Dawn Black recommended as interim leader
Posted January 19, 2011 3:24 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The newly-recommended interim leader of the NDP Dawn Black says MLAs are united and ready to take on the Liberal government. Black has been tapped by the party to succeed Carole James until the leadership vote in mid-April.
Black got the unanimous support of her fellow MLAs at their first meeting since Carole James announced she would step down in the face of a revolt by 13 dissidents, the so-called “Baker’s Dozen.”
“I’m very heartened that I had the unanimous support of all of the caucus members around the table,” said Black. “I think that bodes well for moving together as a coherent group.”
New Westminster MLA supported James and says the meeting had a positive mood. “People really do want to get back to work. People around that table recognize the Liberals, they’ve been getting a bit of a free ride for the last month or so, and we’ve got to get back to doing the work that we should be doing and exposing their record of deceit over the last ten years.”
As to why she was picked, Black says she thinks her federal and provincial experience played a role. “I think because I’m a seasoned politician and have no aspirations to be leader on a full-time basis.”
Black says she was only name put forward as interim leader and after the vote, she got a hug from Carole James.
The NDP provincial council is slated to approve Black’s appointment in the next few days.
