T
The420Guy
Guest
She does not want to be linked to the party after it hired disgraced
Alliance aide
A candidate for the Marijuana party of B.C. has quit over the role
being played in the party's campaign by a former aide to a Canadian
Alliance MP.
Meaghan Walker-Williams has resigned as the party's candidate in
Cowichan-Ladysmith because the party hired Matthew Johnston, who
impersonated Edmonton MP Rahim Jaffer on CKNW radio late last month.
Johnston had been Jaffer's executive assistant but quit over the
controversy.
In a media statement this weekend, Walker-Williams said about
Johnston: "I can't stand liars. They just really bug the hell out of
me. And I will NOT be associated with any organization that aids, abets
or gives credence to a liar.
"So -- Sorry B.C. Marijuana party ... Sorry Cannabis Culture -- I
simply can't be a candidate. Not on these terms."
Johnston, 30, became acquainted with Marc Emery, the Marijuana party's
unofficial leader and fund-raiser, last year in London, Ont., at a
conference of the International Society for Individual Liberty. The
meeting attracted libertarians from around the world.
Walker-Williams, a 29-year-old aboriginal single mother from Vancouver
Island, also attended that meeting and met Emery and Johnston.
Johnston, who has been retained to set up the party's
telecommunications centre, said Monday that he regrets Walker-Williams'
decision.
"I have a lot of respect for her and know of her work and admire it.
"I'm disappointed that she would come to this conclusion. But
ultimately it's her decision."
In her statement, Walker-Williams said she had already resigned as a
candidate once before because of the party's media image.
Walker-Williams, who does not smoke marijuana, said:
"I watched as some candidates who frankly scared me, clamoured for
media attention and indeed got it, while other candidates wore silly
hats, and did odd and outrageous things with media in attendance and
this got the party some ink.
"I did not want to associate with or be associated with this kind of
behaviour."
Walker-Williams, who has written on aboriginal issues, is a sharp
critic of the use of alcohol by native leaders.
Johnston said the Marijuana party is attempting to cultivate voters
federally aligned with the Canadian Alliance.
Newshawk: creator@mapinc.org
Pubdate: Tue, 17 Apr 2001
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Website: Vancouver Sun
Address: 200 Granville Street, Ste.#1, Vancouver BC V6C 3N3
Email: sunletters@pacpress.southam.ca
Copyright: The Vancouver Sun 2001
Fax: (604) 605-2323
Author: Doug Ward
Alliance aide
A candidate for the Marijuana party of B.C. has quit over the role
being played in the party's campaign by a former aide to a Canadian
Alliance MP.
Meaghan Walker-Williams has resigned as the party's candidate in
Cowichan-Ladysmith because the party hired Matthew Johnston, who
impersonated Edmonton MP Rahim Jaffer on CKNW radio late last month.
Johnston had been Jaffer's executive assistant but quit over the
controversy.
In a media statement this weekend, Walker-Williams said about
Johnston: "I can't stand liars. They just really bug the hell out of
me. And I will NOT be associated with any organization that aids, abets
or gives credence to a liar.
"So -- Sorry B.C. Marijuana party ... Sorry Cannabis Culture -- I
simply can't be a candidate. Not on these terms."
Johnston, 30, became acquainted with Marc Emery, the Marijuana party's
unofficial leader and fund-raiser, last year in London, Ont., at a
conference of the International Society for Individual Liberty. The
meeting attracted libertarians from around the world.
Walker-Williams, a 29-year-old aboriginal single mother from Vancouver
Island, also attended that meeting and met Emery and Johnston.
Johnston, who has been retained to set up the party's
telecommunications centre, said Monday that he regrets Walker-Williams'
decision.
"I have a lot of respect for her and know of her work and admire it.
"I'm disappointed that she would come to this conclusion. But
ultimately it's her decision."
In her statement, Walker-Williams said she had already resigned as a
candidate once before because of the party's media image.
Walker-Williams, who does not smoke marijuana, said:
"I watched as some candidates who frankly scared me, clamoured for
media attention and indeed got it, while other candidates wore silly
hats, and did odd and outrageous things with media in attendance and
this got the party some ink.
"I did not want to associate with or be associated with this kind of
behaviour."
Walker-Williams, who has written on aboriginal issues, is a sharp
critic of the use of alcohol by native leaders.
Johnston said the Marijuana party is attempting to cultivate voters
federally aligned with the Canadian Alliance.
Newshawk: creator@mapinc.org
Pubdate: Tue, 17 Apr 2001
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Website: Vancouver Sun
Address: 200 Granville Street, Ste.#1, Vancouver BC V6C 3N3
Email: sunletters@pacpress.southam.ca
Copyright: The Vancouver Sun 2001
Fax: (604) 605-2323
Author: Doug Ward
