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NDP MLA Cubberley backs Liberal Penn against Lunn

NDP MLA David Cubberley is endorsing Liberal candidate Briony Penn in her bid to unseat Conservative Gary Lunn in Saanich-Gulf Islands.

“It's important that progressives vote strategically to send a clear message to Stephen Harper's Conservatives,” Cubberley wrote in an open letter to New Democrats. “Briony Penn has the best chance to defeat Conservative MP Gary Lunn.”

The NDP candidate in Saanich-Gulf Islands, Julian West, withdrew after 12-year-old allegations about exposing himself in front of young people resurfaced.

Cubberley, who was himself endorsed by the Conservation Voters of B.C. in 2005, characterized Lunn as “anti-environment” and reckless in his support of nuclear power, supertanker traffic and offshore oil and gas exploration.

Penn, he said, “Takes progressive positions on proportional representation, reigning [sic] in out-of-control tar sands emissions, and saving our wild salmon stocks.”

A similar letter asked Green Party voters to consider voting strategically for Penn. It was signed by environmental author and party member Guy Dauncey, former Green candidate Casey Brennan, former Green provincial candidate Christin Geall, activist Will Horter and activist Marilyn Horstal.

Cubberley noted in his letter that the CVBC helped get him elected. Other NDP members the group has endorsed are Vancouver mayoral candidate Gregor Robertson, Victoria-Hillside MLA Rob Fleming and federal Victoria candidate Denise Savoie.

Cubberley said earlier this year he does not plan to run in the 2009 provincial election.

Following is the complete text of Cubberley's letter:

Dear New Democrats

As a provincial NDP candidate in the 2005 election, I benefited from an endorsement by Conservation Voters of BC, a non-partisan organization that works to elect environmental champions to legislatures in Ottawa and Victoria. It was a very close race and without their help I might not have won.

Now that the NDP candidate has withdrawn from the race in Saanich-Gulf Islands, it's important that progressives vote strategically to send a clear message to Stephen Harper's Conservatives.

Briony Penn has the best chance to defeat Conservative MP Gary Lunn. Mr. Lunn is consistently anti-environment - he recklessly backs nuclear power and wants to end the moratorium on supertanker traffic and oil-and-gas exploration in our coastal waters.

Briony strongly opposes coastal tanker traffic and offshore oil drilling. She takes progressive positions on proportional representation, reigning in out-of-control tar sands emissions, and saving our wild salmon stocks.

It's important not to waste the chance to send Stephen Harper a clear message. With no New Democrat in the race, I'm asking you to lend your vote to Briony Penn.

David Cubberley MLA, Saanich South

Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.


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