being honest for a change about political history that has recently shaped present-day reality.