Honourable Bob bunts for B.C.

"Call me" Bob Rae's B.C. team is looking slightly Ontarian in these early days.

Taleeb Noormohamed once-upon-a-time contested the Liberal nomination for Hedy Fry's Vancouver-Centre, but is based in Ottawa. Publicist Elana Rabinovitch is a 416-er.

On the flipside, does this mean we are to expect 15 different press releases from Liberal leadership hopefuls whenever Stephen Harper burps?

From: "Bob Rae's BC Team" Subject: Bob Rae Statement on Kelowna Accord
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 15:35:30 -0700

Following, please find a statement from Bob Rae regarding the Kelowna Accord.

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Statement by the Honourable Bob Rae on The Kelowna Accord

May 9, 2006

The Kelowna Accord was the culmination of a long process of sincere discussion and negotiation on the part of Prime Minister Paul Martin, all the Premiers and the leadership of the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit.

Premier Gordon Campbell was right when he said that the Accord constituted an historic moment. He was also right when he said it was a solemn commitment of the Crown, not something to be tossed aside in a moment of partisan whimsy.

The spin masters in Mr Harper's entourage have been working overtime. The Minister of Immigration said it was written on the back of a napkin in the middle of the election. Wrong on all counts. Others have dismissed it, distancing the new government from any of its commitments.

Canadians should not listen to this propaganda.

A commitment of the Crown should bind the Crown. Period. To walk away from it is disgraceful. It dishonours the undertaking not of one politician or another, but thirteen first ministers binding their governments to meet their responsibilities.

The Harper Conservatives should be ashamed of themselves - to walk away and pretend the commitments mean nothing will further undermine the relationship between all Canadian governments and Canada's first citizens.

It cheapens the political process, and in practical terms deprives Aboriginal people of services, housing, education, and the recognition they constitutionally deserve.

Nothing shows so clearly that Mr Harper "don't get it". When majorities abuse power, ignore their obligations, and assume arrogantly that all previous commitments can be broken, they deserve to be called to account.

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For further information, please contact:

Taleeb Noormohamed, mobile (613) 866-XXXX, or,
Elana Rabinovitch, mobile (416) 934-XXXX