Pubdate: Thu, 18 Sep 2008
Source: Whistler Question (CN BC)
Copyright: 2008, Whistler Printing & Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.whistlerquestion.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1034

BACKING NDP CAN STOP TORIES: CANDIDATE

Larsen, Wilson Joust Over Sitting MP's Decision To Join 
Greens

Whistler - Local MP Blair Wilson took some more  shots over his
decision to join the Green Party this  week - this time from NDP
candidate Dana Larsen.

Larsen travelled through the Sea to Sky corridor Monday  (Sept. 15),
giving interviews to media and talking  tough about keeping the
Conservatives at bay. But  Larsen saved his harshest criticism for
Wilson,  describing his decision to join the Green Party as  entirely
self-serving.

"I think it was a cynical move on his part," Larsen  told the Squamish
Chief. "I think it was really to save  his own political career. I
think he was looking for a  place to go and I think he figured the
Greens were a  party desperate enough to take him."

He said he thinks the move will cause the Greens to  lose the
riding.

When reached for a reaction, Wilson said, "It's  unfortunate the
campaign has started on a negative  foot," and is trying to stay
focussed on his platform.

"That's the negative style of politics, but I'm trying  to (maintain)
the positive message Greens are known  for."

Wilson responded to similar comments from Conservative  candidate John
Weston last week in a letter to The  Question in which he called
Weston's comments "cheap  shots" based on "unsubstantiated and untrue
personal  attacks" made by others (see Letters section).

Larsen said his biggest challenge in this year's  election will be
running as a first-time candidate  against the Conservatives. He's
calling on all  supporters to vote NDP as the best chance to stop the 
Conservatives' bid for a majority government.

"I think it is really important to stop Conservatives  from having a
majority," Larsen said. "I think a lot of  people want anybody to
challenge the Conservatives, and  I hope they see that in this riding
I am the person  that can stand up to John Weston and won't just sit
on  my hands and let them do whatever they want."

Although Squamish is traditionally strong NDP  territory, Larsen said
he fears Ian Sutherland, the  Liberal candidate, may be a possible
favourite in the  corridor since he's already well-known as mayor of 
Squamish.

Larsen said he's encouraged, however, since he believes  the Liberals'
weakness in Parliament this year will  translate into a weakness on
the campaign trail as  well.

"I know (the Liberals) picked Ian Sutherland at the  last minute and
losing Blair Wilson to the Greens is  causing a bit of chaos in the
Liberal party," he said.

Gas prices and going green are the main issues Larsen  wants to
address with corridor residents who, he says,  play a large part in
his campaign strategy.

"Gas gouging affects everybody," he said. "We have to  pay our bills
and feed our families and keep a roof  over our head and I don't think
we should let  corporations take things like that from us."

Larsen took the opportunity to explain NDP Leader Jack  Layton's plan
to offer a monitoring system where an  ombudsman would keep oil
companies in check. The NDP  also wants to expand alternative forms of
 transportation to commuters and force polluters to pay  for their own
messes.

"We will use the taxes to help subsidize and transition  to a more
green economy and a green transportation  system," Larsen said.

Larsen didn't shy away from questions over his support  of cannabis
and his previous role in the Marijuana  Party. He points out that a
majority of Canadians  support taxing and regulating marijuana, and
believes  the number is even higher in British Columbia.

"Very rarely do I ever meet anyone in the riding where  they say
'Marijuana is bad and they should all be put  in jail!' I think people
are finding it a refreshing  change of pace that someone is able to
talk openly  about that and it is an important issue, although it is 
not the only issue I stand for.

"That is why I joined the NDP, because I did not want  to be in a
single-issue party. I wanted to be able to  talk a lot of different
issues and address a lot of  different concerns."

Larsen said he won't have a campaign office in the  corridor, but will
rely on a Squamish supporter's offer  of his house to serve as his
headquarters.

"It is a difficult riding strategically to decide where  to put your
resources."

An NDP campaign office has been opened in the Sunshine  Coast and
Larsen said he hopes to also have an office  in West Vancouver.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin