THURSDAY APRIL 2, 2015
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TAKING TO THE STREETS
THURSDAY SPOTLIGHT
Protest sounds alarm about future of health care
After a three-year hiatus, air show returns to Qualicum Beach this summer
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FEDERAL POLITICS
Lunney quits Conservatives MP since 2000 said he believes religious freedoms are being stifled JOHN HARDING editor@pqbnews.com
Citing a stifling of religious freedom in senior-level politics, Nanaimo-Alberni MP James Lunney quit the Conservative caucus on Tuesday. “I am withdrawing from the CPC caucus voluntarily; the decision is entirely my own,” Lunney said through a news release. “Given the circling trolls, I do not intend to entangle the most multi-racial, multicultural and multi-faith caucus in parliamentary history in my decision to defend my beliefs.” Lunney’s riding includes the Parksville Qualicum Beach region. He said he has asked the Speaker of the House of Commons to assign him a seat as an independent MP. Lunney announced last year he would not be seeking re-election this year. Government whip John Duncan — who is seeking election this year in the new CourLUNNEY tenay-Alberni riding that includes Parksville Qualicum Beach — told The NEWS he doesn’t believe Lunney’s move changes anything for him during the coming election campaign. “I don’t run my politics based on social issues, per se,” Duncan said from Ottawa. “I’m a very pragmatic, practical guy who just wants to get things done.” Duncan, who has been living in Qualicum Beach since January of 2014, didn’t directly address Lunney’s comments about a stifling of views at the senior political level. “As caucus members, we are no different than people who work with any organization,” he said. Lunney, 63, was first elected to the House of Commons in 2000 as a Canadian Alliance candidate. He was re-elected as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada in the 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011 federal elections. The full text of Lunney’s announcement, sent to The NEWS by email, follows: “Leaders of the faith community were in Ottawa on March 25 to express their alarm at increasing and unprecedented attempts to stifle freedom of religion, conscience and expression in Canada (http://bit. ly/1ErDN48).” See FREEDOM OF RELIGION, page A9
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TYSON TAYLOR PHOTO
SURE SIGN OF SPRING: Robbie Dhut gets some practice time in the bullpen as the Quality Foods Parksville Royals practised ahead of exhibition games this weekend in Nanaimo. The Royals open their season April 12 on the road against the Victoria Mariners. Turn to our sports section today for more on the Royals.
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