Pubdate: Wed, 18 Apr 2001
Source: Trail Daily Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 Trail Daily Times
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/britishcolumbia/trail/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1043

DISSENT HITS B.C. MARIJUANA PARTY AFTER NEW JOB GIVEN TO FORMER ALLIANCE AIDE

EDMONTON (CP) - The hiring of a former Canadian Alliance aide appears to 
have stoked the fires of dissent in the Marijuana Party of British Columbia.

Meaghan Walker-Williams, the pot party's candidate in the riding of 
Cowichan-Ladysmith, announced this week she was quitting because she 
couldn't tolerate working with Matthew Johnston.

Johnston was fired from the Alliance for impersonating his boss Edmonton MP 
Rahim Jaffer last month on a national radio program.

Johnston was hired last Thursday as Marijuana Party president Mark Emery's 
campaign co-chairman.

"I can't stand liars," Walker-Williams said in a news release.

"I will not be associated with any organization that aids, abets or gives 
credence to a liar."

Johnston said Tuesday he is sorry to see Walker-Williams go, but insisted 
he doesn't feel he's jinxing his new bosses.

"I'm getting tremendous support from our candidates," he said.  "I'm being 
looked upon as someone who's bringing legitimacy and experience to the party."

Party brass agreed.

"Meaghan didn't fit in all that well anyway," said party leader Brian 
Taylor.  "We shouldn't have a problem (replacing her)."
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D