Those of you following my tweets Sunday know that the COPE annual general meeting continued what has now been 10 years of struggling over where it wants to put itself on the political spectrum.
The meeting split almost evenly between the two contenders for external co-chair, with 145 votes for RJ Aquino and 141 for Tim Louis.
The rest of the executive saw mostly people from the “incumbent” group (aka, the non-Tim Louis group that has managed to dominate the last few years and might be called the moderates, the compromisers, the work-with-Vision-to-keep-the-NPA-out group) elected to the function positions, while the independents won the five at-large seats — partly because the incumbents left some of those seats open.
That will result in a slightly more diverse executive and, some are hoping, will result in a conversation between the two sides, instead of the win-or-lose cage matches at general meetings and nominations that have been going on for the last decade — ever since COPE won council for the first time ever and then promptly split into two groups.
What will happen by the time the next election rolls around is anyone’s guess. The independents seem fairly determined to turn COPE into a no-compromise anti-developer party with Vision now identified in their minds as the party that’s bought and sold by developers.
How that will square with the other group’s position that COPE needs to work with Vision, while maintaining different positions, in order to keep out the NPA is going to be an interesting conversation to watch.
Almost as interesting as watching the Conservatives in this province decide whether to back Cummins, and thereby ensure an NDP victory, or compromise and unite behind Christy Clark.
Other interesting notes from the meeting:
- COPE raised and spent $340,000 on the election, with $280,000 coming from unions, mostly CUPE
- The party identified 30,000 voters intent on voting for COPE, which gave the combined Vision/COPE slate 80,000 “marks” altogether, as they’re known in election lingo. That means almost half of Vision’s ID’d voters.
- The party is still carrying a $90,000 deficit from the 2002 election, when they spent a million dollars for the first time ever and elected Larry Campbell and eight COPE councillors.
- David Cadman and Tim Louis, who lent the party some of that money, are asking for some of it back — $20,000 to be exact. Money that COPE doesn’t have.
Here is the actual list of those elected.
17 responses so far ↓
1 CityHallWatch Randy // Feb 21, 2012 at 9:39 am
The fundamental truth is that regulators should never be funded by those they are supposed to regulate. We have a systemic problem in our local, provincial and federal democracy. We cannot have a more fair government, sound civic finances, smart development, or a truly sustainable society until this political funding system changes.
2 Bill // Feb 21, 2012 at 10:34 am
It is with genuine gratitude that I read your evenhanded coverage of such a contentious meeting. You’re a true pro, Frances. It should also be noted that long time and very hard working COPE activists, Jane Bouey and Brent Grenby were rejected by the meeting in their bids to be elected to the new executive. As a long time COPE activist myself, I sincerely hope the new executive can find a way to work together to strengthen and grow our party.
3 rf // Feb 21, 2012 at 12:43 pm
Chudnovsky aside….what a slate of lightweights….
4 brilliant // Feb 21, 2012 at 1:40 pm
I find it hysterical that COPE is so focused on the big bad NPA wolf at the front door that they don’t realize the Vision snake has slithered in the back way and is about to devour them whole.
5 Glissando Remmy // Feb 21, 2012 at 2:53 pm
Thought of The Day
“So… the COPE Vancouver Membership, accepted Tim Louis’ money, but not… his integrity and ideas! It’s all becoming sooo… “Vision” in there!”
How refreshing. To follow the Status Quo COPE vs Independent COPE fighting over a Dead Cat over the weekend during the Cope AGM.
Status Quo COPE won by 1 Promissory Vision Lap Dance Vote, though!
Just to put it into perspective for all readers with a mind of their own, and not yet ‘Hollyhockized’.
The sinking of the HMS COPE-tanic started the day they stepped foot into office with Larry “The Bully” Campbell, Raymond “The It’s A Go” Louie, Tim “The Precious” Stevenson, and Jim “The Would Have Made A Great Mayor” Green.
Remember this?
THE METAMORPHOSIS OF COPE
COPE
COPE Classic
COPE Classic & Lite
COPE Lite & Classic
COPE Lite & Classic & Friends Of Larry
COPE Lite & Friends of Larry & Classic
COPE Lite & Friends of Larry
COPE Lite & Friends of Larry’s VISION
COPE & Friends of Larry’s VISION
COPE & Hollyhock Friends of Larry’s VISION
COPE & Hollyhock Friends of VISION
COPE & Hollyhock VISION
Hollyhock COPE & VISION
Hollyhock VISION & COPE
Hollyhock VISION
VISION
Yeah, that’s right!
