Colin Mayes MP / hush hush at local party riding

Tories funnel media
Scott Neufeld
October 23, 2006 http://www.dailycourier.ca/article_642.php

Following several stories in recent months fueled by internal leaks, the local Conservative association has voted to close their ranks.The local riding’s board of directors voted in favour of a policy that the president will be the sole spokesperson. Local interim president Lori De Jong said the policy was put into motion because of leaks during the nomination race this past summer but would not go into specifics about what was exposed.“(The policy was passed) because of certain leakage,” she said. “At one time there were certain things leaked by board members.”The policy was passed before a letter from 33 Conservatives alleging MP Colin Mayes had misled them was sent to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, De Jong said. When asked if the new policy has worked since it was passed De Jong said, “I hope so.”However, a number of Conservative party members have expressed their displeasure with the new policy. One member would only say that he did not like the policy but added, “I am committed to honour that.”A party representative who asked not to be quoted, said it is normal for any organization to have an authorized speaker. The representative said further that the decision to prohibit individuals from speaking was made at the local level and was not imposed from on high. After Wednesday’s board meeting, former riding president Dean Skoreyko announced his resignation saying the meeting was the least democratic one he’d ever witnessed. In his letter of resignation he said to De Jong, “As chair you had an obligation to uphold the constitution of the party and not allow what transpired.”Skoreyko said later he would not comment on what had transpired at the meeting to upset him. He said his main reason for resigning was to focus on his business and his personal life.But Skoreyko said it wasn’t the new policy that led to his resignation.“It’s there so you don’t get someone spouting off to the media,” he said. “So there is something of value to it.”The departure of the recent nomination candidate marks the third board member in the past few weeks to step down. De Jong said that the other two resignations were expected while Skoreyko’s was not. She said that there was nothing on the agenda to upset Skoreyko.“The only thing on the agenda was the date of the AGM which we had to change,” she said. “Nothing else.”With the new policy De Jong said local party members will deal with issues in house rather than in the press.“I hope we will all be united and stand behind our member of parliament,” he said. “Going to the press doesn’t always help.”

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support behind MP Colin Mayes ???

Conservatives throw support behind Mayes
RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff Oct 20 2006 vernon morning star

Okanagan-Shuswap MP Colin Mayes is feeling vindicated after receiving the endorsement of Tory brass. Both senior Conservative Party officials and the local riding association board have rallied behind Mayes, who has been accused of misleading party members on his role in a legal case. “I’m not surprised because I felt it (accusations) was over-stated. I have my reputation and I stand by it,” said Mayes. Thirty-three party members sent a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper expressing concerns about comments Mayes made during two nomination meetings last month. “At both meetings, he adamantly denied being named as defendant in a statement of claim in the Supreme Court of B.C. He, in fact, falsely advised over 300 members that the defendant was the City of Salmon Arm. As is clearly revealed in the attached statement of claim, it was indeed Mr. Mayes, and not the City of Salmon Arm, that was named as a defendant,” states the letter. However, that is not the view of the Conservative Party of Canada. “The party has reviewed this complaint and we are satisfied that any statements that may have been allegedly made by Mr. Mayes at the nomination meetings held at Salmon Arm Sept. 6 and Vernon Sept. 7 were not deliberately misleading,” said Michael Donison, national executive director, in a statement to the media. “The lawsuit in question involves an action against Mr. Mayes as a named party defendant but solely in his capacity as a public official of the municipality of Salmon Arm at the time of the alleged defamatory statements. Therefore, the action is not against him in his personal capacity although for standard legal procedural reasons that he was named as party defendant.” Donison goes on to say that Mayes continues to be recognized as the Conservative candidate for Okanagan-Shuswap. In another statement, the party’s Okanagan-Shuswap riding association states, “The board wishes to express their full support for Colin Mayes, as the Conservative candidate in the next election.” The riding association executive held a special meeting Wednesday, but the Mayes matter apparently wasn’t on the agenda. “It wasn’t even dealt with,” said Lori De Jong, association vice-president. Don Huxley, who signed the letter and sent it to Harper, would not comment about the statements released by Donison or the riding association executive. “I haven’t heard of them,” he said. Mayes admits he should have been more clear at the nomination meetings that his comments were based on a legal opinion he had received. “I should have clarified the legal opinion between having ny name on the document as a private individual versus my name as the mayor of Salmon Arm.”

