Alliance nominee backs out

Alliance nominee backs out
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published June 14, 2003


One of three people vying for the Canadian Alliance nomination in the next federal election unexpectedly dropped out of the race this week, citing unspecified concerns over principles and ethics.

"There were issues that arose during the nomination campaign that I just couldn't live with," said Gary Eyre, who represented the party in the 1997 election. "I had to make a decision, and while I can't tell you specifically what they were, I hope some of those issues will still be dealt with."

When asked to explain exactly what issues arose, Eyre said they concerned "ethical conduct and also breaches of the constitution which I just couldn't live with.

"I have to be careful about being too specific, because I want to give those who have some authority the chance to do something about it. But it's concerning some irregularities that are not being corrected, or they're being allowed to continue.

"It's just wrong," Eyre said. "I'm feeling terrible. I've had a desire to be involved in politics for a long time, as you know, and it's always been with the desire to make changes for the better and to improve how government runs."

Eyre, who also ran for the TEAM Burnaby civic party in the last election, said he had been talking to local Tories about the possible reconvergence of the two right-wing parties, but denied that he was interested in jumping parties. "I don't have any intention of running for the Tories," he said.

Eyre's announcement was met with disappointment from other people involved in the constituency.

"Gary's a pretty honourable guy," said Dave Willis, president of the Burnaby-Douglas CA constituency association. "I guess I'm disappointed, but there is a process through which these things can be brought forward.

"I called and asked him and asked him to reconsider or if there was anything that could be done, and he was pretty set" said Willis. "But everything that was done with this candidate process was done according to the constitution."

Willis later acknowledged that some of the estimated 800 new membership forms that came in during the sign-up period were not double-checked within the 72-hour time limit, as mandated under the constitution, but that was because all three nominees handed in large batches of new memberships on the last day of the allowed sign- up period.

The other two nominees in the race are Al McDonnell, who ran for the Canadian Alliance in the 2000 election, and newcomer George Drazenovic, a B.C. Hydro engineer who has apparently signed up enough new members to win the nomination, if all his supporters show up at the nominating meeting.

Attempts to contact Drazenovic prior to this newspaper's deadline were unsuccessful, however, McDonnell said that he believes Eyre is just trying to create an issue so he can criticize the party after the nomination is decided.

"He can't win and these people don't go away," McDonnell said of Eyre and his supporters. "The day after the nomination, they'll go to the national council to say the rules were broken and you have to void the nomination and the party will tell them to piss up a rope."

The riding will host a leadership forum between McDonnell and Drazenovic at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 18 at the Confederation seniors centre. The actual nomination vote will take place June 25 at the Bill Copeland sports centre.