Leader of the BC NDP, Carole James, outside the British Columbia Legislature Oct. 5 2010.Deddeda Stemler for the Globe and Mail
A breach within the B.C. New Democratic Party caucus widened on Friday, calling party leader Carole James' grip on the leadership into question.
Flanked by three other NDP MLAs, Katrine Conroy announced her resignation as the caucus whip. In a news conference where the most telling revelations were non-answers, she refused to say if she is quitting over Ms. James' leadership. She would only say she does not have the support of her leader and caucus to carry on as the elected officer in the NDP caucus responsible for unity and discipline, a post she has held for five years.
NDP MLA Jenny Kwan, a senior and influential member of the party, stood by Ms. Conroy and refused, repeatedly, to say if she still supports Ms. James as leader.
"I have no comments about that," Ms. Kwan said.
"There are issues that have led to our caucus whip resigning, there are issues which led to our former caucus chair resigning," she said. "There are issues need to be addressed inside the caucus and they are being addressed. I'm not about to breach caucus confidentiality."
Ms. Conroy did confirm that she has spent the last six weeks trying to broker a meeting that would allow Bob Simpson back into caucus. Mr. Simpson was fired by Ms. James for questioning her leadership.
Lana Popham, the MLA for Saanich South, said she agrees Mr. Simpson should be returned to the fold, but she also refused to say if she supports her party leader.
The news comes on the same day as a new poll shows the NDP have seen their lead over the Liberals shrink since Premier Gordon Campbell announced he would step down.
The Mustel Group survey was conducted Nov. 4 to 15 and found that if a provincial election was held, 42 per cent of voters would support the NDP while 37 per cent would support the Liberals. Campbell announced Nov. 3 that he would give up the party reins.
The five-point gap between the two parties is down from a nine-point margin in a Mustel poll conducted in September.
The survey consisted of 502 adults and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 per cent. It has a 95 per cent confidence level.
The poll found Mr. Campbell's performance is approved by 32 per cent of voters, similar to the 34 per cent that was reported in September.
But while the Premier's approval rating stayed about the same, opposition leader Carole James's numbers dropped.
Mustel said 33 per cent of British Columbians approve of Ms. James, down from 42 per cent in September. The poll said 45 per cent of British Columbians now disapprove of Ms. James, up from 36 per cent two months ago.
The poll was conducted before a bitter dispute among the Liberal caucus this week. Ousted energy minister Bill Bennett called Mr. Campbell a bully. The government also announced it was suspending a 15 per cent tax cut Mr. Campbell had announced shortly before he decided to step down.
The NDP is meeting this weekend and Ms. James's leadership is among the items on its agenda. Several prominent New Democrats, including former premier Mike Harcourt, have signed a letter calling on party members to support Ms. James.
The next provincial election will be held in 2013.
Justine Hunter