Some of you may remember that I posted a diary in September, where I asked for your advice. For many years I've been an active member of the New Democratic Party, the true progressive party here in Canada. In September I was asked to be the candidate in Yarmouth in the next provincial election. I took some time to think about it, asked your advice here, then decided to GO FOR IT!
And, since last Saturday, I've been on the campaign trail. More over the fold...
It didn't come as a big surprise that our Conservative minority government fell on Monday, May 4. (Canada has no fixed election dates on the federal or provincial level, and minority governments depend on support of at least one other party to stay in power.) The Conservative presented a budget that neither the New Democrats nor the Liberals could support and still retain any credibility. There's a sense that, after 3 years of Conservative minority rule, it's time to duke it out for top spot.
The good news is that the NDP have the edge, according to the polls for the past 18 months or more. We have been consistently in first place, with the Liberals and the Tories duking it out for second. In a sense, it's our election to lose. And so far, our leader, Darrell Dexter, and our party has been performing very well.
When the government fell, we in Yarmouth were asked by the party to put our nomination process in high gear. (Actually, we had been waiting on them, but nevermind.) I was nominated last Saturday. On Sunday, I was out knocking on doors, which I really enjoy doing.
So now I'm a candidate for the Nova Scotia legislature. Really.
And I'd like to thank all you Kossacks for helping me make my decision. To be honest, I took a bit of a hiatus from electoral politics for several years, up to about 2006. It was this site that helped to convince me once again that it's no good sitting on the sidelines, hoping that things will change. You have to MAKE change happen. Like you did, last year, in your nation. And, during the next 26 days, that's what I aim to do as well, to help bring a little more progress to my corner of the world.
I will be honest. This will not be an easy task. I face a formidable opponent, an incumbent Tory cabinet minister who has enjoyed considerable popularity in these parts.
But there is a sense of change in the air. In our municipal elections last October, the incumbent major of Yarmouth was defeated after 35 years. Half the incumbent members of town council were also defeated. and half the incumbent councilors of the county went down to defeat as well. That kind of thing never happened even as recently as 10 years ago.
I'm running to win. Wish me luck!