BC NDP drops Van Ryswyk for racist comments

[kimmy]

Van Ryswyk is entitled to run for office regardless of her views. However, she's not entitled to run for office as an NDP candidate. The NDP (as any other political party) are entitled to say who gets to (or doesn't get to) reprepresent them in an election.

As for the comments themselves... well, I can say that Van Ryswyk's comments probably resonate with a lot of people here in the interior of BC. She's not getting booted because her comments make her unelectable here, it's because they would make the party look bad in other parts of the province.

Here in the interior, nobody speaks french. (Except for Quebecois migrants in the "walkabout" phase of their lives. Typically young men who come looking for casual labor jobs, "work" for a day or two, and stop showing up. Unreliable and usually drunk, stoned, or hung over. Bar none, the worst laborers I have ever had the displeasure of working with.) Mandatory availability of services in French rubs a lot of people the wrong way in these parts where French probably doesn't even rank in the top 10 most used languages.

And here in the interior, we rub elbows with the natives and we have plenty of reserves nearby. It tends to dispel the illusions that city-dwellers might be under.

Luckily, I will never, ever run for office, so I don't have to worry about these comments coming back to haunt me.

-k

[jacee]

She speaks ...

http://www.kelownacapnews.com/news/election/203494721.html

Van Ryswyk has told Global Okanagan television she plans to run as an independent in the May 14 election.

And yesterday she tweeted that she has received a lot of support since comments she wrote on a online community forum in 2009 decrying what she feels are "handouts" for aboriginal people came to light.

"Maybe it's time for a truly independent voice," tweeted Van Ryswyk.

...

In her interview with Global, part of which was posted on the station's website Tuesday afternoon, Van Ryswyk admitted her comments were "inappropriate."

But she said they stemmed from a frustration she still has, and one that many others share, that settlement with aboriginal people for past injustices has not already been made.

...

Speaking to Global, Van Ryswyk called her 2009 comments about aboriginals and her 2010 comments about the use of French in Canada "inappropriate" but added she made them four years ago when she was not running for public office.

...

Yesterday, she said when she wrote her comments four years ago she was angry and since then has come to believe "thousands" of people agree with her.

But she said despite that anger, she now feels that saying what she said was not okay.

"I'm not that type of person," she said.

...

She wrote she was offended that French was spoken first at the opening ceremonies.

She said Tuesday she has since learned that French is the language of the Olympic movement and now understands why it was used.

I wonder what her platform will be as an independent.

[Vendetta]

The NDP dumped her as they should have. Her comments seem to be more in line with cpc thinking. Dumping a candidate for expressing views contrary to party policy is much different than accepting them as a candidate hoping to capitalize on those views with a seat in parliament and then later forbidding them to express the views they had during an election is a totally different story. If Harper truly wanted to not reopen the abortion debate as he says he doesn't he would have denied the nutbars from running as cpc in the first place.

[hitops]

Wasent there a thread about the conservatives forcing their MPs to toe the party line? People seemed pissed off about that but suddenly a MPP expressing their opinion is kicked out of the NDP for not following the NDP talking points...

You're talking about sitting members who were elected by their constituents. This was just a candidate. The NDP has not prevented her from running, they have prevented her from running under the NDP banner. I totally support her right to say what she wants, and get elected if her constituents support that. Completely different that the situation of duly elected members being silenced.

[The_Squid]

Apparently, she is running in that riding as an independent and has received quite a bit of support. A safe Liberal seat may have now turned into a challenge for the Liberals with the NDP running a distant third. This may have backfire on the Liberals.

Stay tuned....

She claims her comments aren't as bad if put into context and the entire comment is looked at, not just a snippet. Personally, I think they're still pretty bad especially from someone running for public office.

http://www.kelownacapnews.com/news/election/203642651.html

[hitops]

Apparently, she is running in that riding as an independent and has received quite a bit of support. A safe Liberal seat may have now turned into a challenge for the Liberals with the NDP running a distant third. This may have backfire on the Liberals.

Stay tuned....

She claims her comments aren't as bad if put into context and the entire comment is looked at, not just a snippet. Personally, I think they're still pretty bad especially from someone running for public office.

http://www.kelownacapnews.com/news/election/203642651.html

Could be but if she wins her riding, then I guess enough people either agree with her or don't care.

[cybercoma]

No, I want to compare how an MP being silenced because of his views on abortion is a cause to attack the Federal conservative party but a MPP candidate being kicked out for potentially representing the views of the people. I couldn't care less about this incident if it wasn't for people trying to make it sound like the conservatives were doing something no other part does...ever.

You're asking how silencing someone's opinion is different from distancing yourself from that person's opinions by kicking them out of the party. I'm sure you can figure out the difference. One entitles them to their own opinion and allows them to continue voicing it as the representative of that constituency, but not the party. The other does not.

Edited April 21, 2013 by cybercoma

[cybercoma]

I wonder what her platform will be as an independent.

