If it’s too good to be true, it usually is. Click-bait. Or bait and switch. Advertise one thing; but provide something different.
The NDP’s equity mandate is an example.
The BC NDP has a two-pronged rule to increase the number of women and anyone from “equity-seeking” groups as candidates: first, any seat left open by a resigning white male must go to a woman, or some other member of an equity-seeking group. Second, when a woman resigns a seat, the candidate must be replaced by a woman candidate. Sounds very progressive but, it is getting in the way of a star candidate, so the NDP brass’s attitude to their own rule is: “Let’s ignore it, because we like our star candidate more.”
The NDP already had an issue with this mandate in the last election. That time the problem was in southern B.C. and related to a candidate who didn’t want to reveal his personal details to show how he qualified as part of an equity-seeking group.
This time it’s close to Prince George. The Stikine riding, which is in the northwestern corner of B.C., has been held by NDP Doug Donaldson since it was created in 2009. Donaldson is not running this time. So, according to the NDP policy, the candidacy should go to a woman or other equity-seeking group.
It’s a bit confusing how everything happened, but a white male is the new candidate in former NDP MP Nathan Cullen. It seems he is tired of flying across the country, but not of politics, so he has been accepted as the NDP’s candidate. This despite an Indigenous woman, Annita. McPhee, submitting her nomination papers.
McPhee is apparently disqualified simply because she is in the way of this star candidate. A white male who wants his way by pretending to be progressive, but isn’t, when it affects him.
McPhee would be no embarrassment to the NDP. She is a three-term president of the Tahltan Central Government and has two degrees. In anyone’s estimation, she seems imminently qualified.
She won’t be the candidate, however, because the equity mandate doesn’t exist to restrain those in power, it was written to attract voters concerned about equity.
This situation is no different than religious leaders who love to make rules for everyone in order to appear dedicated to holiness. It is no different than the business who advertises they are family-friendly in order to attract the best talent. We all know that too often, these proclamations and rules are no more than false advertising.
The equity mandate is there to pretend that the NDP care more about marginalized people than other political parties. Good people vote NDP because they believe in equity. They think that more government, and therefore more rules, will solve the problems of equity and representation.
However, it's classic bait and switch. The BC NDP’s equity mandate is not about equity. If it was, Cullen would have immediately stepped down when McPhee announced her intention to run.
