The Cariboo North Riding Association has passed a motion supporting Bob Simpson, who was thrown out of caucus by NDP leader Carole James last week, to remain as their MLA.
"The executive believes that what leader Carole James did was an unjust overreaction to our MLA's mild critique of her speech" said Keith Sandve, the riding association's president.
Sandve said the executive believes that one of the fundamental principles of democracy is freedom of speech and the ability of elected officials to act in accordance with their conscience and their common sense.
"We do not want our candidate to give up his principles or to mute his consistent and intelligent criticism of the problems with our electoral system," he said.
In dismissing Simpson, James said that through his public comments, he had made it clear he would rather criticize the party's work than contribute to it.
James was referring to Simpson's criticism of her speech recently at the Union of B.C. Municipalities. In a column posted on a Cariboo media website, Simpson criticized B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell for not providing any concrete plans for the province. But he also said that James had little concrete to offer the municipal delegates at the convention.
