mike watkins dot ca : Vancouver-East CPC - Illegitimate President

Vancouver-East CPC - Illegitimate President

Date: Mon, 6 Mar 2006 01:10:16 -0800
From: Michael Watkins
To: Jerra Byrne, Political Operations Officer – Western and Northern Canada, Conservative Party of Canada
Cc: Ray Leitch – CPC National Councillor, Marilyn Brown – Vancouver-Kingsway CPC EDA President
Subject: Vancouver-East – external director as President

Jerra, Ray:

I happened to note this letter in The Hill Times.

In his letter, Edward Sem identifies himself as a Vancouver-Kingsway voter and therefore a riding resident.

As Sem currently holds the position of President of the Vancouver East CPC EDA, his presidency is illegitimate under rules established by our National Council. I trust you will do the right thing and declare his presidency invalid, and instruct Vancouver-East’s board of directors to hold a nomination and election for a replacement president immediately.

After all, “accountability” is one of our key priorities and we ought to look inward first.

PS: While I have your attention, can you provide an explanation as to why there are no links to nor obvious location on the CPC website for:

  • a listing of riding presidents and contact information. How are we to encourage party members to get more involved if we put roadblocks in their way to locating even this basic information?
  • a listing of riding web sites
  • a listing of the “political operations” officers and other riding and member oriented contacts within the party
  • a listing of National Councilors and contact information. I had Ray Leitch’s contact info as I was once Secretary of Vancouver South EDA. I do not know who the other BC National Councillor is. Please provide.
  • a listing of party documents including our constitution, the interim EDA constitution
  • National Council rulings. Why are party members like myself unable to access rulings, particularly for issues of interest at the riding level?

Our party is stronger than ever; surely we have the resources to create a simple web page or two with the information our membership require. Surely transparency and accountability are notions we really believe in and will enforce upon ourselves, not just on others.

Thank you and best regards,
Michael Watkins
Vancouver Kingsway

This begs the question – does Edward Sem live in Vancouver Kingsway or Vancouver East, and has he deceived either the party or Elections Canada? Stay tuned for an answer…