New leader of B.C. NDP has to be a woman,according to NDP rules

VICTORIA -- The next leader of the British Columbia New Democratic Party will have to be a woman, unless the party's male president or treasurer resigns, according to gender rules in the NDP constitution.

The unique requirement, buried within the NDP's official rule book, adds an extra layer of complexity in the race to replace leader Carole James.

The constitution states both genders must be represented in the jobs of party leader, president and treasurer.

"If the constitution is going to be complied with, one of those other officers needs to resign and be replaced with a woman," said former NDP provincial representative David Schreck, who first publicized the gender clause on his Twitter account Friday.

David Schreck

British Columbia politics, for decades wrought with scandals may see another fly in the proverbial ointment.  A rule of NDP constitution mandating male and female equity in political positions must have ex party leader Carole James (who stepped down over party infighting), grinning ear to ear.  

The NDP in the era of political correctness in wishing to please all and cover their political bases with voters have done what no other political party has done, satisfied no one.

2010 saw the BC NDP and BC Liberals leaderless, with Premier Gordon Campbell jumping ship, much like Carole James in what must be construed as "If you can't please all of the people all of the time, try and please all of the people some of the time". Both could do neither.

While the "Best person for the job" either man or woman seems a logical choice, illogical choices such as a NDP constitution mandating one gender for one political office and another gender for the other political office seems to be the NDP party undoing, satifying no one.

What should have been paramount in the NDP Constitution or any political constitution is to "Ensure a political party acts in the voters interest, not theirs". Clearly this may not be the case.

Nit picking over gender to run the province shows the NDP are not ready to lead when even their own party members refuse to follow, such as the case of Carol James.  Carol most likely knew she could not lead, if those tasked to act in the best interests of British Columbia refused to follow.

Male or female, the best person for the job is needed if political parties are to tackle meat and potato issues, address those issues with well thought out solutions and be fiscally proactive for the benefit of British Columbians. 

After all, isn't this why we vote for political parties?

Footnote:

While two extremely competent politicians, Surrey Mayor Diane Watts, was courted and refused to lead the BC Liberals and Federal NDP Peter Julian,(New Westminster) currently mulling over running for the NDP provincial leadership, perhaps Peter Julian should stay in Ottawa.  

As a leader, Peter Julian may be competent in running the province, unfortunately he may find himself also running a political daycare centre in Victoria.

Clearly both parties are not acting in our best interests.