Apparently "speak before thinking" will be her slogan.

[Argus]

there's no party that would keep this person. Too easy to sling allegations of racism. This is stuff you can only say anonymously, and she made the mistake of oouting herself.

No argument there. And yet... I hear similar sentiments almost every day from people who are certainly not right wing crazies, or even conservatives. Both groups are often seen as endlessly whining, bitching and complaining while doing very little to help themselves.

[Argus]

If Harper truly wanted to not reopen the abortion debate as he says he doesn't he would have denied the nutbars from running as cpc in the first place.

Probably half the country, or close to it, would like changes in how this country regulates or does not regulate abortion. That makes them people who disagree with you, not nutbars. As for these comments, they're the kinds of comments people make all the time, just not to the media.

Edited April 21, 2013 by Argus

[jacee]

... right wing crazies, or even conservatives. Both groups are often seen as endlessly whining, bitching and complaining while doing very little to help themselves.

The way I read this, I can agree!

[jacee]

Probably half the country, or close to it, would like changes in how this country regulates or does not regulate abortion. That makes them people who disagree with you, not nutbars. As for these comments, they're the kinds of comments people make all the time, just not to the media.

Maybe they'll think twice about it more now.

[PIK]

B.C. NDP candidate quits over racist remarks on 1st campaign day: Comments focus on First Nations, French-Canadians

The B.C. NDP dropped Kelowna-Mission candidate Dayleen Van Ryswyk on the first day of the provincial election campaign over controversial comments made on a local media website.

...

Some of Van Ryswyk's comments take aim at First Nations.

"Its not the status cards, its the fact that we have been paying out of the nose for generations for something that isnt our doing, reads one post on Castanet, an Okanagan area website. If their ancestors sold out too cheap its not my fault and I shouldnt have to be paying for any mistake or whatever you want to call it from my hard-earned money."

The posts also take aim at the French-Canadian community.

"Seems the only group of people universally hated around the world other than the Americans are the French and French-Canadians. The bigots are the French and not us", the blog reads.

"Im getting so sick of having French stuffed down my throat. This isnt Quebec. Its western Canada. We speak English here. Why are we forced to have it at our western Canadian hosted Olympics."

It seems both the Liberals and NDP find these sentiments inappropriate for a political representative.

I am curious what others think: Is it ever appropriate for any politicians to hold these views and to represent these views of their constituents?

At least she has the balls to say what has to be said. The NDP dropped her because if they win the next election, BC will become quebec west. Let the black mailing begin.

[jacee]

At least she has the balls to say what has to be said.

Well, it seems she misspoke, didn't get across what she really meant.

http://www.kelownacapnews.com/opinion/203683291.html

[Guest Kenneth]

I'm quite certain that the comments she said are shared by many more NDP supporters than they care to admit. The NDP is a socialist party, socialism is bent on creating an egalitarian society, which means "breaking down" barriers. Ethno-nationalism would be one of those "barriers".

[jacee]

I'm quite certain that the comments she said are shared by many more NDP supporters than they care to admit. The NDP is a socialist party, socialism is bent on creating an egalitarian society, which means "breaking down" barriers. Ethno-nationalism would be one of those "barriers".

And you are qualified to speak for NDP'rs ... how?

Perhaps if she had said then what she says now ... but too late for that!

From above link:

I have always championed for equality and fairness for all people, not just those in Canada. I strongly believe that land claims issues and First Nations have not been treated fairly or with respect and my complete comments reflect that. Unfortunately, I wasnt very eloquent in getting that point across and could have been more sensitive in my remarks.

The point I was attempting to make in my online posts were that we are all Canadians, we are one, we are here together and we should all be treated the same, with respect and dignity regardless of your race, creed or colour. I feel that the government not dealing with the land claims issues in a timely manner has created a deep divide within all our Canadian people. I strongly believe the First Nations people have been waiting far too long to have their claims fully addressed and that was the frustration I was trying to relay.

In the four years since making those comments I have been educating myself about First Nations issues and have taken part in many rallies and petitions in support of their claims.

[Guest Kenneth]

But if you read what she writes, you can clearly see why it is that she would be opposed to Indian land claims - you can't have an "equal" society when there are groups within that society who want to maintain a distinct identity.

[jacee]

But if you read what she writes, you can clearly see why it is that she would be opposed to Indian land claims - you can't have an "equal" society when there are groups within that society who want to maintain a distinct identity.

I think it's pretty clear that she thinks they should have been settled already.

But they haven't been.

I think some people simply confuse "equal" with "same".

[Guest Kenneth]

No that's not what she's saying. In theory if the NDP were to gain power and were actually able implement their socialist agenda, then their dealings with Indians would be no better, if not worse than what has already occurred. Of course we know that such a thing is highly unlikely. The only reason the NDP has gained it's opposition party status is because of fickle regional support. Now that Jack is gone, who knows what will become of that in the years to come.

Edited April 25, 2013 by Kenneth