[mobglob-discuss] FW: Richmond Liberal Protest Part II - Another Victory ?

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Richmond Liberal Protest Part II - Another Victory ?
-----Original Message-----
From: Kevan Hudson [mailto:khudson at vcn.bc.ca]
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2002 11:49 AM
Subject: Richmond Liberal Protest Part II - Another Victory ?


Hello Everyone,

Please join me in giving the Richmond - Steveston Liberals a healthy dose of
free speech (not free enterprise) on Thursday August 29th at the Steveston
Community Centre at 6pm.
The Richmond - Centre Liberals cancelled their AGM at the Thompson Community
Centre on August 7th when they got wind of the protests planned for outside.
See article below from Richmond News.

Thanks,

Kevan Hudson
Tel.#: 604-274-1191
----------------------------------------------------
The BCGEU Fightback Campaign is organizing a rally at:

*6PM Thursday August 29th*

at the Steveston Community Centre, 4111 Moncton,
Richmond.

The Richmond Steveston Liberal Riding Association is
having their annual
general meeting and will be electing officers and
delegates for
conventions.


from the Richmond News, Sunday, August 11, 2002
pg. 5

MLA moves meeting to avoid protesters

By Trudi Beutel
tbeutel at richmond-news.com

 Like the three bears, members of the Richmond Centre Liberal
Constituency Association couldn't make up their minds why Thompson
Community Centre wasn't just right for their annual general meeting
Wednesday.
 "We needed a larger venue," said Richmond Centre provincial MLA Greg
Halsey-Brandt.
 "We just didn't need a large (space)," contradicted constituency
association president Cindy Avery.
 Despite references to size, protesters were the real reason behind
the association's decision to move its AGM to a more private location.
 Halsey-Brandt finally conceded this point.
 "I was concerned about the members coming to the meeting, and for
their safety," admitted the first-term provincial politician Thursday of
the previous night's meeting, which attracted "25 or so" constituency
faithful.
 Protesters who were eagerly awaiting Halsey-Brandt's arrival
Wednesday night, however didn't take kindly to learn they'd been given
the slip.
 "If they cancelled this due to the protest, then that's pretty
chicken," said Stephanie Seaman, a Richmond resident worried about what
provincial Liberal budget cuts are doing to her community.
 "Funding's been cut to the Cantonese/Mandarin crisis line, the
Richmond school district has picked up the funding for the Colts daycare
program - I want to know how these cuts serve Richmond."
 Seaman and about 40 others, including members of the B.C. Nurses'
Union, Canadian Union of Public Employee's and the B.C. Government
Employees' Union, were planning to show their displeasure with the
current Liberal regime by launching a protest outside the centre as the
meeting took place inside.
 Waving placards emblazoned with "No to two-tiered health," "Hands
off Hydro," "Cuts Hurt People," and "Welfare on Demand," some protesters
were adamant this gathering, albeit futile, wouldn't be the last.
 "We're not going to let them have a meeting anywhere without having
a protest," said Council of Canadians Richmond chapter member Kevan
Hudson.
 For this reason Avery offers no apologies for the sudden venue
change. "This was a private annual general meeting and not open to the
public," she said.

 EDITORIAL OPINION

 Open government is not so open after all

So much for the B.C. Liberals' policy of open government. Apparently
afraid of a protest marring its annual general meeting. the Richmond
Centre Liberal Constituency executive decided to move the meeting
because it discovered that protesters were going to show up.
 After further invistigation following a press release from the
police about the AGM's cancellation, the News received evasive and
contradicting answers about why the meeting was moved until Richmond
Centre provincial Liberal MLA Greg Halsy-Brandt finally confirmed the
real reason: To avoid protesters.
 We doubt there was going to be a repeat of the so-called Riot at
the Hyatt when Prime Minister Jean Chretien spoke in Vancouver. This is
Canada and people have a democratic right to protest - playing shell
games and moving the venue of a simple AGM is the wrong message to
convey to constituents who want to voice their opinion.
Richmond Steveston Liberal Riding Association

Delegate Selection Meeting

Location and Time of Meeting
Thursday August 29, 2002
Steveston Community Centre
Tyee Room 7:00 p.m.

The right to attend and to vote at this meeting is determined under the
Constitution.


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