Monday, November 19 ~ SAANICH.
Randall Garrison. MP will be running again in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke as the NDP candidate for the 2019 federal election.
A well-attended nomination meeting took place at the Royal Oak Neighbourhood House in Saanich on Saturday, November 17.
“I am honoured to have the opportunity to represent the NDP for another election and to keep fighting alongside Jagmeet Singh for the people of Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke,” said MP Garrison to a packed room that included Esquimalt MLA Mitzi Dean and MP Sheila Malcolmson (Nanaimo-Ladysmith).
“I hope to earn the trust of the people of Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke once again so I can keep working hard for them and make sure they get what they need from their government”, said Garrison.
“Randall is a tireless advocate for his community with an unparalleled dedication and determination to stand up for the common good, protect our environment, and make life easier and more affordable for those who have been left behind by decades of Liberal and Conservatives governments”, said NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh.
Garrison was first elected in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke in 2011. He has come to know the local communities well, including a focus on Sooke and also the DND base in Esquimalt. He is presently Critic for National Defence and Critic for LGBTQ2+ Issues.
Garrison says the decision to run again was an easy one. “I am running for four main reasons. I am running to finish Tommy Douglas’ dream and expand health care to include pharmacare, dental care, and eye care. I am running to defend international peace and human rights. I am running to address climate change head on, unlike the current government which only talks a big talk but does not follow through with action. I am running to stop the troubling rise in inequality. Poverty is not natural. It is a choice we make by way of our governments,” said MP Garrison in his nomination speech. “I am excited to continuing to work with Jagmeet, who continues to be inspiring and knows how to connect with people in an extraordinarily magnetic kind of way.”
Last week Garrison said he is working on a private member’s Bill C-77 which would see ‘self-harm’ removed as a reason for the military to deny support to active military members and veterans.
Garrison appeared with Singh at a community event hosted by Alistair MacGregor, MP (Cowichan-Malahat-Langford) last week in Langford. See page 1 in the November 16, 2018 issue of West Shore Voice News.