Le combat d'Amy Haysom pour la justice - Les Verts de Colombie-Britannique sont-ils en difficulté ?

Community Rallies Behind Amy Haysom as Petition to Recall Saanich North and the Islands Nomination Vote Gains Momentum

In a compelling turn of events, community members across Saanich North and the Islands are rallying in support of Amy Haysom, a former nominee in the BC Greens’ recent MLA Candidate nomination contest in the coveted Saanich North and the Islands district. The district is one of only two incumbent districts for the Green Party of B.C. in this election. The seat became available after the previous Green MLA Adam Olsen announced that he would not be running again.

The Rise

Amy Haysom, a well-known figure in the community and a passionate advocate for local issues, was one of three contestants seeking the nomination for the winnable district. After completing the vetting process, Haysom’s candidacy was officially announced on July 22nd. Throughout the nomination period, she actively engaged in campaign activities, participating in a virtual Town Hall Meeting and an online debate, where she presented her vision for the future of the riding and gained an impressive amount of support. Many members were saying that she was the frontrunner of the nomination race and could therefore go on to become one of the only Green Party MLAs in the legislature following the upcomming election. In the eyes of many, Amy Haysom was poised to become a prominent voice in B.C. politics and within the party. There was speculation that if elected she could succeed current Green Party of B.C. leader Sonia Furstenau in the coming months or years. According to party insiders, the establishment feared that her upcoming success in the nomination race would destabilize their grip on power within the organization.

Amy Haysom (center) posing for a picture outside a campaign event with nomination opponents Rob Botterell (right) and Stuart MacKinnon (left)

Clipping her wings

The voting process, scheduled to begin on August 1st, was delayed due to technical issues and rescheduled to start on August 2nd. However, just hours before the vote was set to commence, Haysom received an unexpected email from the nomination committee disqualifying her from the race. Despite being given 48 hours to appeal, the vote proceeded that same evening, without her name on the ballot and without sufficient time for the appeal to be filed, let alone examined.

The lack of transparency surrounding her disqualification has raised significant concerns among party members and the broader community. Haysom’s profile remained on the BC Greens’ website as an active nominee until August 5th, further adding to the confusion. With no official statement from the party addressing the disqualification, Haysom issued her own statement, explaining that she had been removed from the race due to an unspecified complaint or complaints. The party later disputed her explanation in an email to select members, accusing Haysom of breaching confidentiality, but did not provide further details.

Haysom’s appeal was ultimately denied on August 6th, and the nomination contest concluded with only two candidates remaining. The winner, Rob Botterall, was announced shortly thereafter. However, the process has left many feeling disenfranchised and questioning the integrity of the nomination process.

On Instagram, the B.C. Green Party anounced the results of the nomination contest vote which had been held without Haysom’s name on the ballot. From left to right victorious nomination contestant Rob Botterell, federal Green Party leader Elizabeth May, defeated candidate Stuart MacKinnon along with incumbent MLA Adam Olson.

Fighting back; launching a petition

In response, Haysom has launched a petition seeking to recall the nomination vote and reinstate her name on the ballot. The petition is gaining momentum, as supporters call for transparency and fairness in the democratic process. Many believe that Haysom was unfairly disqualified and are urging the BC Greens to reconsider their decision in the interest of maintaining trust and accountability within the party.

“Amy Haysom has long been a dedicated member of our community, and she deserves a fair chance to represent us,” said one supporter. “The way this situation has been handled raises serious concerns about transparency and fairness. We stand with Amy in her fight for justice.”

Haysom plans to file an injunction next week to ensure that the nomination process is revisited with her name reinstated on the ballot. She is encouraging all those who believe in fair democratic processes to sign the petition and share it with others who may be interested in supporting her cause.

As the petition continues to gather signatures, it is clear that Haysom’s fight is far from over. The community’s response underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in political processes, and many are hopeful that the BC Greens will take this opportunity to address the concerns raised by their members.

For more information or to sign the petition cliquez ici