OTTAWA (CP) - The federal Conservative party is facing a lawsuit from grassroots members over its nomination process, while officials continue to reject would-be candidates with no explanation.
The latest snub is to Doug Campbell, an international agricultural economist and one-time adviser to Tory cabinet ministers who wanted to run against MP Myron Thompson for the nomination in Alberta's Wild Rose riding. As happened in at least three other ridings, Campbell was not given any reasons for his rejection. Instead, he was told he could submit additional documentation in an effort to appeal the party's decision.
Campbell said the nomination committee that interviewed him was handpicked by the sitting MP and his supporters. And because of gag agreements he signed with the party, he is not allowed to speak specifically about certain parts of his application process.
"The possible innuendo that I failed a criminal check or security check or credit check - I just totally know that there's nothing there. . .," he said.
"I have to say on the record, I didn't do anything wrong."
The party, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper, publicly announced over the summer that no incumbent MP would be protected from challenges to his or her nomination in the interest of an open and democratic process. But some members have complained that what has resulted is secretive and patently unjust.
In Calgary West, where MP Rob Anders is the incumbent, 11 members of the riding association have asked a provincial judge to review the nomination process that took place there over the last month.
They complain that the party did not widely enough advertise the date of a nomination meeting, did not hold it within the minimum 30-day guideline, and also failed to do a search for qualified potential candidates - all part of the organization's rule book.
The members say they tried to get the party to address the problems through its own arbitration process, but for two weeks got no response. During that period, however, party brass found the time to disqualify a would-be candidate in the riding, Walter Wakula, and also to reject his subsequent appeal.
"The integrity of the process is paramount because that is what people trust, and what they have to trust," Calgary West party member John Knox told Calgary's popular Rutherford radio show on Tuesday.
"We're the Conservative party, and our members expect us to be much better than the Liberal party."
Party officials did not immediately return calls.
But executive director Michael Donison wrote to the party members named in the lawsuit last Friday, telling them the issue was finally being sent to the party's arbitration panel. The group is still pursuing the case in court.
"One of the most fundamental rights of any party member is to vote for whom they think would be the best representative for them, and that's what we want to the court to ensure takes place," said Knox.
In Ottawa, former electoral candidate Alan Riddell is also suing the party for alleged breach of contract. Riddell said he was asked to step aside in the Ottawa South riding during the last election to allow sponsorship whistleblower Allan Cutler to run for the nomination.
Riddell did so with the agreement the party would pay back some of his $50,000 in expenses already incurred. The party has yet to do that, and Riddell is now in court fighting for his money and his reputation.
The party's national council responded to Riddell's actions last week by revoking his party membership, a move that his friends in the riding association say is unjustified.
http://start.shaw.ca/start/enCA/News/NationalNewsArticle.htm?src=n090531A.xml
The latest snub is to Doug Campbell, an international agricultural economist and one-time adviser to Tory cabinet ministers who wanted to run against MP Myron Thompson for the nomination in Alberta's Wild Rose riding. As happened in at least three other ridings, Campbell was not given any reasons for his rejection. Instead, he was told he could submit additional documentation in an effort to appeal the party's decision.
Campbell said the nomination committee that interviewed him was handpicked by the sitting MP and his supporters. And because of gag agreements he signed with the party, he is not allowed to speak specifically about certain parts of his application process.
"The possible innuendo that I failed a criminal check or security check or credit check - I just totally know that there's nothing there. . .," he said.
"I have to say on the record, I didn't do anything wrong."
The party, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper, publicly announced over the summer that no incumbent MP would be protected from challenges to his or her nomination in the interest of an open and democratic process. But some members have complained that what has resulted is secretive and patently unjust.
In Calgary West, where MP Rob Anders is the incumbent, 11 members of the riding association have asked a provincial judge to review the nomination process that took place there over the last month.
They complain that the party did not widely enough advertise the date of a nomination meeting, did not hold it within the minimum 30-day guideline, and also failed to do a search for qualified potential candidates - all part of the organization's rule book.
The members say they tried to get the party to address the problems through its own arbitration process, but for two weeks got no response. During that period, however, party brass found the time to disqualify a would-be candidate in the riding, Walter Wakula, and also to reject his subsequent appeal.
"The integrity of the process is paramount because that is what people trust, and what they have to trust," Calgary West party member John Knox told Calgary's popular Rutherford radio show on Tuesday.
"We're the Conservative party, and our members expect us to be much better than the Liberal party."
Party officials did not immediately return calls.
But executive director Michael Donison wrote to the party members named in the lawsuit last Friday, telling them the issue was finally being sent to the party's arbitration panel. The group is still pursuing the case in court.
"One of the most fundamental rights of any party member is to vote for whom they think would be the best representative for them, and that's what we want to the court to ensure takes place," said Knox.
In Ottawa, former electoral candidate Alan Riddell is also suing the party for alleged breach of contract. Riddell said he was asked to step aside in the Ottawa South riding during the last election to allow sponsorship whistleblower Allan Cutler to run for the nomination.
Riddell did so with the agreement the party would pay back some of his $50,000 in expenses already incurred. The party has yet to do that, and Riddell is now in court fighting for his money and his reputation.
The party's national council responded to Riddell's actions last week by revoking his party membership, a move that his friends in the riding association say is unjustified.
http://start.shaw.ca/start/enCA/News/NationalNewsArticle.htm?src=n090531A.xml
