Former B.C. NDP premier Ujjal Dosanjh

[maplesyrup]

Mr. Dosanjh was B.C. premier when the Liberals swept the two-term NDP government from office in May 2001. It was the most lopsided political drubbing in provincial history, with the Gordon Campbell Liberals winning 77 of 79 seats.

The federal Liberals were told that a Dosanjh candidacy could spark a voter backlash, the provincial source said. Many voters would likely still want to hold Mr. Dosanjh and possibly the federal Liberals responsible for the economic problems and scandals that plagued B.C. during the decade the NDP held power, Mr.Cunningham said.

"It would resonate poorly or very poorly with a lot of supporters and potential supporters of the federal Liberal party," he said. "Don't go sell the B.C. seats down the drain because you are trying to save some seats in Metro Toronto."

Federal NDP Leader Jack Layton has been getting under the skins of federal Liberals lately with his depiction of Mr. Martin as being in the pocket of big business.

The federal Liberals expect to lose seats in the Toronto area to the NDP, but believe the Dosanjh candidacy could win them left-leaning support in B.C., the provincial source said.

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I can understand people like Scott Brison crossing the floor, but a former pprovincial premier.

Anyways his most recent track record is not so hot. he led the NDP to the worst defeat that any political party ever experienced in BC.

[August1991]

Let me get this straight: Dosanjh may be a federal Liberal candidate in BC? In what riding? Is this for real? (It ain't called Lotusland for nothing says this Easterner.)

[maplesyrup]

What is so hypocritical about this, after telling Copps for example that he doesn't get involved in riding choices, is that Martin is appointing 4-5 Liberal candidates in BC.

I think this is just going to enrage the BC voters, and end up helping the NDP.

We are talking about urban ridings here.

There still seems to be some confusion which ridings are going to be the lucky recipients of Martin's largesse.

[BigGunner]

Dosanjh won the NDP leadership under very cloudy circumstances. Events that look similiar to the Basi-boy techniques used by the federal liberals today.

Dosanjh was viewed by many NDPers as a conservative, and this 'appointment' confirms that he has no principles.

Oh well, that is Paul Martin's problem.

Appointing Dosanjh will backfire on the Liberals and send the seat to the NDP.

Oddly, making David Emmerson the candidate in Van-Kingsway is equally stupid. Emmerson was a Social Credit insider of the VanderZalm days, and just as Paul Martin tries to defend his left flank from Layton, Martin appoints a ruthless, conservative CEO as candidate in a progressive part of Vancouver.

NDP gain.