Feature Article May 27, 2004
LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb HomeContact Us
Vankoughnet throws the first curve in LFL&A election race Former MP will run as an independentContacted at his home in Napanee on Tuesday, Bill Vankoughnet confirmed rumours that had been going around since before the election was called on Sunday.
I guess Ill be filing my nomination papers tomorrow, Vankoughnet said.
Still smarting from the decision of the Conservative party not to allow him to seek their nomination back in early March, Vankoughnet said the main reason I am running is that I think it was unfair and undemocratic when the Conservative party did not allow me to seek the nomination.
In support of his nomination, Vankoughnet released a long document outlining what has been written by members of the Canadian Association of Parliamentarians and by Gregory Tardy, a senior legal Counsel for Legal Services, the House of Commons, concerning his situation.
The documents both support his position, as did a judge on February 20 of this year, claiming he should be allowed to run. At issue was a question on the nomination application papers that asked if prospective candidates had ever been convicted of a criminal offence. Mr. Vankoughnet said no, and his candidacy was subsequently refused. Mr. Vankoughnet was indeed charged with an offence in 1996, but the charge was later dropped. For this reason Judge Power placed a 10-day injunction on holding the nomination meeting. As soon as the 10 days ran out, the party held a nomination meeting, with Mr. Vankoughnets name absent from the ballot. Scott Reid won the nomination easily.
As far as running as an independent is concerned, Vankoughnet told the News I have always been relatively independent anyway, and I dont make any apologies for it, because I always felt I was representing my constituents. I voted against Meech Lake, against legislation banning Capital Punishment, gun control, and others.
Vankoughnet acknowledged that independent candidates rarely have a chance at winning, but said this time there are other factors that could change that, such as the candidacy problem for the conservatives, and how outraged people are at the provincial Liberal government. So Im in this race to win it.
