Trudeau and his open votes for candidates?
B.C. Sikhs quit Liberals to protest Justin Trudeau's 'star' candidate - Politics - CBC News
In an embarrassing blow to Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, a large group of Sikh Liberals in British Columbia is quitting the party, saying Trudeau is being "manipulated" by Sikhs under the banner of the World Sikh Organization.
"We think this Liberal Party's been hijacked by the WSO," said Rajinder Singh Bhela, a longtime Liberal and former general secretary of the Ross Street Temple, Vancouver's largest Sikh temple.
"The Liberal Party, especially Justin, is in bed with extremist and fundamental groups. That's why I decided to leave the Liberal Party," said Kashmir Dhaliwal, ex-president of the powerful Khalsa Diwan Society, founded by Sikh pioneers in 1902.
The walkout was provoked by the party's selection of a WSO-backed candidate, Harjit Singh Sajjan, over a prominent businessman, Barj Dhahan. Dhahan is a moderate ally of Ujjal Dosanjh, the previous Liberal MP.
Vancouver South, wrested from the Liberals in 2011 by Conservative Wai Young, is one of several swing ridings the Liberals hope to regain in the next election.
The party-preferred candidate, Sajjan, is a decorated soldier and was a featured speaker at the last Liberal convention. He now stands to win by acclamation after Dhahan was persuaded by the party leadership to withdraw.
Dhahan declined to discuss his reasons with CBC News, except to confirm that he withdrew reluctantly.
Andrew Leslie's Liberal nomination win draws protest - Ottawa - CBC News
Andrew Leslie's Liberal nomination win draws protest
Supporters for David Bertschi vocal in protest of move to exclude competition
CBC News Posted: Dec 08, 2014 12:20 PM ET Last Updated: Dec 08, 2014 12:20 PM ET
Andrew Leslie speaks in Montreal earlier this year. Former leadership contender David Bertschi was barred from seeking the Liberal nomination in Ottawa-Orleans, clearing the way for Leslie to carry the party banner in the riding during next year's federal election.
Andrew Leslie speaks in Montreal earlier this year. Former leadership contender David Bertschi was barred from seeking the Liberal nomination in Ottawa-Orleans, clearing the way for Leslie to carry the party banner in the riding during next year's federal election.
The acclamation of retired general Andrew Leslie as a candidate for the Ottawa riding of Orléans on Saturday was undemocratic, according to a former Liberal leadership candidate whose candidacy in the riding was blocked by the party.
Lawyer David Bertschi had run for the Liberals in Ottawa-Orléans in the 2011 election and made an unsuccessful bid for the party leadership in 2013. The riding will be known as Orléans in the 2015 election.
The party said Bertschi's candidacy was blocked because he had not demonstrated significant progress reducing his leadership campaign debt of $150,000 and that he had failed to disclose a defamation suit he launched in 2013 against an American gossip website but subsequently abandoned.
At a raucous nomination meeting on Saturday, dozens of Bertschi's supporters came to voice their displeasure with Leslie's acclamation.
B.C. Sikhs quit Liberals to protest Justin Trudeau's 'star' candidate - Politics - CBC News
In an embarrassing blow to Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, a large group of Sikh Liberals in British Columbia is quitting the party, saying Trudeau is being "manipulated" by Sikhs under the banner of the World Sikh Organization.
"We think this Liberal Party's been hijacked by the WSO," said Rajinder Singh Bhela, a longtime Liberal and former general secretary of the Ross Street Temple, Vancouver's largest Sikh temple.
"The Liberal Party, especially Justin, is in bed with extremist and fundamental groups. That's why I decided to leave the Liberal Party," said Kashmir Dhaliwal, ex-president of the powerful Khalsa Diwan Society, founded by Sikh pioneers in 1902.
The walkout was provoked by the party's selection of a WSO-backed candidate, Harjit Singh Sajjan, over a prominent businessman, Barj Dhahan. Dhahan is a moderate ally of Ujjal Dosanjh, the previous Liberal MP.
Vancouver South, wrested from the Liberals in 2011 by Conservative Wai Young, is one of several swing ridings the Liberals hope to regain in the next election.
The party-preferred candidate, Sajjan, is a decorated soldier and was a featured speaker at the last Liberal convention. He now stands to win by acclamation after Dhahan was persuaded by the party leadership to withdraw.
Dhahan declined to discuss his reasons with CBC News, except to confirm that he withdrew reluctantly.
Andrew Leslie's Liberal nomination win draws protest - Ottawa - CBC News
Andrew Leslie's Liberal nomination win draws protest
Supporters for David Bertschi vocal in protest of move to exclude competition
CBC News Posted: Dec 08, 2014 12:20 PM ET Last Updated: Dec 08, 2014 12:20 PM ET
Andrew Leslie speaks in Montreal earlier this year. Former leadership contender David Bertschi was barred from seeking the Liberal nomination in Ottawa-Orleans, clearing the way for Leslie to carry the party banner in the riding during next year's federal election.
Andrew Leslie speaks in Montreal earlier this year. Former leadership contender David Bertschi was barred from seeking the Liberal nomination in Ottawa-Orleans, clearing the way for Leslie to carry the party banner in the riding during next year's federal election.
The acclamation of retired general Andrew Leslie as a candidate for the Ottawa riding of Orléans on Saturday was undemocratic, according to a former Liberal leadership candidate whose candidacy in the riding was blocked by the party.
Lawyer David Bertschi had run for the Liberals in Ottawa-Orléans in the 2011 election and made an unsuccessful bid for the party leadership in 2013. The riding will be known as Orléans in the 2015 election.
The party said Bertschi's candidacy was blocked because he had not demonstrated significant progress reducing his leadership campaign debt of $150,000 and that he had failed to disclose a defamation suit he launched in 2013 against an American gossip website but subsequently abandoned.
At a raucous nomination meeting on Saturday, dozens of Bertschi's supporters came to voice their displeasure with Leslie's acclamation.
