Cullen Passing On Provincial NDP Leadership

Wednesday, December 08, 2010 07:20 AM

Prince George, B.C. - While saying he is flattered by suggestions that he should run for leader of the provincial New Democratic Party, federal MP Nathan Cullen says he's not yet finished in Ottawa.

During the telephone news conference following his successful motion on banning supertankers off the northwest coast, the NDP MP for Skeena-Bulkley Valley admitted he'd been getting "traffic" and phone calls about the prospect of him taking a run at leadership of the provincial party.

But he said, "I feel like I've got so much still to do at the federal level -- representing a riding the size of Poland and having just had twin boys feels like more than enough work for me right now -- so, while I'm flattered, I'm declining to throw my hat in the ring, just yet."

Cullen did commend Carole James on her great leadership, pointing out she took the party from two seats to 35. He added B.C. politics is tough.

Cullen will be speaking with Opinion250's Ben Meisner on his program this morning on 93.1 CFIS, you can listen through live streaming audio by clicking the microphone on our home page.

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Posted on Wednesday, December 08, 2010 07:20 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Andyfreeze on December 8 2010 8:43 AM

Good.
Cullen is not the man for the job.
He is a wimp who seldom does what he says he will do,and trots around making noises about nothing of any rellevance.
He was the guy who made a lot of noise about getting rid of gun control to get elected,and then,he voted in favour of putting more money into the program, because he was obviously told to do just that!
That finished him in my books!
No way this guy could lead a trip to McDonalds.
We don't need polticians who do what their leaders tells them to do,we need polticians who listen and do what their constituents tell them to do!

Posted by: my2bits on December 8 2010 9:25 AM

I totally disagree with you. Nathan Cullen has represented his riding better than most.

As far as the gun registry goes, he voted in favour of getting rid of it, as his constituents wanted.

Posted by: He spoke on December 8 2010 11:02 AM

I really would not say that James should be credited for taking the party from 2 seats to 35 seats. I think someone needs to be blamed for taking it down to 2 seats.

The other side of the coin is, Was it really James's doing to get it up to 35 seats, or was it Gordo's undoing that took the party to 35 seats.

We no longer vote for the right person, but the least of two evils. Sad.

Posted by: He spoke on December 8 2010 11:06 AM

Provincially, I would not be surprised if a snap election is called that the Liberals will regain the majority government, The NDP will have few seats than it has now, and there will be two or three independents,.... the Pot Party, or the Green Party candidates get in. People are just that frustrated that in places like North Vancouver Island and or the Kootneys might just do that.

Posted by: rattyboy on December 8 2010 11:10 AM

In the big picture, who cares who runs or gets elected to head the party. They will not win! The majority of the voting population has an average I.Q. over 50, so the liberals will get in. The votes could be counted today. I.Q Under 50, you Vote NDP. I.Q over 50, you vote anybody else.

Posted by: ammonra on December 8 2010 11:41 AM

I presume then that rattyboy has an average IQ, that is, 50. His comment certainly makes it appear so.

He spoke, Carole James was a major factor in reviving the morale of NDP members after 2001. I am a member, and I remember how most of us felt. She went round the province rallying the troops, successfully. During the subsequent election most of the pundits thought the NDP would get a few more seats, but to most people's great surprise the NDP came back as a viable opposition party, and in the last election came within 2% of winning. There is no doubt that Carole James was largely responsible for that.

Was Gordo responsible? There were other parties available for people to vote for, but they chose the NDP. Carole had made us a viable choive once again.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on December 8 2010 11:45 AM

You're 100% right He spoke...
Carole James actually had very little,if anything, to do with the NDP rising from 2 seats to 35 seats.
She should thank Gordon Campbell for that.
But being a politician,she will of course take credit for it.
She spent far too long riding on Campbell's mistakes and unpopularity,which is exactly why she is where she is now!
A classic example of a politician who stayed much too long at the fair!

Posted by: LoveTheNorth on December 8 2010 11:48 AM

Nathan Cullen is a good man.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on December 8 2010 11:49 AM

my2bits...Cullen did vote in favour of getting rid of the gun registry...and then he voted in favour of dumping more money into it.
When I questioned him on it,as did many others,he sent me an email trying to justify what he did.
Which of course,made no sense whatsoever.

Posted by: HD on December 8 2010 7:03 PM

He's also in favor of unemployment and getting people going to food banks. That's what will happen if this guy keeps fighting against prosperity and new jobs.
He does not like pipelines, oil tankers, improved rail roads. What he DOES like is giving more money to aboriginals.

Posted by: Surefire on December 8 2010 10:54 PM

Don't know colin but then I don't think that the leadership of the province or Canada are doing their job as well. There should be pipe lines going to the eastern provinces and refineries as well. My question is we have an abundance of crude oil so why don't we manufacture petrolium products??