B.C. New Democrat Jenny Kwan is publicly calling for party leader Carole James to relinquish power and hold an immediate leadership vote.
The Vancouver-Mt. Pleasant MLA said in a release Wednesday that James has had seven years to prove herself to British Columbians, but instead has made the party "irrelevant in the hearts and minds" of voters.
"The NDP owes it to British Columbians to present a clear direction and a progressive alternative vision to the BC Liberals' terrible record, but after seven years Carole James has yet to present that vision," Kwan said.
"If we are going to form the new government British Columbians want, then we need change and democratic renewal in our party that is based on sound practices. And yes, that starts from the top."
She added that voters aren't the only ones who are dissatisfied with James -- her own MLAs have lost faith in their leader.
"It is untenable that 40 per cent of caucus members cannot publicly say they support the leader. Carole James is dividing the party by staying on as leader," she said.
Last month, Kwan was one of three MLAs who stood behind caucus whip Katrine Conroy as she resigned her position. Conroy said she was leaving because she felt she no longer had the support of her leader or the NDP caucus.
Conroy's move followed the resignation of former caucus chairman Norm MacDonald, who left in response to James's decision to boot MLA Bob Simpson from caucus for criticizing her leadership.
"Under Carole James's leadership, there has been a steady erosion of our democratic principles. Debate has been stifled, decision-making centralized, and individual MLAs marginalized," Kwan said.
The 14-year veteran of the B.C. legislature said her decision to withdraw support from James did not come easily, but that she feels a leadership race is necessary to revitalize that party.
Kwan says she is not interested in leading the party.
Political scientist Dennis Pilon called Kwan's move an "interesting" one that could end with a number of outcomes.
"It's either going to break this thing open and finally bring this incipient challenge to the surface, or it's going to be the end of her career as an MLA for the party," he said.
On Nov. 20, delegates at the party's provincial council meeting rejected a plan to hold a leadership convention next year by a count of 97 to 18.
A poll released Nov. 19 by Mustel Group Masket Research revealed that James's public approval rating had fallen significantly in recent weeks.
In a telephone survey of 502 people conducted in the first half of November, only 33 per cent of respondents said they approved of James's performance, down from 42 per cent in September.
James has yet to comment on Kwan's statement.
