Jean Swanson talks to Kennedy Stewart outside B.C. Supreme Court Aug. 15 before being sentenced to seven days in jail after being arrested during a blockade at a Kinder Morgan facility in Burnaby. Photo Jennifer Gauthier
麻豆传媒映画city council candidate was sentenced to seven days in custody today after being arrested earlier this summer for her part in a blockade at the Kinder Morgan facility in Burnaby. She was immediately following today's hearing.
The longtime activist and Order of Canada recipient kicked off her election campaign in June by vilifying "rich people" and her sentencing will certainly make her a martyr to those most opposed to the pipeline and people who dislike rich folks. If you were drawing a venn diagram of those two there would be considerable overlap.
鈥淭he Order of Canada is given to people who want a better country,鈥� said Swanson following the blockade. She received her Order for working with impoverished communities in Vancouver鈥檚 Downtown Eastside and is playing that up throughout her protest and election run (which, again, have serious overlap), 鈥淪pending billions of taxpayer dollars on an oil pipeline given the threat of climate change is not making Canada a better country.鈥�
Even if you're in favour of the pipeline and you think rich people are okay, you've got to hand it to Swanson for playing cards that will surely appeal to COPE voters. There just may be some life left in that party yet.
With background files from Jessica Kerr and Chris Campbell
This is Vancouver鈥檚 Stupidest Politics Column, informing voters leading up to the 麻豆传媒映画election on October 20th, 2018. Check out the entire archive HERE.
