A series of private discussions concerning the unity of the British Columbia New Democrats is being characterized with optimism by supporters of embattled leader Carole James, who was poised Sunday to faceoff against dissenters before the meeting was abruptly called off.
On Thursday, as the din of party infighting grew ever louder, James donned a brave face and shielded herself with 13 MLAs to announce an emergency caucus meeting so disloyal members could be held to account.
Two hours before the gathering, planned for late Sunday afternoon at a Vancouver hotel, the party released a statement saying it would be postponed.
"I think you should look at it as a positive thing," said NDP acting caucus chair Kathy Corrigan, who made the decision in consultation with James and "a variety" of other people.
"These private discussions, they are a positive thing, and you can certainly can interpret it that way."
Corrigan wouldn't describe the nature of the discussions or say who was involved, other than it didn't make sense to hold the meeting now. But she reaffirmed it will eventually take place.
James called the meeting on Thursday a day after a blistering public attack on her leadership from four-term MLA Jenny Kwan, who urged holding an immediate leadership convention.
She characterized Kwan and a group of 12 other dissidents, who have become known as the Baker's Dozen, as a vocal minority trying to silence the majority and said those MLAs displaying "unacceptable" behaviour would be "held accountable."
At a meeting of the party's provincial council two weeks earlier, party members voted 84 per cent in favour of keeping James on as leader.
But the vote failed to quell the controversy that began with former NDP MLA Bob Simpson publicly criticizing James in September. Simpson was dumped from caucus as a rebuke.
In the following weeks, caucus whip Katrine Conroy and caucus chair Norm Macdonald resigned in protest.
In tough tones, James said Thursday the emergency caucus meeting would be used to hash out the internal party politics that threatened the very existence of the party itself.
On Sunday, Corrigan and several other of James' tight-lipped MLA supporters wouldn't say if the Baker's Dozen had backed off from their demands.
"I know that people are communicating and I think that's a very positive thing," health critic Adrian Dix said, adding he believed reconciliation within caucus is still possible.
Environment critic Rob Fleming said he learned the meeting was off earlier that morning, allowing him to cancel travel plans from his Victoria-area riding. He called the postponement "a good sign."
Neither Simpson or any of a handful of the Baker's Dozen MLAs contacted by the Canadian Press on Sunday returned phone calls.
David Schreck, an NDP MLA in the early 1990s who now does political commentary, said he didn't know what was going on behind the scenes yet, but he was sure members have been busy on the phone all weekend.
"I don't know whether the cancellation is indicative of some sort of clear decision coming down, there are many ways to interpret it," he said.
