Chronicle Herald: NDP leader Singh in Dartmouth to champion pharmacare program
NDP leader Singh in Dartmouth to champion pharmacare program
Image: Grace Szucs
"Hailed as a progressive candidate with a platform that focuses on the environment and inequality, he’s also promising action on electoral reform, a broken promise made by the Trudeau government.
'Trudeau sounded progressive. I think people are really excited about that but he hasn’t implemented progressive things. Look at electoral reform, 50 per cent of Atlantic Canadians voted Liberal and they got 100 per cent of the seats.'
But how does Singh, a practising Sikh, plan to make a breakthrough in a province and country still sorely lacking in representation from minority groups?
'The first thing I say is, "Hey, I grew up in Atlantic Canada. I talk about the fact my formative years, learning how to ride a bike, how to swim, how to throw snowballs, happened here.
'People may say, "Oh, wow you’re one of us. You grew up here, you get us." I’m hoping that that story as well as the issues I’m talking about, issues that are going to make people’s lives better, will resonate with Nova Scotians.'
Dartmouth South NDP MLA Claudia Chender, who was also on hand at the North Woodside Community Centre event, was thrilled to have him on board.
'It’s awesome and we’re really happy to have him here,” said Chender. “People feel his enthusiasm around, his message, him as a person. He’s inspiring people.'"