FORMER NDP CANDIDATE ON OUTS AT CONVENTION

Offer Of Expenses To Delegates Misconstrued: Drug Reform Advocate

A former federal NDP candidate from B.C. plans to sit across the
street from the party's convention in Halifax Friday morning with a
sign that reads: 'I was banned from the convention. Ask me why.'

Dana Larsen, a marijuana advocate who ran as an NDP candidate during
the 2008 federal election, claims he was escorted from Halifax's
World Trade and Convention Centre Thursday on allegations that he
tried to buy delegate votes.

NDP national director Brad Lavigne confirmed Larsen was deregistered
as a convention delegate earlier in the week.

"On a series of websites, he's been providing financial inducements
for individuals to vote a certain way," said Lavigne.

He added "bribes for votes" conflicts with the culture of democracy
within the party and could put the NDP at risk under the Income Tax
and Elections acts.

Larsen, who resigned as the NDP candidate for West Vancouver-Sunshine
Coast in 2008 after a YouTube video surfaced of him driving while on
acid and pot, said he never intended to get anyone to change their vote.

He contends that he posted an offer online to help NDP delegates who
are already supportive of drug policy reform with their travel and
lodging expenses.

Larsen said he paid $2,000 on his credit card to cover some expenses.
He admits that a few of the web postings weren't as precisely worded
as he would have liked, but stressed that nobody was bribed to be there.