game on in Vancouver Centre

Michael Byers, a professor of political science (they say international law in most places but according to his UBC bio he is teaching law related political science classes, not classes in the faculty of law) is running for the NDP nomination in Vancouver Centre. I wrote previously that the NDP and the Conservatives should both try to find strong candidates for Vancouver Centre as it could be a three or four way race. Michael Byers must have been thinking the same thing.

I read about Byers intentions on Paul Wells’ blog, which is probably a bad sign for Byers. I must admit that I had never heard of Byers before reading about him today, and Wells does not have much good to say about the man. Regardless though, Wells seems to think that Byers will garner some attention in Vancouver Centre, and he is probably right.

One thing that concerns me as the battle takes shape in Vancouver Centre, is that there is no queer candidate  yet in the race.  That could change if Lorne Mayencourt decides to run for the Conservatives, but that is not seeming very likely as time passes by. I should not assume that Michael Byers is in fact heterosexual, I do not know anything about the man, but if he is queer he should make it known quickly if he wants to attract queer voters.

I have been living in the Vancouver Centre riding for about six years now, spanning two elections.  In 2004 and 2006 I voted NDP (in 2004 because I liked Kennedy Stewart, and in 2006 very reluctantly because I could hardly stand Svend Robinson). This time around I am not likely to vote for the NDP. If the race is close, as I expect it will be, then I will likely vote Liberal, not because I like Hedy Fry, but because Canada needs someone other than Stephen Harper leading the country. Every Liberal victory will be very important in the next election.

I am also less inclined to vote NDP now then I was in the past. I am disappointed that the NDP will not support any part of Dion’s Green Shift. I am particularly upset with the BC NDP for opposing BC’s carbon tax. I also support Canada’s mission in Afghanistan.  I do not think that Canada should make an indefinite troop commitment to the mission, but I do think that we are playing an important role there and we cannot just up and leave when there is still so much work to do there.

Regardless, I am excited that there are now at least 3 strong candidates in Vancouver Centre.  Hedy Fry has been around for too long, but that highlights just how strong her base support is in the riding.  She has also always been a tireless crusader for queer causes even when it was not widely popular to do so. Adrianne Carr running for the Green Party brings a fairly high profile as former leader of the BC Green Party, and as deputy leader of the federal Greens.  Michael Byers seems to have the intellectual make up to make a significant contribution to the political debate in Vancouver Centre, and the country as a whole. The Conservatives should put the hard sell on Lorne Mayencourt to run for them. It is possible that the race could be a close four way battle, but even if it is not, a candidate like Mayencourt might take a slice of Hedy Fry’s vote and enable Byers or Carr to win the seat.