Tuesday March 11, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Appearing on national TV via Zoom, Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke NDP candidate Maja Tait introduced NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh today at a media event at the Victoria Scottish Community Centre on Admirals Road.
This is the launch of Tait’s campaign to become the Member of Parliament for for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke, a large riding that encompasses Esquimalt, Sooke, Colwood and parts of Saanich as well as the Juan de Fuca areas of South Vancouver Island.
She wore a lumber-jack style jacket (red with white collar and cuffs — colours of the Canadian flag) to enforce the idea of backing workers, which was Singh’s main theme today.
Singh said today that he has the back of all his Vancouver Island candidates as the federal election call looms.
“I am very honoured to stand with members of our strong, compassionate BC team,” said Tait in her introduction, with a nod to Victoria MP Laurel Collins, Cowichan-Malahat-Langford MP Alistair MacGregor, and Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns who joined her at the podium.
“We’re the party of working class and everyday people. However all over Canada we’re seeing the elite gather more wealth while the people we represent struggle to make everyday ends meet. This is why Jagmeet gives us so much hope,” said Tait.
“There is one leader that stands up to grocery giants and big pharma instead of sucking up to them,” said Tait about Singh who has led the federal party since 2017.
“We’re really honoured that Maja Tait is on our team,” said Singh.
BC backdrop:
Today’s federal NDP media event had a large British Columbia flag as the backdrop. “Standing Up for BC” was the theme.
The NDP currently has six MPs on Vancouver Island, which is fully 25% of the full NDP caucus of 24 MPs and fully 50% of NDP MPs hold ridings in BC.
Singh himself is a BC MP (Burnaby South), and NDP House Leader Peter Julian is also an MP in BC (New Westminster-Burnaby).
Today’s presentation was laid back, with NDP Leader, MPs and candidate dressed casually in jeans — aligning with workers and everyday folks.
NDP accomplishments & directions:
The NDP dental program and school food program are two NDP initiatives that got across the finish line under the Trudeau Liberal government, as well as CERB economic support during the COVID pandemic.
The NDP presents as the party that can stand in the way of cuts that the Conservatives would bring in if the Conservatives were to form government.
Singh says the Conservatives would cut back on seniors pension supports. He says that the NDP will soon introduce new ways that all workers can be assisted by the Employment Insurance (EI) program — not just salaried corporate and government workers but also consultants, self-emloyed, small business owners and gig workers.
South Vancouver Island office:
Later today, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will host the opening of the South Vancouver Island NDP campaign office on Douglas Street in downtown Victoria.
===== RELATED:
NEWS SECTIONS: FEDERAL NDP | CANADIAN FEDERAL ELECTION 2025