Updated:August 24, 2021, 9:53 P.M.
Vancouver-Kingsway
He should apologize to the Filipino community, Bremner demands
Analysis
Teodoro Alcuitas
Editor, PhilippineCanadianNews.Com (PCN.Com)
Virginia Bremner, the Liberal candidate, has come out swinging at his opponent calling him “racist and sexist” and pointed to his “white privilege.”
Bremner’s ire came after the NDP incumbent Don Davies’ comments in a local paper, The Georgia Straight, saying that she (Bremner) has no right to represent the riding because she does not live in the riding and was not chosen in a nomination meeting by his party.
Bremner was acclaimed by the Liberal Party, a process that is practised by all parties including the NDP. Running in a riding where you don’t live is not prohibited and Davies is being hypocritical for raising that issue. His own party leader Jagmeet Singh,was not from Burnaby South where he run in a by-election. Singh is from Toronto.
Bremner grew up in Vancouver Kingsway where she attended local schools and family members still reside in the riding. She lives five minutes away from the riding boundaries.
As a veteran politician Davis should have known these political facts and why he choose to attack Bremner is incredulous to say the least.
“I am disappointed and hurt that Mr. Davis has chosen cynical politics over substance,” Bremner said in a statement condemning his opponent.
She says Filipinos deserve respect from their MP and not the condescending attitude that Davis has shown.
Rejects apology
Bremner vehemently rejects the notion that women, particularly women of colour, do not deserve to be in politics and cannot make their own decisions, stopping short of calling Davies a mysogynist.
She rejected Davis’ “apology” @dondavies saying it is not for her to accept, in a Tweet @VirginiaBremner.
“He should apologize to the entire community.”
“It’s time for Vancouver Kingsway to have representation which speaks to diversity rather than speaks against it.”
She finds it “disgraceful” that he (Davis) finds it comfortable to attend Filipino community events wearing the traditional Barong but “feel entitled to diminish the agency of these communities.”
Nemesis
After 14 years of reigning as Vancouver-Kingsway’s undisputed king, Don Davies may have meet his nemesis.
He has completely underestimated the feisty Bremner who can stand confidently against any opponent.
“He’s clearly out of touch with real progressive values,” she says of Davis.
Toxic, race-based
Vancouver is Awesome columnist Mo Amir called Davis’ comments “toxic, race-based cynicism within Canadian political culture.”
“These systemic challenges undermine the legitimacy of diverse peoples who deserve voice, representation, and space in governance which should be expressed in a multitude of political interests and ideological beliefs. The political representative of a riding like Vancouver Kingsway, where immigrants make up about half of the population, should understand this. Don Davies clearly does not,” Amir wrote, ending:
“Maybe it’s time for Vancouver Kingsway to elect a representative who does.”
This riding’s population is over 54% immigrants. The three largest ethnic groups include Chinese (36%), European (31.7%) and Filipino (12.5%). The service sector, retail trade and manufacturing are the major sources of employment.
We tried to reach Don Davies for comment but did receive a response by posting time.