As you may be aware, Ms. Amy Haysom has been disqualified as a BC Green Contestant for Saanich North and the Islands.
The disqualification arose as a result of new confidential information being brought to the attention of the Returning Officer that resulted in a reconsideration of the Party’s willingness to support Ms. Haysom as a potential Candidate. The decision was made in accordance with the Party’s MLA Candidate Selection Rules. It is unfortunate that disqualification occurred at this late stage, but the Party was not in control of the timing of the information that was brought forward.
Ms. Haysom has since been making statements on social media alleging that the disqualification was unfair. These public statements are being made despite Ms. Haysom having subscribed to a process in which she agreed to keep confidential “all discussions, proceedings and appeals arising in respect of the MLA Candidate Application process and all subject matter thereof”. This includes the Contestant vetting process.
Ignoring the agreement to maintain that confidentiality puts the Party in a difficult position because in the vetting process the Party has received information from the Contestant and from third parties on a confidential basis. As a result, the Party cannot defend itself from a Contestant’s allegations of unfairness by revealing the information it received that has led to the disqualification decision.
The Party acknowledges that there was some confusion during this process, pertaining to Ms. Hayson’s candidate page remaining on the BC Greens website and has offered refunds to those who donated unknowingly to a disqualified candidate.
The Party can, however, correct specific inaccuracies that are being circulated. To that end, the Party notes Ms. Haysom’s characterization on her Facebook page that the disqualification decision was made because “someone ‘anonymous’ filed a complaint related to a work situation in a school years ago”. That is not an accurate statement. Our decision was also not based on a person with a grudge who came forward.
The vetting process concerns whether the Party is willing to expend the substantial time and resources required to support a Contestant should they become a Candidate. It is an evaluative process that necessarily must remain confidential as it weighs the risks of sensitive matters in a Contestant’s background coming to light and being seen as controversial or at odds with Party values and principles.
While the Party endeavours to rely on credible, factual information, the nature of the vetting process is such that the Party is not an arbiter of whether background issues or concerns are objectively true or not. That is not the issue in the vetting process, and a decision to disqualify should not be equated with an assertion or an inference that the Contestant in fact has anything negative in their background. It is a confidential decision by the Party as to who it wishes to move forward with in the upcoming election.
In this case, the Returning Officer was satisfied that disqualification was appropriate. To the extent Ms. Haysom’s social media posts continue to breach the confidentiality provisions of the very process she agreed to adhere to in becoming a Contestant, those breaches may reinforce the Returning Officer’s position on this matter.
The Party thanks Ms. Haysom for participating in the nomination process, and we acknowledge that the required brevity and abruptness of the action due to the timing of the event and that the party should have taken quicker action to remove her name and donation page from the BC Greens website. We thank Amy for running, attracting new members and raising funds for the party. We look forward to working with her should she choose to remain involved.
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Rippon Madtha (he/him)
Communications Manager
[email protected]
Phone: +1 778-650-0597
About the B.C. Green Party
Established in February 1983, the B.C. Green Party holds the distinction of being the oldest Green Party in North America. With a history rooted in environmental advocacy, social justice, and sustainable economics, the B.C. Greens have consistently been on your side, working within government to enact policies that reflect these core values. As an active member of the Global Greens, the party is part of a worldwide network of municipal, regional, and national parties that uphold six fundamental principles: sustainability, participatory democracy, social justice, ecological wisdom, non-violence, and respect for diversity. This commitment ensures that the B.C. Green Party remains a pivotal force in shaping a sustainable and equitable future.