Late Tuesday afternoon, Tory leadership contender Brad Cabana was disqualified from the race, only one day after he entered it.
Members of the party scrutinizing his nomination documents found many of the signatures on his form were not from party members.
However, the saga appears to be far from over — Tuesday evening Cabana insisted the PC party has an “open membership” policy, and that anyone who supports the aims and goals of the party should be considered a member.
Without Cabana, Premier Kathy Dunderdale is the only recognized candidate, and will be acclaimed as party leader.
Cabana said he is weighing his options. He may pursue the party’s appeal process, which could take up to 13 days.
Cabana said he’s also considering taking the matter straight to court.
At issue is what constitutes a PC party member. The party’s constitution states a member is anyone who supports the aims and policies of the party and who is a member of any affiliated organization, such as a district association, the party’s youth wing, or the Tory women’s caucus.
The main avenue for membership would be through district associations across the province, which elect the lion’s share of delegates sent to the party’s leadership convention.
“This is an open party, this is a process whereby people can engage in the process, but you have to do it in accordance with the constitution,” said Shawn Skinner, the party’s leadership convention co-chairman.
While Skinner said the process was clear and open to everyone, the PC party’s website does not contain a copy of the party’s constitution, and contains no mention of party membership requirements.
Many prominent members of the party, including former Tory premier Tom Rideout, were unclear on the rules of membership.
Rideout believes Cabana should be included in the leadership race.
“If they are people who would normally qualify to vote in a general election in Newfoundland, and they say that they’re supporters of this guy and of the party, these are the only requirements that I’m aware of,” Rideout said Tuesday.
Rideout said if Cabana is blocked from the leadership race, it could be damaging to the party.
“It’s not a great demonstration of an open party that welcomes competition and sees competition of ideas as a way we grow,” he said. “I think it would run counter to everything that I think the PC party stands for.”
Another longtime Tory, former Kilbride MHA Bob Aylward, didn’t think Cabana was a credible candidate, but said determining which people are members of a district association is simple — they’re the ones who show up.
“The district association, you don’t pay money or anything, you come to the meetings,” he said. “With the federal party, you’ve got to pay five dollars or something, and you get a card and there’s no doubt about it.
“I always thought that was a bit restrictive for anyone. If someone wants to come to a meeting and express their views, and you can find out if they do support you or not, best kind, I suppose.”
Cabana said he had a somewhat confusing entrance into the Trinity North district association.
He said he called the party and said he wanted to get involved, and a few days later, someone called him back and invited him to a barbecue in Shoal Harbour.
“We had a barbecue, it was nice and everything. Before I knew it, I got an e-mail that showed me listed as a member of the executive,” Cabana said. “And I never asked to be on the executive and I never signed anything that said I agree with the principles of the party.”
Skinner said with the confusion over the rules, the party will review the process, and potentially may tweak the party’s constitution to avoid issues in the future.
Since questions were first raised about his nomination papers, Cabana has said he will take the process to court if he has to.
He said he wasn’t worried that it might hurt his leadership prospects, assuming he could successfully sue his way onto the ballot.
“If you’re not prepared to stand up for democracy, then you’re not much of a candidate,” he said.
The prospect of a court battle wasn’t something that seemed to bother Skinner much, though.
He said he had consulted multiple legal firms before disqualifying Cabana from the race.
jmcleod@thetelegram.com
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Hey Scott...how about we also see the list of names on Cabana's nomination papers. 9 chances out of 10 there will be a few "Liberal " names from the area. Even a Mr Free maybe there!! And the Liberal s didn't have a leadership race in the summer...did i care, NO, because its up to their party and their membership to carry on their duties!! The PC Party is open, you are free to run for any district you want Scott. Maybe you could join the 5 already running for the PC's in Humber West, or you could be the 1st Liberal to show any interest!! Make sure you have the correct signatures...you have to abide by the PC Party rules that are voted on at their annual AGM, not the Liberal ones. See thats the way organizations run...you have to abide by that organizations rules!!