Head Tale

…Regina barrister, Noah Evanchuk!

Other blogs have already broken, commented on and projected some potential impacts of this story with the main theme appearing to be: “Team Meili was more than a bunch of people drawn to an inspiring new political figure but a group of already accomplished men and women, many of whom will make up the next wave of leadership within both the provincial and federal NDP.” 

He hasn't officially announced yet but if and when this does come to pass, I know that Noah's going to run a strong campaign – taking the lessons he's learned as a defence lawyer often in the difficult position of representing some of society's most maligned citizens, as a student of history and politics, and as the Regina co-chair of the Meili campaign – and will have a really good chance of taking back the Palliser riding.

From a personal point of view, I've got to say that there was a lot about Noah that impressed me in the short few months that I was a volunteer for the Meili campaign and got to know him a bit.  He's obviously highly intelligent, hard-working and committed.  Beyond that, it was clear that he genuinely cared about making society better for everyone, not just for a select few.  He was also very open to new ideas and new ways of doing things.  Perhaps most importantly from my perspective, he's not afraid to call things as he saw them – a rarity for many aspiring, let alone elected, politicians.  (Of course, the fact that we share a love of the same NHL team doesn't hurt either!) 

Best of luck, Noah!  I can't wait to contribute a few bucks to the…uhm, anybody got a good pun on “Money Bomb” to do with Noah's name?  Cause I got nothing…

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Since I'm talking about the Palliser riding, I'm going to slip in a few quick thoughts about that riding's former Conservative MP, Dave Batters, who left politics in 2008 to deal with some serious mental health issues. He lost that battle, committing suicide earlier this week with his funeral being held today.  I never met Dave but his brother was one of my best friends in undergrad and if Dave was anything like his brother, he was one of the most intelligent, funniest, memorable characters that you'll meet.  (I can still remember the exact first words Dave's brother said to me when I met him – how many people can you say that about in this life?)

Since he died, people have been celebrating Dave's life (as they should), lauding the family for their bravery in disclosing that it was a suicide (as they should) and looking hard at the deeper issues (as is the proper thing to do although obviously, it's unfortunate that these things only seem to get attention when a high profile person is involved.) 

I do not want to speak ill of the dead but I do have to say that Dave Batters did take one position as a politician that I find unconscionable.  I won't get into the details and in some ways, it's nothing beyond the typical “pro-gun/anti-gun”-type stuff that all politicans must delinate themselves on.  But it gets to the core of why I'm a supporter of the NDP and proudly so.  So to tie it all together, let's hope that we can get the Palliser seat back in NDP hands so that all constituents in that riding will be well-represented, not just the chosen few.