Who is the climate activist challenging David Eby for BC NDP leader?
Anjali Appadurai is a climate activist who is challenging David Eby for the BC NDP's top job. As a woman of colour, she knows that will come with challenges.
"As a young, brown woman in politics, I'm prepared for whatever that might bring, you know, all these systems that work against us are alive and well," she told CTV News in an interview.
Appadurai went on to say she's faced dismissive and patronizing attitudes since she began her foray into politics.
"To be honest, I don't think about it very much, because like I said, I'm in a position where the work that I've done in my life has led me to this moment and I feel like I've answered a call from a huge number of people," she said.
That call – to become not only the NDP's next leader, but also the premier – is a long shot.
She faces David Eby, who stepped away from his duties as housing minister and attorney general to run for leadership after current Premier John Horgan announced he was stepping down, saying cancer treatments left his energy "flagging."
Eby has the support of nearly 50 NDP MLAs. He entered the race weeks ago, and there was speculation no one else would seek the job. That would have led to Eby's coronation in late October. Instead, it appears there will be a race, with a decision coming Dec. 3.
Appadurai is a long-time climate activist. As a youth, she gave a speech to the United Nations in 2011. Her bio says she's "a climate and social justice advocate with experience in grassroots campaigns and climate communications." She is the campaigns director at the Climate Emergency Unit.
Climate change is one area where Appadurai thinks the NDP has its priorities confused.
"What it actually means is reorienting our economy so that everybody is guaranteed good and clean jobs," she said. "So, prioritizing workers and making sure that everybody has what they what they need in terms of a sustainable livelihood."
Appadurai believes younger people are disillusioned with the party because of the lack of focus on not only the environment, but also health and housing.
"Whether it's the big industrial projects that get, you know, approved without consent from Indigenous people, and without a clear benefit to British Columbians, or whether it's the poisoned drug supply crisis that has been allowed to get out, become out of control, or whether it's housing that's, you know, no longer accessible for my entire generation. All of these point to that same set of priorities and set of values that that are backwards right now," she said.
Appadurai hasn't officially filed to be part of the race, but plans to do so soon.
On Twitter, Eby welcomed Appadurai's participation, wishing her luck, but "not too much luck."
In turn Appadurai said she appreciated Eby's work.
"Ten years ago, he was in my position," she said. "He was the activist and the insurgent and he's made a great contribution. I think at this time, though, the party is at a place where young people simply cannot get behind it."
She believes many young people are looking for transformative change, and that Eby represents the status quo.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.