Tuesday March 5, 2024 | POWELL RIVER, BC [Updated March 8, 2024]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
As shifts are underway across the country toward the 2025 federal election, the federal NDP is shoring up its stronghold on Vancouver Island.
The NDP currently holds six of the seven seats on Vancouver Island: Alistair MacGregor (Cowichan-Malahat-Langford), Randall Garrison (Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke), Laurel Collins (Victoria), Rachel Blaney (North Island-Powell River), Gord Johns (Courtenay-Alberni), and Lisa-Marie Barron (Nanaimo-Ladysmith).
Pressures from conservative pushback in many ridings is on the political radar. Meanwhile, recently MacGregor was appointed to lead the NDP caucus which roots NDP people-first strength in this coastal region of Canada. A blow to the federal NDP happened last week as young but long-time MP Daniel Blaikie shifted to the provincial NDP in Manitoba. Garrison is resigning after holding his riding since 2011, leaving Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke vulnerable.
Veterans, school food, firefighters:
Today it was announced that Blaney was recognized for being named as one of the 2024 recipients of the Esprit de Corps Women in Defence Award. The recognition highlights her continuous work advocating for and supporting measures that improve the lives of veterans and their families, specifically her fight to get the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs (ACVA) to conduct the first ever Parliamentary study on the experience of women veterans.
Tomorrow Johns and Blaney will address media about a National School Food Program after visiting the LUSH Valley Food Action Society in Courtenay.
Singh and Johns will also visit Denman Island Firehall to discuss affordability measures for volunteer firefighters and then meet with Denman Island community members.
Singh attended the food bank in Nanaimo with Lisa Marie Barron, MP this week.
On Sunday March 10, Singh will be joined by Victoria MP Laurel Collins and NDP candidate for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke for an outdoor media announcement.
===== RELATED:
- Alistair MacGregor now chairs NDP caucus (February 1, 2024)
- Alistair MacGregor: what the NDP did for Canadians in 2023 (December 31, 2023)
- Alistair MacGregor: “We’re going to make 2024 a better year” (December 19, 2023)
- Jagmeet visits Sooke to talk about cost of living (August 31, 2023)
- NDP says grocery prices top of mind for islanders (August 29, 2023)
- Jagmeet’s visit to Langford (January 31, 2023)