The COPE Party was hijacked, derailed, backstabbed by the very ones this pathetic “Status Quo COPE” are trying hard to emulate. Go figure!
They call themselves progressives, deal makers, negotiators, LOL… when in fact, all there is… all they are… all they want is… friends with benefits.
I have a fair question for R Aquino & his “progressives”:
“If you wanted to Be Like “Gregor”… why didn’t you join Vision Vancouver & cut the Drama?”
Oh, yeah, as that will ever happen for you…
Anyhoo…
My two kopecks re. the final tally is pretty simple:
“Insanity (Def): Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting Different Results!”
There!
To the “Independent COPE” Members I say:
“Kudos to you. You’ve recognized the cause of last year’s defeat and now you’ve tried to do something about it. Too bad. That damn number between #68 and #70 must be the culprit…”
Here’s a song for you, to go with the mood:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aftPhYPXqvU&feature=youtu.be
To the “Status Quo COPE” Members I say:
“Where Did You Get Your Joints? I Want One!” :/
To conclude:
“Sunday’s #CopeAGM results are the confirmation that joining COPE Vancouver these days, is like crashing a Vision Vancouver #Bipolar Disorder Seminar!”
Why Would the #StatusQuo COPE Vancouver Members Want to Run on the Vision Vancouver Coattails… is Beyond Me.
They could always loose as bad in 2014… On Their Own!
We live in Vancouver and this keeps us busy.
PS.
Frances… “Je te taquine, car je t’aime, tu le sais!” … you know
6 Michael Kushnir // Feb 21, 2012 at 2:54 pm
Ultimately, if COPE wants to keep Labour happy, it will have to have to keep cooperation on the table.
If they go on a suicide run against Vision out of spite, I doubt that Labour will be keen to back them.
7 Frances Bula // Feb 21, 2012 at 3:27 pm
@Glissy. Si vous exprimez vos critiques en francais, je les accepterai toujours sans question ni commentaire.
8 Frances Bula // Feb 21, 2012 at 3:28 pm
@brilliant. I believe your point is exactly what half of the voting members expressed on Sunday.
9 George // Feb 21, 2012 at 4:27 pm
@Brilliant @Glissando
You’ve said it beautifully..
10 ThinkOutsideABox // Feb 21, 2012 at 4:54 pm
Remember status COPEsters, Vision Vancouver loves COPE to death
http://www.straight.com/article-557146/vancouver/vision-vancouver-loves-cope-death
11 Mira // Feb 22, 2012 at 11:46 am
WOW!
I would have expected some nice rebuttals from people who attending the meeting, or were on the nomination list, or were elected. Where is Tim Louis on this, or Sean Antrim, or Raymond Tomlin, or Brent Granby… any of the following would do: “RJ Aqunio as External Chair (previously a member at large)
Sarena Talbot as Internal Chair (continuing the same role)
Donalda Greenwell-Baker as Recording Secretary (continuing the same role)
Kim Hearty as Corresponding Secretary (newly elected)
Aaron Eddie as Treasurer (newly elected, former COPE staff member)
Kate Van Meer-Mass as Membership Secretary (previously a member at large)
David Chudnovsky as Fundraiser (continuing the same role)
Anita Romaniuk as Member at Large (newly elected)
Richard Marquez as Member at Large (newly elected)
Tristan Markle as Member at Large (newly elected)
Wilson Munoz as Member at Large (newly elected)
Ifny Lachance as Member at Large (newly elected)”
What? Did the cat ate their tongues?
Or did they read Glissando’s post and thought that there is nothing to be added?
I’m waiting.
12 Bill Lee // Feb 22, 2012 at 6:32 pm
So Rafael (RJ) Aquino moved up from member-at-large.
What a landslide!
And there were 6 spoiled ballots which might have meant anything from obscenities at the voting to mistakes in writing ballot. I am sure that they were contested at the vote by scrutineers. And the ballots were counted 3 times.
After that, the Internal President went 144 for the old line Woodsworth/Elmore group and previous President Talbot, to 122 for Hubbs of the reform group with 4 spoiled ballots.
Were they protesting the 69 members signed up that afternoon at the door?