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Colin Mayes Mp / board member resigns

Dean Skoreyko resigns from Conservative Board
10/20/2006

Lori
I would like to officially submit my resignation effective immediately. The reasons are so that I may concentrate more on my business and personal life.

I hope that the last meeting held October 18 2006 was not an example of how future board meetings are to be held. That was by far the least democratic meeting that I have ever witnessed and as Chair you had an obligation to uphold the Constitution of the Party and not allow what transpired. I have faith that you will learn from this lesson and not be swayed by some who do not hold the same democratic values.

As always, I whole-heartedly support the Conservative Party and wish that the true movement prevails.

Please have this letter submitted verbatim and in complete form for the record by including it in the minutes at the next board meeting

Regards
Dean Skoreyko

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Letter to Harper targets MP

Letter to Harper targets MP
RICHARD ROLKE Vernon Morning Star
Oct 18 2006

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is being asked to take action over allegations that MP Colin Mayes wasn’t upfront about his role in a court case.

Thirty-three members of the Okanagan-Shuswap Conservative Association have signed a letter to Harper, stating they have “grave concerns regarding our MP, Colin Mayes. This matter could seriously jeopardize his re-election and the hopes of the Conservative Party to form a majority government in the next election.”

Letter to Harper targets MP
RICHARD ROLKE Vernon Morning Star
Oct 18 2006

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is being asked to take action over allegations that MP Colin Mayes wasn’t upfront about his role in a court case.

Thirty-three members of the Okanagan-Shuswap Conservative Association have signed a letter to Harper, stating they have “grave concerns regarding our MP, Colin Mayes. This matter could seriously jeopardize his re-election and the hopes of the Conservative Party to form a majority government in the next election.”

The letter refers to statements allegedly made by Mayes at two meetings in which he was seeking the party’s nomination.

“At both meetings, he adamantly denied being named as defendant in a statement of claim in the Supreme Court of B.C. He, in fact, falsely advised over 300 members that the defendant was the City of Salmon Arm. As is clearly revealed in the attached statement of claim, it was indeed Mr. Mayes, and not the City of Salmon Arm, that was named as a defendant,” it states.

The statement of claim — filed by Greg Husband, a former Salmon Arm mayoralty candidate — refers to a Nov. 15, 2005 letter written by Mayes, who was mayor at the time.

The statement says, “The plaintiff, being a resident in a small community, feels that he has suffered damage to his reputation and good standing in the community, especially since the defendant and author of the letter, was the sitting mayor at the time of its publication.”

In the letter to Harper, the 33 party members remind the prime minister that he removed a Southern Interior candidate for not disclosing pending legal action.

“In the case of Mr. Mayes, he, similarly, did not disclose the pending legal action against him and, even worse, denied it when questioned,” they state.

Longtime party member Don Huxley e-mailed the letter to Harper.

“The truth is the truth and that’s all the comment I have to make,” said Huxley when contacted.

Other signatories to the letter defend their actions.

“I was there at the nomination meeting and I’m afraid it (comments) hurt the electability of the party,” said Ria Carpay.

Wilf Mulder agrees he was also troubled by Mayes’ comments.

“It was a black and white question asked, with a black and white answer. If he had provided more information or distanced himself, but it was just a no,” said Mulder.

Mayes denies he misled anyone about the legal case in Salmon Arm.

“The defendant is the City of Salmon Arm. The question (at the nomination meeting) was, ‘Am I personally involved,’ and the answer was, ‘I did what I did in the role of mayor and the defendant is the City of Salmon Arm,’” he told The Morning Star.

“It’s unfortunate these people wouldn’t come to me directly and discuss this. It might be a reflection of the decision the membership made in terms of endorsing me as candidate.”

“I have great support in the constituency and this is just a few people who have a different opinion than the majority. What’s the motivation for releasing this to the media?” said Mayes.

Mayes has not heard from Harper on the matter.

“I don’t think the prime minister would act on a letter like this but if he wants to discuss it, I am willing to do so,” said Mayes.

Mayes won the party nomination over businessman Dean Skoreyko.

When contacted, Skoreyko said he was aware of the letter but had not signed it, and declined further comment.

Harper’s office did not respond to inquiries by press time.

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