And now it’s a race …

“Welcome to a future – a New Democrat future – where everyone can contribute and no one is left out” --- NDP MLA Adrian Dix during his leadership announcement Monday January 17^th in East Vancouver

It hasn’t be a very well kept secret, and now Adrian Dix, alleged to be one of the toughest New Democratic MLA’s, has announced he is running to lead the party.  Dix, who was elected to the BC legislature in 2005, is a former room mate of Premier Glenn Clark.  He worked with Clark helping him become premier in 1996 when the NDP last won a provincial election, and then went on to serve as Clark’s Chief of Staff.

Justine Hunt from the Globe and Mail has stated that, “Mr. Dix has been one of the strongest critics on the opposition benches since winning election in 2005, tackling both the children and families file and, more recently, health. He takes credit for pushing the government into the creation of an independent watchdog for children and youth, as well as for winning better security for women using public transit.”




Royal Inland Hospital --  Kamloops, BC

For those living in the Kamloops, Thompson Nicola region, Adrian Dix, who is currently the NDP’s Health critic has often been on the attack with regards services at Royal Inland Hospital, most recently with regards to the cleaning of hospital surgical equipment.  This caused him to be a burr under the saddle of Kamloops South Thompson Liberal MLA Kevin Krueger, who as you know just a few days ago had to retract and appologize for the following comments he made in an interview with a Kamloops radio station:

"If there ever was a guy that shouldn't put his head up to get it shot off, as the soldiers refer to it, it's Adrian Dix"

If elected leader of the NDP, and if he wins the next provincial election, Adrian Dix has promised a New Democrat government will close the gap between the provinces richest and poorest citizens, he’ll get tough on climate issues, scrap the HST, improve the province’s position as the worst in Canada when it comes to child poverty, and expand transit infrastructure.

Dix, a two term MLA, is the sixth candidate to enter the race to replace Carole James as leader of the NDP, joining Mike Farnworth, John Horgan, Harry Lali, Dana Larsen and Nicholas Simons.  The NDP will elect their leader at a vote to be held April 17^th. 

Interestingly, the New Democrats just made two announcements regarding rules for their leadership hopefuls.  First candidates must post a $15,000 entry fee -- and second is a requirement that they hand over 50% of all money they raise to the party.  If Adrian Dix, or any of the others seeking the leadership of the NDP plan to hit the spending limit cap of $175,000, that means they will actually have to raise over a third of a million dollars.

There have been rumours in recent months that the NDP was short of financial resources --- seems to me that striping leadership candidates of half the funds they raise may be a good indicator of how true that is.

I'm Alan Forseth, and those are the thoughts of one conservative.