Too many comfortable assumptions by existing COPE insiders.
This seems to be the first year that COPE has staggered election of officers, with Rafael (Landslide) Aquino getting a 2-year term (He won’t keep it) and Talbot a 1-year term. Half the executive was 2 year terms, half 1 year, so that in the future elections will only be for half the executives (maybe!)
COPE is in trouble because they can’t keep their money going with just the little people. They had very few media (TV. Radio) buys in 2011, relying on print ads, doorstops, and the phone board.
There should have been some indignant issue in the election they could exploit but cosying up to TEAM-Lite/Vision meant that there was a muzzle on any middle- and working-class angst.
Is everything so right in Gregor-Land?
“Landslide” Aquino rarely tweets, but his personal blog does have one revealing detail
“Initially indifferent to politics, they [ family ] eventually went out of their way to leaflet, door knock and make phone calls to help me and my fellow candidates throughout the campaign.”
Indifferent? Maybe the Pinoy groups is too diffuse, not all from Luzon or more international that is made out to be involved with (mildly) progressive civic politics
His activity in Tulayan is really a one time encounter as after an initial contact, few may carry on.
His experience as lead slave driver at Ebay call centres will come in good stead in 3 years time when the COPE telephone bank try to get anyone to answer the phones before tne next election.
Make a noise COPE, strongly weekly. And off the intertubes.
13 independencia // Feb 23, 2012 at 9:51 am
hey mike,
COPE already went on a suicide mission COOPERATING with VISION – what happened? they got shut out of the last election. . .
14 Bill McCreery // Feb 23, 2012 at 2:32 pm
Bottom lines are interesting. How much did the unions donate to COPE? How much to Vision Van? Maybe that will illustrate to those in COPE who are under the illusion that they can dig themselves out of their hole.
I hope COPE can get back on track. The party has contributed positively to improving Vancouver over many years. They have a constructive role to play, but what kind of role do you play when you’re allowed a maximum potential of 3 seats on Council? Answer: you don’t have any role whatsoever.
15 F.H.Leghorn // Feb 24, 2012 at 1:54 pm
COPE ads on the bus during the last election:
“Think your rent is too darn high? Vote COPE”
this tells you everything you need to know about what’s wrong.
1. Tenants don’t vote (or donate).
2. Assume COPE wins council majority. There is nothing whatsoever they can do to affect rents.
3. Assume they tried to impose rent controls. Landlords do vote and donate, but not to COPE.
4. Somebody needs to tell the Tim Louis faction that Communism died shortly after Che did, even in Cuba.
5. Chinese voters will never, ever vote for a Communist, and neither will anyone else.
6. $300,000 won’t even buy a weekend yoga and massage retreat for the executive on Cortes, let alone a civic election.
16 Bill Lee // Feb 25, 2012 at 5:35 pm
@F.H. (Fog Horn) Leghorn // Feb 24, 2012 at 1:54 pm
StatCan twitter feed pointed out 3 StatCan studies (which are of the federal election but might have relevance to any political voting.
Readers should be visiting
twitter.com/statcan_eng
and the more exotic
twitter.com/statcan_fra
at least once a week.
Statcan said
“Here are some past releases related to voting: bit.ly/xGt2TY, bit.ly/wTvZSE,”
which lead to a NOT-Voting study
Linkname: The Daily, Tuesday, July 5, 2011. Reasons for not voting in the May 2, 2011 federal election
URL:
statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/110705/dq110705a-eng.htm
Linkname: Canadian Social Trends
Canadians and their non-voting political activity
statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-008-x/2007002/9646-eng.htm
And the page that was updated and posted on Thursday 23 Feb 2012
Linkname: Elections by the Numbers. 2011
www42.statcan.gc.ca/smr08/2011/smr08_152_2011-eng.htm
Linkname: Study: Factors associated with voting
statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/120224/dq120224a-eng.htm?WT.mc_id=twtB2078
17 Glissando Remmy // Feb 25, 2012 at 11:32 pm
Thought of The Night
“A COPE divided against itself cannot stand!”
I knew I’ve seen/ heard it somewhere before, but I couldn’t quite pointed it out… until today.
The best explanation of “Relationship COPE” (Status Quo & Vision) versus “Independent COPE” is given by George…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxuYdzs4SS8
… Constanza!
We live in Vancouver and this keeps us busy.
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