February 21, 2000 

BRING ON THE CLOWNS
 
"I'm glad this weekend has finally come, eh," said Jim Sinclair on the first day 
of the three-day convention.  I couldn't agree more.  With the past few months of 
internal power struggle within the New Democratic Party, not only those within the 
party, but even the general public just wanted the situation to just be resolved. 
 Well, as of Sunday morning, it has.  Ujjal Dosanjh beat out his only competition 
in the first ballot, Corky Evans, by a margin of 220 votes.  Len Werden dropped out 
prior to the leadership speeches Saturday evening, and Gordon Wilson wasn't far behind 
dropping out early Sunday morning.  Sinclair also said that they should just "take 
it easy on each other for a few months" following the exchange of ill will that the 
candidates have had.  I'm not all too sure that will happen, but I am sure that Dosanjh 
must work to unite his party. 
 
This convention was supposed to be a rather serious event with rather serious ramifications 
on not only the party itself, but also the province as a whole.  For the most part, 
it was not.  Walking into the Pacific Coliseum Friday evening, I was expecting myriads 
of suits and ties.  I was expecting a friendly atmosphere filled with handshakes 
and smiles, yes, but overall a serious environment filled with media scrutiny.	Looking 
down to where Pavel Bure used to light it up and make the crowd explode with ecstatic 
cheers, I saw tables and tables of delegates shuffling their papers.  I expected 
quasi-formal wear.  What I saw were jeans and khakis and T-shirts.  Now, the attire 
isn't all that important, assuming the people are professional and are adequately 
groomed.  I suppose they were to some degree. 
 
The thing that really stuck out in my mind Saturday afternoon was how immature these 
delegates were.  Sure they may tout that they are "united and determined" to win 
a third term.  Jim Sinclair said that he is "a New Democrat, because when my kid 
is sick, my first call is to my doctor, not my banker."  They have their reasons 
to be proud, but the show of immaturity Saturday afternoon disgusted me.  I was expecting 
a serious event.  During the policy debate, at roughly 2:30 p.m., first Corky balloons 
were handed out to his supporters.  A sea of green, yellow, and white balloons flooded 
the convention floor.  Not long afterwards, orange "U!" balloons were distributed 
to Ujjal Dosanjh's supporters.	Looking at the convention floor below, it seemed 
more like a celebration or circus of sorts, rather than an organized political function. 
 The balloons cheapened the seriousness of naming of a new leader and Premier.	When 
looking upon public officials, like Jenny Kwan or Andrew Petter, one would assume 
they would keep some sense of professionalism.	One thinks wrong. 
 
Because it was policy debate, people would stand at either a designated pro or con 
microphone, and voice their opinion on that particular policy, be it abortion or 
forestry or whatever.  When no more people were waiting at microphones to talk about 
that subject, the convention floor would have a vote.  The chairperson at that time, 
Angela Scheera (Secretary-Treasurer of the BC Federation), would hold the vote.  
She would ask who was in favour of the motion, and they raised their hands.  Then, 
she would ask who was opposed, and they raised their hands.  The motion would then 
be put up to further debate, carried, or defeated.  However, with the excessive number 
of balloons (green, yellow, white, orange . . . ), the raising of hands was unclear. 
 The balloons made it very difficult for the chairperson to see the votes.  Scheera, 
almost jokingly but with utter seriousness, asked the delegates to "shake their balloons" 
instead of raising their hands.  Our political process has been reduced to this? 
 These are the people that we chose to govern us, to lead us, to make our laws?  
How immature are these people that run our province?  The people supporting Ujjal 
Dosanjh seemed to be competing against one another to see who could get the longest 
string of balloons.  You see, they were tying the strings together in a fashion that 
the balloons would extend higher and higher.  One string of balloons almost touched 
the rafters above.   
 
Honestly, I thought we, as a group, took this occasion way too seriously.  Honestly, 
I thought we came overdressed.	Every one of us thought this was a political function 
like any other, and expected an air of conservatism.  Granted the NDP is left-wing, 
and Corky Evans goes a little further on the left end of the political spectrum, 
they should still be somewhat conservative.  It is a public position and they are 
supposed to be our leaders.  As our leaders, they should always put their best foot 
forward, because it is, after all, their foot that represents us as British Columbians. 
 With the show they put on for us this past weekend, I have changed my opinion of 
the NDP.  I once thought, through their shortcomings, the NDP was a decent party. 
 I no longer believe that, they are no better than a class of preschoolers out in 
the playground. 
 
Granted I have never attended a political function prior to this one and have next 
to no experience in politics, I still thought they were supposed to be professional. 
 Perhaps I have been wrong this whole time about politics, its policies, and its 
members.  Perhaps all political functions have the same atmosphere as this most recent 
NDP convention.  Len Werden said, "We must start by helping those who need it most." 
 The way I see it, he couldn't be more right.  However, the people who need help 
the most . . . is the NDP.  They need to smarten up, tighten up, and rally their 
troops if they intend on having a chance at winning the upcoming election and beating 
out their "common enemy," Gordon Campbell and the Liberals.   
 
Corky Evans, arguably the most charismatic of the group, may also be the most immature. 
 For the leadership speeches, each of the three candidates (Len had dropped out just 
before the speeches) had his own ‘entrance music' of sorts.  They were all very fitting. 
 Ujjal entered with his entourage to "Rise Up" by Parachute Club.  Ujjal primarily 
based his speech on the idea that he believes that a boy in a dusty town in India 
can ‘rise up' and become Premier.  "The barriers are surmountable!"  Gordon Wilson 
entered to Tracy Chapman's "Starting All Over Again."  All of you can figure that 
one out, after all, this is Gordon's third political party.  However, the one that 
stuck out the most in my mind, and probably the minds of everyone else there, was 
Corky's grandiose entrance.  With the house lights dimmed, search lights flying about, 
and colourful lights flashing, "Raise a Little Hell" by Trooper blared over the P.A. 
system.  On the big screen, we see the picture of Vaughn Palmer that is in the Vancouver 
Sun get crossed out with a red felt- tip marker.  His entrance was the most ‘WWF,' 
I think.  Could this be a sign of charisma, or originality, or is it immaturity? 
 It seemed like Corky was not taking this convention all that seriously, but he made 
Saturday evening worthwhile with that entrance.  Corky made the most jokes, by far, 
but he also made some very good comments.  Instead of talking about getting a piece 
of the pie, he suggested that we "build a bigger pie for everyone."   
 
Perhaps I alone think our political process has deteriorated into nothing more than 
a schoolyard fight.  Nevertheless, it is my opinion, and my opinion alone, and no 
one can take it away from me.