Independent media needs you. Join the Tyee.

The Hook: Political news, freshly caught

Elizabeth May elected to Parliament... in William Deverell novel

The woman who leads Canada's Green Party has been elected to Parliament in her Gulf Island riding.

Or, at least that's the way it is in William Deverell's new novel "Snow Job," which features a fictional character bearing a remarkable resemblance to the real-life Green Party leader.

The character, Margaret Blake, is the wife of Deverell's returning protaganist, Arthur Beauchamp, who is now stuck in snowy Ottawa because Blake has been elected an MP.

Deverell is himself a failed politician, having run three times for the NDP. The novelist lives in the Gulf Islands and calls May a friend.

May, the real-life Green Party leader, recently moved to the real-life Saanich-Gulf Islands riding, where she plans to run in the next federal election.

The Globe and Mail's senior political writer Jane Taber has expanded on Deverell's fantasy, puckishly headlining today's blog item, "Elizabeth May gets elected." (Google that, Gary Lunn.)

Taber, who has covered Parliament Hill since the Mulroney era, also serves up the follow attempt by Deverell to explain the "political thriller's" self-evident shortcoming.

"Political thriller is sort of an oxymoron, right?" Deverell told Taber. "But not so. I think there’s probably more fun and foolishness and adventure on Parliament Hill than there is in the Senate in Washington or the Parliament of England. We tend to downplay ourselves."

Monte Paulsen reports on political thrillers for The Tyee.

Find more in:

What have we missed? What do you think? We want to know. Comment below. Keep in mind:

Do:

  • Verify facts, debunk rumours
  • Add context and background
  • Spot typos and logical fallacies
  • Highlight reporting blind spots
  • Ignore trolls
  • Treat all with respect and curiosity
  • Connect with each other

Do not:

  • Use sexist, classist, racist or homophobic language
  • Libel or defame
  • Bully or troll
  • Troll patrol. Instead, flag suspect activity.
comments powered by Disqus