LARSEN NAMED FEDERAL NDP CANDIDATE FOR LOCAL RIDING

Ex-Marijuana Party Nominee Says Upcoming Campaign All About Fairness
for Families

Former Marijuana Party candidate Dana Larsen last week was declared
the candidate for the federal New Democratic Party (NDP) in the
riding that includes Whistler.

Larsen, 36, is a small business manager whose family has homes in
Vancouver and in Roberts Creek on the Sunshine Coast, where the NDP
staged its nomination meeting for the West Vancouver-Sunshine
Coast-Sea to Sky riding on Saturday (April 21).

After being acclaimed as the NDP's candidate in the next federal
election, Larsen said he was inspired to run by NDP leader Jack Layton.

"Jack Layton and the NDP are working hard to bring fairness to
average families, and that's a message that I think really resonates
with people here on the coast," Larsen said in a statement released
by the party.

"Instead of a $9 billion corporate tax cut, it's time the government
invested in ordinary people by putting money back into education and
skills training for our children and long-term care for seniors."

Larsen also criticized the Harper Conservative government for being
too cozy with U.S. President George W. Bush.

"On Afghanistan and the softwood lumber sellout, Stephen Harper
thinks it's more important to keep George Bush happy than to stand up
for our communities and our values," he said.

At a meeting last week in Squamish, Larsen acknowledged his past
membership in and candidacy for the federal Marijuana Party. He said
he remains an advocate for liberalizing marijuana laws.

"The vast majority of people in British Columbia are in support of
changing our marijuana laws, and I think that goes for people in all
classes and all stratas of society," he said. "I think if you're the
kind of person that thinks people who smoke marijuana should go to
jail, then you probably weren't going to vote NDP anyway."

At the nomination meeting, Larsen said his main priorities will be
fighting for tough action on climate change, fairness for families
struggling with the high cost of long-term care and tuition fees and
implementation of civil rights policies that parliamentary committees
have advocated.

"The people of our coastal communities deserve an MP who will work
hard on the issues that matter to ordinary people," he said.

The NDP is the third party to have named a candidate for an election
expected sometime this year. In January, the Conservative Party chose
John Weston as their standard-bearer, while the Green Party named
Silvaine Zimmermann as their candidate in March.

It's widely expected that the Liberals will choose incumbent MP Blair
Wilson.