A recent CBC headline announced that, ëOutspoken Alta. MLA Sherman seeks re-election.'
In a CBC radio broadcast it was said that Mr. Sherman had already met up with all the leaders of the opposition parties and that he was in the process of deciding which party he would join before standing as a candidate in the next election.
The actions of Raj Sherman in standing up to the Conservative leadership in the defence and maintenance of the health service, are indeed commendable. There is little doubt that his defiance on this issue was the sole reason for his dismissal from the Tory Caucus.
It is highly possible that Raj will be welcomed, with open arms, by a majority of the opposition parties, however, it has to be remembered that he joined the Tory party. One presumes then that he still adheres to their basic philosophy, and despite issues over the health service, he is still a Tory.
The notoriety that Raj has gained over this event is, no doubt, on its own a good enough reason for most opposition parties to accept him into their ranks, no questions asked, but this approach is not acceptable from the NDP.
Anyone wishing to be an NDP candidate at the next election faces selection in a democratic vote of ordinary NDP members.
It is difficult to envisage a situation in which an informed NDP rank and file would accept a Tory.
One would also assume that it would be impossible for Raj Sherman to accept, for example, the section in our constitution, on Socialism, that demands a co-operative rather than a competitive economic system.
There are, without doubt, a good number of existing NDP party members who could fulfill the role of an elected representative of our party, hopefully a candidate who would work for the average industrial wage with their expenses vetted by their constituency and be subject to recall.
Keith Norman Wyatt
Innisfail NDP (personal capacity)
