Saturday January 20, 2024 | COLWOOD, BC
by Mary P Brooke, Editor, Island Social Trends | with Opinion-Editorial by Randall Garrison, MP
Randall Garrison has been the long-time Member of Parliament for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke. He lives in Colwood but seems to have spent the largest chunk of his local constituency work in Sooke over the years.
Since first being elected in 2011 (and re-elected in 2015, 2019 and 2021) Garrison has represented a chunk of the west side of Vancouver Island in the House of Commons.
In many ways, Garrison has put Vancouver Island on the national map in the last 13 years, including his ‘find’ in Jagmeet Singh to bring forth a new leader for the party after the federal NDP sagged under Tom Mulcair.
Garrison announced last year that he will not be seeking re-election in the next federal election. The next election is currently scheduled for October 2025 but things can change. The NDP in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke is already prepared with their candidate Maja Tait who was acclaimed in August 2023.
Garrison continues in his present roles as the NDP’s Critic for Justice, 2SLGBTQI+ Rights and Deputy Critic for National Defence.
At the start of this new year, Garrison has released a statement about the NDP making the current minority parliament work for Canadians. With 25 seats in the House of Commons and a Supply and Confidence Agreement with the Liberals, the NDP can logistically make big strides on behalf of Canadians (as they did with the new dental plan for low-income Canadians).
It seems in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s political interest to keep his 44th Parliament going as long as possible (i.e. to the October 2025 scheduled date) to maintain some stability for Canada through the 2024 USA presidential election period and the continuing strain that stubborn inflation and global war issues are pressing upon Canada’s economy.
Making Parliament work for Canadians
by Randall Garrison, MP (Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke)
“In 2023 New Democrats made parliament work and delivered results to make life more affordable for Canadians. We will continue to use this minority parliament as an opportunity to provide Canadians with the support they need in 2024. Last year, we secured historic wins like dental care; This year, we will continue to use our role in this minority parliament to push for pharmacare, real action on housing, affordability measures, and more action on climate change.
“Last year was marked by historic wins for the NDP. As an opposition party in a minority parliament, we chose to do what we can to make this government work for Canadians, and we got results. Dental care began its rollout last year and will be extended to all Canadians who need it later this year. New Democrats were able to negotiate for anti-scab legislation–a historic win for the labour movement in this country. We also pushed hard on the housing file and secured millions of dollars in funding for affordable homes for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people.
“I hear from many of my constituents who are deeply concerned about climate change and want more action from the federal government on this crucial issue. New Democrats used our position in this minority parliament to push for a Sustainable Jobs Act and billions in funding for sustainable growth in the 2023 federal budget.
“While the Conservative Party plays self-interested political games, New Democrats will continue to use our place in a minority parliament to work hard and get the results that Canadians need. Canadians need support with the affordability crisis now – not another election – and my NDP colleagues and I are committed to delivering real, tangible relief for hard working Canadians.
“In 2024, New Democrats have signalled our top priorities will be pharmacare, housing, affordability, and climate change. It is an honour to represent the people of Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke, and I look forward to getting back to work in Ottawa.”
===== RELATED:
- Jagmeet Singh at the BC NDP convention (November 19, 2023)
- Maja Tait kickstarts her federal campaign in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke (September 1, 2023)
- Garrison calls it quits, riding out his last term (April 27, 2023)
- Randall Garrison MP outlines 2023 NDP goals (January 20, 2023)
===== ABOUT THE WRITER:
Island Social Trends Editor Mary P Brooke has been covering news of Sooke and the west shore since 2008.
Ms Brooke’s publication MapleLine Magazine ran quarterly (2008-2010) before emerging as the printed weekly Sooke Voice News (2011-2013). The printed weekly West Shore Voice News ran 2014-2020 before re-emerging entirely online during the pandemic at IslandSocialTrends.ca (2020 to present).
Mary P Brooke ran for school trustee in the west shore (SD62) in 2022.
Since covering the daily COVID news in 2020-2022, Ms Brooke now reports with the BC Legislative Press Gallery. In 2023 she was nominated for a Jack Webster Journalism Award that recognizes the contributions of a woman journalist to her community through journalism.
In 2024, Ms Brooke has launched the Urban Food Resilience Initiatives Society (UFRIS) to bring leadership to the important work of municipal support for food-growing capacity in local neighbourhoods.
In 2024 the biweekly print edition of Island Social Trends is launching in the west shore and other parts of Greater Victoria. Advertisers and subscribers welcome.