Sunday, October 20, 2019 ~ COWICHAN-MALAHAT-LANGFORD
~ West Shore Voice News
Alistair MacGregor, NDP incumbent says he is excited for an NDP win in Cowichan-Malahat-Langford tomorrow.
“People know that by electing an NDP representative, they will have their concerns heard in Ottawa”, said MacGregor. “I have spent the last four years advocating for things like better health care, affordable housing, real action on the climate crisis and protecting our beautiful coast.”
The polls have been indicating it will be a very close race in this riding between the NDP and the Conservatives. MacGregor is confident that as long as residents get out and vote NDP, he will hold the riding.
The momentum for the NDP and Leader Jagmeet Singh has been rising. A recent Angus Reid survey showed NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh with a 64% favourability rating, the highest of any federal leader running for Prime Minister. MacGregor is looking forward to the NDP’s results across Vancouver Island and Canada tomorrow evening.
“The time for talking about action on climate change and affordability is over,” said MacGregor. “The time to act is now. It’s time to fight like our future depends on it, with a plan that doesn’t leave anyone behind.”
MacGregor spent Sunday — the last day of the campaign — thanking dedicated campaign volunteers and getting the vote out around Cowichan in the morning and Langford in the afternoon. He looks forward to celebrating with his supporters at the NDP Victory Party tomorrow night, Monday October 21 from 7:30 pm at Duncan Community Lodge, 2244 Moose Rd.
The Cowichan-Malahat-Langford riding reaches from east to west on the south island includes a strong rural component which — depending on viewpoint — leans either right (Conservative) or left (NDP or Green). There is a strong force in Green opponent Lydia Hwitsum who readily rallies the indigenous and climate action voter contingent. Smack dab in the middle of the riding is Langford where a strong urban voter base is probably reliable for MacGregor’s NDP stripe, but to some extent also for the Liberal candidate Blair Herbert.
“People who were attracted to the Liberals in 2015 are coming our way,” he said, “as well as some people who have been pondering Green but are sticking with NDP in 2019”.
The NDP will stand up for people “who are falling between the cracks” in terms of the health care crisis and housing affordability, he said. He saw much of the angst of struggling constituents at both of his constituency offices (Langford and Duncan) over the past four years. The intensity of struggle that is borne by some people really stays with MacGregor, and it motivates him to return to the House of Commons to do more.