Angry Liberals may enter race

By Dan Hilborn
Published May 26, 2004


It looks as though a group of disgruntled Liberals in the Burnaby-Douglas riding could be planning to run their own independent candidate in the now-declared federal election.

Tony Lee, one of two Liberal party nominees who was shunted aside when B.C. party president Bill Cunningham was appointed as the candidate, said there is a 50-50 chance that an independent Liberal will jump into the race. And that independent candidate might even be him.

"I have considered that," Lee told the Burnaby Now last week, when asked if he might challenge Cunningham.

But there are several hurdles that need to be overcome in order for Lee to enter the race. Lee said he needs adequate financial resources plus a phone canvas list before allowing his name to stand.

"If I could get a hold of the phone list, I would jump in without hesitation," he said. "Without the list, I'd be a bit disappointed."

Of course, all this Liberal infighting is a rather new development in the riding, which has been an NDP stronghold for the past quarter century. While the Liberals have not finished above third place in the riding for many years, the recent resignation of NDP veteran Svend Robinson has provided a glimmer of hope for the party.

Lee also said the he is "hoping to work together" with his former adversary, Tony Kuo, the other nominee who was glossed over when the prime minister appointed Cunningham.

Kuo is the more controversial of the two disgruntled Liberals. He insisted that the failure to allow local Liberals to vote for their own candidate was a "race-based decision," called Cunningham a "chicken" for allowing the appointment to happen, and describing the prime minister as a "big daddy." Kuo did not return repeated calls from the Burnaby Now.

However, Cunningham's campaign manager, Roy Bornman, said he is preparing for a tough race regardless of who throws their name into the hat.

"I think our plan is to go out there and earn the trust of voters," said Bornman. "We'll be working hard every single minute between now and the time the voting closes to earn the respect of the voters."