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Charkes Darwin's theory
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Blending old wortd
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NEWS photo Mike Wakefield

B.C.'s EMPLOYMENT and investment Minister Glen Clark (left) listens to Ballard Power Systems president Firoz
Rasul explain the benefits of Ballard’s zero-emission bus. Ballard announced Wednesday a new $6 millien con-
tract with the federal and provincia! governments to build a commercial prototype of the vehicle at its North

Vancouver plant.

Mitchell’s decision to remain independent MLA sparks heated riding debate
o

THE WEST Vancouver-
Garibaldi Liberal riding
association says it feels “used
and abused” by independent
MLA David Mitchell, who
has decided to disassociate
himself from the Liberal
party,

By Kate Zimmerman
Staff Reporter

Mitehelh was elected on the
Liberal chet in the North Shore

riding in 1991. But ES months ago,
claiming he was being made a
seaperoal for party troubles, he def
caducus 1a silas an independent
Liberal.

Now Mitchell says he not only

will not rejoin the Liberals, but he

will ask the Speaker in the next ses-
sion of the legislature to allow bin
to drop the designation of “Liberal”
and call) himself ao “independent.”

And the riding association that
helped get him elected is being torn
apart. with pro- and anti-Mitchell
Rictions forming.

"We thigk he should resign. rian
as an independent and see if the

voters of West Vancouver:
Garibaldi want to support an inde-
pendent.” said longtime Liberal
Ralph Brown, “Phey voted for him
because he's a Liberal”

Brows said Mitchell told the rid-
Ig association more than a year
age that he could no longer work
with then-Liberal leader Gordon
Wilson and wanted to sil asa
Liberal independent.

The dssociition agreed, but
Brown said. “We have been alter
him ever since (Wilson stepped
down as deader) te get back in the
caucus because we would no longer
suppart an independent member.”

Despite this. and despite the fact
that during the recent byelection
campaigns of Gordon Campbell
and Secred feader Grace McCarthy
Mitchell was heavily pressured to
Take one side or the other, he said
Tuesday, “l feeb ats in the best
interests af the constituency right
how to go on being independent.”

Brown said he quit the associ
Uon’s executive fast November
because he felt it was not forceful
chough in urging Mitchedb te rejoin
the Liberals.

"We worked very hard to gel

Mitehell elected.” said Brown.
“He's betrayed us. There's no ques:

tion about it.”

Riding association president
Sonja Sanguinetti, who is also the
parly’s policy chairman provincial-
ly. said thal at the association’ s
annua general meeting Tuesday a
motion will be proposed suggesting
that Mitchell give up his seat.

“That would be the honarable
thing to do.” she said, “Well over
60% of the electorate supported
him but they supported bim. [ sus-
pect, because he’s a Liberal

She said the assuciation has
been “used and abused” py

See Mitchell pase 41

Speyer ac SSH SNR ace hia a EME Mics gee NS ae Eat oon SAR IR DN Reb can OU CAL BORN EA

- REACHING EVERY DOOR ON THE NORTH SHORE SINCE 1969