The NDP dissidents who prompted Carole James to quit last month are starting to form a line to replace the former party leader.
Sechelt-area New Democrat Nicholas Simons, who played a part in the James stand-off and her eventual resignation, became the first elected New Democrat on Wednesday to enter the leadership contest, but he won't be the last.
Poised to join Simons is fellow caucus dissident Harry Lali, who has scheduled a leadership news conference Thursday from his B.C. Interior hometown of Merritt.
Lali, a long-time New Democrat who was a cabinet minister in the 1990s NDP government of former premier Glen Clark, was one of the dozen caucus members who opposed James's leadership style and called for renewal.
Simons, who announced his candidacy at a Sechelt Indian Band meeting room, said he will bring a new voice and approach to B.C. politics.
The social worker and accomplished cello player said he is developing a policy framework he calls Sustainable BC, which seeks to protect the environment while strengthening communities for future generations.
Simons said he will work to develop an approach to First Nations issues that involves strong government-to-government relations.
Simons also becomes the second NDP candidate to signal that he will ensure marijuana and other illegal drugs become part of the leadership debate.
Simons said British Columbia needs to engage in a mature debate on drug policy, joining pot activist Dana Larsen, who was the first official candidate in the race.
Larsen was dropped as a federal NDP candidate in 2008 after videos surfaced showing him smoking pot and talking about LSD trips. Larsen's candidacy was endorsed by Canadian actor and pot activist Tommy Chong.
"He has every right to be a candidate," said Simons, who said the time has come to openly discuss marijuana use and its impact on the province.
"The majority of British Columbians, according to statistics, have tried marijuana," said Simons. "And when you look at the fact that there are hundreds of doctors prescribing it for people of various forms, there needs to be a discussion that includes the fact that for some of them, it benefits."
Simons, first elected in 2005, said many B.C. marijuana users are concerned that the money they spend purchasing marijuana likely goes to funding gang activities.
James loyalists John Horgan, Mike Farnworth and Adrian Dix are also rumoured to be potential candidates for the April 17 NDP leadership contest, but have yet to official declare their candidacy.
The ruling Liberals will choose their own new leader next month, after B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell stepped down in November.
