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Ethnic vote scandal ‘dashes’ B.C. Liberals May election hopes
Darryl Dyck / The Canadian PressA group of B.C. Liberal Party members called for Christy Clark to step down for “making the ‘ethnic vote’ a joke” in the province.
B.C. premier Christy Clark was forced to hold an emergency cabinet meeting on Sunday afternoon as a scandal involving a leaked plan to woo ethnic voters threatened the Liberals’ re-election hopes — and prompted calls from members of her own party for the embattled premier to resign.
A group of B.C. Liberal Party members called for Ms. Clark to step down for “making the ‘ethnic vote’ a joke” in the province. The group, who described themselves as having an “ethnic background” such as Indo- and South- Asian descent, said 89 members agreed Sunday to pass a one-line declaration calling for her resignation, in a statement released ahead of the last-minute meeting.
A spokesman for the premier’s office said Sunday’s meeting — the first time Ms. Clark addressed her team since the leak — was a “chance to plan for week ahead.” But sources told the Vancouver Sun that it was called to deal with internal unrest over how Ms. Clark has handled the crisis that erupted on Wednesday.
The memo, leaked by the NDP opposition, appeared to condone using public money to help the Liberals spread their ethnic message in time for the May 14 election. The 17-page document outlined an eight-pronged strategy involving the premier’s office, the multiculturalism ministry, the government caucus and the B.C. Liberal Party. The proposed plan, dated January 2012, advised “quick wins” such as identifying and correcting “historical wrongs” and tailoring news to ethnic media outlets. It also pushed for the creation of an “election readiness” team to “target ethnic groups” and “create ethnic lists.” Use of taxpayer resources for political purposes is strictly forbidden.
It dovetails with the image of the B.C. Liberal brand that has already been cemented in the public’s mind
This scandal “dashes” the May election hopes of the B.C. Liberals, who are already suffering from a damaged brand, said Norman Ruff, a University of Victoria professor emeritus of political science.
“The reason that it seems to be sticking so hard, and is likely to hold right up into May, is that it dovetails with the image of the B.C. Liberal brand that has already been cemented in the public’s mind,” said Mr. Ruff. “I think that’s what makes it so dangerous.”
The leaked strategy itself is a reflection of the changing composition of B.C.’s population, and political parties’ efforts to tap into the strength of growing immigrant communities, such as Indo-Canadians and Chinese Canadians, said Mr. Ruff.
There has been a lag over the years between the shifts in B.C. society and the representation of different cultural groups in the political process, and Liberal’s proposed strategy was an attempt to “catch up,” he said.
They realized they were far behind, and that’s why they crossed the line
“They realized they were far behind, and that’s why they crossed the line, because they realized they had to pull out all the stops to catch up to the NDP.”
On Thursday, Deputy Premier Rich Coleman read an apology from Ms. Clark in the legislature, saying the leaked strategy document — which the Liberals say was a draft —appeared to cross the line.
“Some of the things that are in this thing are unacceptable. It blurs the lines, it goes beyond the lines,” Mr. Coleman said outside the legislature.
Mr. Coleman had said he should know within 24 hours what went wrong and how, but on Friday, the premier’s office issued only the terms of reference for the review.
WOMEN IN POLITICS: PART FIVE OF A SIX-PART SERIES
Premier’s outreach to female voters
falls flat
Premier Christy Clark has done everything she can to capture the female vote.
Policy proposals around new childcare spots were aimed at women and new families. The premier attended numerous events just for women. The Liberals even released an election-style ad timed around Family Day focused on the premier’s relationship with her son.
But this effort has not been reflected in the public opinion polls. Angus Reid released data Monday that found 47% of women plan on voting BC NDP on May 14, while 27% of women intend on supporting Clark and her Liberals. Clark was short with reporters Monday when asked about her lack of success with women in polls, with a response of “ask me on May 14.”
Experts who have advised female voters think the polls tell a complicated story. Communication strategist Alise Mills has spent a career advising political candidates, both men and women, on messaging. In the case of Clark she said the premier would have been better served in her first few months in office laying a policy framework that worked for all British Columbians rather than launch a public relations campaign aimed at certain demographics.
“It comes down to policy and proving your muscle,” Mills said. “Singling out females is not as special as strategists think it is. You think you are fixing it and you may not be, you just have to play it straight. I don’t think women looked at her like a female. Women don’t say, ‘That’s a woman I should support,’ or ‘That is a woman, I should attack her.’”
Mills added women don’t like female politicians who behave like male politicians. Clark was widely criticized in the spring of 2012 for closing down the legislature and spending most of eight months away from Victoria.
Former television anchor Pamela Martin was hired by the premier’s office in 2011 to help get Clark’s message to females across the province.
“I often wonder who is answering these polls. I can only answer what I see,” said Martin. “She talks about vision and values and I have only seen women respond to her very positively. She is very inspiring and she speaks from her heart.”
Martin added Clark held women-only events as a way to ensure the female voice was heard because in many cases meetings the premier attended were dominated by males.
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