Dear Editor
I am a resident in Burnaby North and am concerned that the Burnaby Heights Merchants Association has overstepped its authority by not allowing the B.C. Citizens for Recall volunteers to participate at the Hats Off Day street festival on June 6. Why they would not allow an authorized Elections B.C. campaign hints at political interference.
The BHMA said it did not want any political activity at their festival but I understand it allowed the sitting MLA, Richard T Lee to have a presence. Additionally, the politically active Dogwood Initiative was also to be there with volunteers asked to collect signatures for a specific political cause. Also, the B.C. NDP were to be there and actively asking for signatures for their own petition.
It is clear that the claim of wanting to be “strictly non-partisan” by the BHMA is not the motive for excluding the recall volunteers.
According to the Burnaby NOW, the BHMA has suggested that there were “past complaints about people aggressively handing out pamphlets.” This is, in fact, incorrect as the recall people have been active for less than two months and are trained to not interfere with voters and carry Elections B.C. guidelines that clearly define permissible behavior. If this was actually an issue it could have been discussed and additional guidelines set but this never came up. This further suggests that the BHMA’s motives may be political in nature.
The recall campaign is an authorized initiative by Elections B.C. and is a part of the democratic process we all support and enjoy by living in B.C. It should be enthusiastically supported by any and all persons and corporations that call B.C. their home. What is the truth behind the BHMA’s request for the recall people to not attend their event? It is clearly not the politics. It appears to be yet another B.C. government “dirty trick” and originate from B.C. Liberal government operatives.
Doug Soon, Burnaby
