In Elizabeth May’s quest for a seat in the House of Commons, she has decided to try the riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands for the site of her next attempt. She wasn’t successful the first time in a southern Ontario by-election in 2006. She made another unsuccessful attempt in the 2008 general election with Peter MacKay’s riding in Nova Scotia. During that campaign, she cited her personal and political roots to the province of Nova Scotia. Now it seems, she’s decided to abandon Nova Scotia altogether in hopes that a third try in a riding on the other side of the continent will pay off.
It galls me that politicians like Elizabeth May claim they want to represent a particular riding because they have roots there, then less than a year later decide to parachute into a riding on the other side of the country, thinking there is a better chance of winning a seat there. This is in stark contrast to the Conservative incumbent of the Saanich-Gulf Island riding. MP Gary Lunn is a long time resident of Saanich and has held the riding through five elections dating back to 1997.
I believe that this politically opportunistic move will not pay off for her. People see these kinds of maneuvers for what they are and vote accordingly. Moving around the country until a suitable riding can be found that is willing to vote a Green Party candidate into Parliament has a cost to ones creditability. It’s a politician’s duty to serve the public interest, not the other way round.
It galls me that politicians like Elizabeth May claim they want to represent a particular riding because they have roots there, then less than a year later decide to parachute into a riding on the other side of the country, thinking there is a better chance of winning a seat there. This is in stark contrast to the Conservative incumbent of the Saanich-Gulf Island riding. MP Gary Lunn is a long time resident of Saanich and has held the riding through five elections dating back to 1997.
I believe that this politically opportunistic move will not pay off for her. People see these kinds of maneuvers for what they are and vote accordingly. Moving around the country until a suitable riding can be found that is willing to vote a Green Party candidate into Parliament has a cost to ones creditability. It’s a politician’s duty to serve the public interest, not the other way round.
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