Lorne Mayencourt returns to provincial politics by seeking B.C. Liberal nomination

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      One of B.C.'s most colourful former MLAs has announced that he's challenging former Vancouver mayor Sam Sullivan for the B.C. Liberal nomination in Vancouver–False Creek.

      Lorne Mayencourt, who represented the downtown constituency of Vancouver-Burrard from 2001 to 2008, revealed his intention at La Terraza restaurant.

      It's in the heart of Vancouver–False Creek, which was created out of part of Vancouver-Burrard when the city received its 11th seat in the legislature in the 2009 provincial election.

      In his seven years in the legislature, Mayencourt was a sometimes polarizing figure, admired by his supporters for his work ethic, his tireless promotion of the tourism sector, and for advancing safe-streets legislation to thwart aggressive panhandling.

      Mayencourt was opposed by many on the left and the LGBT community for supporting former premier Gordon Campbell's policies, which included abolishing the B.C. Human Rights Commission, slashing welfare rates for single mothers with children between three and seven, introducing a two-year independence test for welfare, and ripping up contracts with health-care workers and teachers.

      In 2004, the Straight published an article citing concerns from a letter carrier, Rick Letendre, who alleged that he had been suspended for a week without pay because Mayencourt had complained about him to Canada Post.

      In his second term, Mayencourt developed a keen interest in addressing drug addiction—a passion shared by Sullivan. The former mayor has demonstrated strongly libertarian views on the use of illegal narcotics, at times characterizing addicts as people with disabilities.

      Mayencourt ran as a federal Conservative in Vancouver Centre in 2008, and helped Christy Clark win the B.C. Liberal leadership. Sullivan's strongest supporters in the past have often come from federal Conservative ranks.

      The incumbent, former B.C. Liberal cabinet minister Mary McNeil, is not seeking reelection. The NDP recently nominated digital-media entrepreneur Matt Toner as its candidate in a tight race with park commissioner Constance Barnes.

       

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      Comments

      5 Comments

      James Blatchford

      Nov 21, 2012 at 9:20pm

      Premier Pom-Pom gets a choice...Sneaky Sam or Lock-Step Lorne. These are the candidates to deliver on the Liberal promise that they are the party of bold ideas? Welfare mothers better hide.

      Aashif Khan

      Nov 21, 2012 at 9:47pm

      A parasitic relationship is one in which one organism, the parasite, lives off of another organism, the host, harming it and possibly causing death.

      Guess who the host is.

      Hint: It's not Lorne Mayencourt

      James G

      Nov 22, 2012 at 6:51pm

      A minor irritant of green initiatives in modern daily life is that sometimes toilets have to be flushed repeatedly. Feel free to pick either contender for this nomination and apply.

      nutsnbolts.

      Nov 23, 2012 at 1:20am

      Sammy & Lorne, what a treat!

      Why are there so many single mothers on welfare? Because the BC Liberals have for 11 1/2 years now refused to go after the deadbeat daddies. Do all these deadbeats vote for the Harper/Campbell/Cluck gang? Probably, and this would be a very good reason why.

      DJ Lam

      Nov 23, 2012 at 8:37am

      Please compare this coverage with the Sullivan copy. They're disproportionate. The Sullivan article lacks the punch and notes about his record -- albeit civic -- that provide a context vis-a-vis this one. (I carry no Mayencourt endorsement.)