B.C. NDP Leader Adrian Dix says toxic politics turns off voters

VANCOUVER – B.C. New Democrat Leader Adrian Dix says provincial voters are losing out because of the toxic turn the political debate has taken in the province.

In his first-ever speech to the Vancouver Board of Trade, Dix warned that people are turning away from the ballot box because of the nasty political tone.

Hours before Dix addressed the business crowd, the B.C. Liberals launched a political attack on the website “Same Dix Same Tricks.”

The campaign-style attack website focuses on Dix’s time as principal secretary to B.C. New Democratic premier, Glen Clark, where he admittedly back-dated a memo that tried to clear Clark of wrongdoing in the scandal that cost Clark his job.

While the business group is not normally pro-New Democrat, Dix’s appearance generated much interest with a sold out crowd of 450 people.

Dix didn’t shy away from controversial business issues either, defending his stand against the Northern Gateway pipeline proposal and saying corporate taxes are needed to deal with issues facing the province.