Sharia Law behind decision to run

Penticton Western News

Jane Turnell is running as an independent candidate in the Penticton-Okanagan constituency in the May 17 provincial election. Penticton Western News reporter Wolf Depner interviewed Turnell in the final of a series of interviews with local candidates.

PWN: Why are you running?

Turnell: Because some one has to speak out and say 'No' to Sharia law in British Columbia and Canada. And the leaders of the parties were not speaking out. An NDP person just said today they spoke out, but I haven't heard their leader say this is our policy, we will not be allowing Sharia to come into British Columbia. I spoke to the Green leader and she didn't answer. I have written to Mr. (Bill) Barisoff and Mr. (Rick) Thorpe. They have not given me an answer. I have written four times to Mr. (Geoff) Plant. He hasn't give me an answer. And Mr. (Gordon) Campbell, the letter I got from him (read) not my jurisdiction.

PWN: How much of a concern is Sharia law in B.C.?

Turnell: I talked to some Iranian people in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island and they say that Sharia will be a problem.

PWN: But you are running to represent the riding of Penticton- Okanagan Valley.

Turnell: I will look after this area, but there has to be at least one person in the legislature who says no to Sharia. We have lived in this area for 18 years and once I am hired to do a job, I do it to the best of my ability. I want the constituents to come in and give me their ideas, because I don't have all the answers and any politician who tells you he has all the answers could end up just like our prime minister.

Since I started this, I have found people are so angry at the Liberals. There are--people who said they just love Mr. Campbell and that there is just no point running and somebody else said a vote for an independent vote would be a wasted vote. But if they are really angry at the Liberals, they might be a bit angry at the NDP, but the anger at the NDP is not as bad as the Liberals and people are looking for alternatives. And as much as I like Mr. Litke and Mr. Cunningham and I may take votes away from them--I hope--it is something I have to do because politicians in the B.C. legislature are not addressing the issue. And women and children are the ones who are most affected.

PWN: Why are you so concerned about Sharia Law?

Turnell: According to the Al-Jazeera English edition, they (the Islamic Institute of Civil Justice) are planning to spread Sharia all over Canada. According to the Asian Pacific Post, British Columbia was going to be the next province. Mr. Plant said nobody has come to him yet. There are more six provinces that are trying to bring Sharia law in. That means there will be have women and have not women.

The women who got us the vote and had us declared persons under the law did not say that, oh, this lot of women have all the same rights. But that lot of women, no. They said all the women and every woman in Canada. Once you allowed Sharia to work in a legal sense and you give it legitimacy, Sharia takes precedent over Canadian law for the Muslims. So you cannot let it in a little bit because it will end up being a lot. Look at Nigeria--they are stoning women.

PWN: But it is a bit of a stretch to suggest that Canada could become Nigeria.

Turnell: So why are Muslim women so afraid of this happening There is a group of Muslim men who don't want it. If it (were) a good thing, they all would want it in. But they don't. Moderate Muslims don't want it. I watched a program on CBC. The man was almost in tears. He said 'I came to Canada to get away from them.' Oh, I'm an hysteric by the way, according by one of the candidates in (another riding). I'm not being hysterical.

PWN: A lot of the issues that you touched on are governed by federal law.

Turnell: Then why are they not taking responsibility for it. Nobody is saying anything. They are all keeping their mouths shut.

PWN: But this is a provincial election. If you are concerned about those issues, shouldn't you be running in a federal election?

Turnell: No, because Ontario decided to let it through the backdoor of the justice system and now six more provinces are considering bringing Sharia in. B.C. will be next. That is why someone has to stand up and say no.

PWN: Those reading this interview they would reach the conclusion that you are a single issue candidate. How accurate is that perception?

I'd make sure that I was back here when I am supposed to be. When I was supposed to be in the legislature, I would be in the legislature. I would probably be on the opposition side. I believe in working with the opposition and the government in power. I have never asked anyone to do a job that I would not do myself. I scrubbed the toilet, I washed the dishes, I have changed the diapers. I would work hard for my constituents. But Sharia is the main reason why I am in because I want to protect all women and all children. I am in here for one issue--but I am in to work for the whole constituency. And I am not just in to raise the issue. I am in it to win.