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Why I was fired by Elizabeth May
Ex-justice critic blames Andrew Weaver for Green Party hypocrisy in wake of BDS resolution
In this exclusive interview with Ricochet, former Green justice critic Dimitri Lascaris explains why Elizabeth May fired him and why he plans to fight on to protect the Greens’ controversial BDS resolution.
lizabeth May, leader of the Green Party of Canada, abruptly fired three members of her shadow cabinet on Tuesday. According to an official statement posted to the party’s website, Dimitri Lascaris, Lisa Barrett and Colin Griffiths were expelled from the leadership team for “inappropriate use of a Party position.”
The alleged transgression of these three senior party members was to join two dozen other Greens in signing an opinion piece released Tuesday morning by the Tyee. The article criticized B.C. Green Party leader Andrew Weaver and defended the current policy of the federal party, passed at its July 2016 convention, in support of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel.
What happened today?
I’ve been removed from shadow cabinet at the discretion of the leader.
I continue to be a member of the party. In my capacity as a member of the party, I will fight tooth and nail to preserve this resolution, whether I’m in or out of the shadow cabinet. I believe Elizabeth May understands that. I’ve made that abundantly clear. So this does not change my commitment to this resolution and to defend the human rights of the Palestinian people. Not one iota.
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How exactly were you informed of this decision by your leader, and what was the explanation given?
I received an email today, in which I was given an ultimatum, shortly after the Tyee op-ed appeared. And the ultimatum I was given was that I must issue a clear apology to Andrew Weaver or I would be expelled from shadow cabinet.
Elizabeth May, I think it’s fair to say, views the Tyee op-ed as an attack on Andrew Weaver. I strenuously disagree that this was an attack on Andrew Weaver. But she felt that it was necessary for me to apologize. I refused categorically to do so, and at that point I found out that I was to be expelled from shadow cabinet.
The way it came to my attention was when Peter O’Neil from the Vancouver Sun asked me to comment. That’s how I learned of it.
Philosophers stone – selected views from the boat http://philosophers-stone.co.uk
Source: http://www.philosophers-stone.co.uk/?p=14242
