Have to be “in this to win”
Halifax NDP MP Megan Leslie, guest speaker at the nomination meeting, said she thinks a lot about this, and the success the federal NDP has had this past year: the passing of several motions and bills relating to pension reform, the banning of candy-flavoured cigars and seeing multiple employment insurance reform bills through second reading. She has been working on a bill for a national housing strategy so seniors, students and single parents can access affordable housing. The private member’s bill passed second reading but, because of the prorogation of parliament, was set back to the committee level.
She said the NDP is the fourth-place party federally, accounting for less than 15 per cent of the house, but they’ve been responsible for 43 per cent of the written questions to the Harper government, put forth 62 per cent of the bills from opposition parties and 60 per cent of all bills in the house.
Leslie said Hewitt is a “passionate and compassionate social democrat” that will build on the work of past federal candidates and their provincial counterparts.
“Scott Brison, watch out because we’re surrounding you,” she said. “I believe the people of Kings-Hants are social democrats. We need to convince them they are.”
She said the NDP is in an excellent position in this riding and “we need to be in this to win.”
For more in-depth coverage, watch a video package from the nomination meeting at www.NovaNewsNow.com (www.kingscountynews.ca).
