There is an exciting future coming for progressives in Kootenay-Columbia as we head into what is likely to be a federal election in 2021.

The Annual General Meeting of the Kootenay-Columbia New Democrats was held via Zoom on January 30 with members participating from across the Kootenays.

Guest speaker was Richard Cannings MP, South Okanagan – West Kootenay. Cannings outlined why it is an exciting time for New Democrats, with a new majority government in Victoria and a federal caucus that has had an enviable success record in pushing the Trudeau government to do better for Canadians in these difficult times.

“Over the past year the federal NDP caucus pushed the minority Liberal federal government into creating the $2000/month CERB benefit, the 75% wage subsidy that kept workers on the job, paid sick leave to allow workers to stay home when they aren’t well, better rent supports, and extra benefits for students, seniors and people with disabilities” said MP Cannings. “The federal NDP is also putting forward policies to create a national pharmacare program, a dental care plan for those who need it, and the elimination of for-profit long-term care homes.”

Wayne Stetski, MP for Kootenay-Columbia from 2015 – 2019, made a presentation in which he highlighted the leadership qualities of Jagmeet Singh and his growing popularity in the polls across Canada.

Stetski noted that “In conversations I have had with people around the riding, the impacts related to Covid, including staying safe, getting immunized and post- pandemic employment opportunities are still top-of-mind, but folks also need to know that the NDP will always fight for ensuring on-going legal use of firearms for hunting, environmentally sustainable coal mining for making steel, proportional representation voting, affordable child care, fighting climate change, providing real supports for workers to transition to a green economy, and student debt reduction.”

“These are all personally important to me and, along with the NDP’s national priorities, will be central to my campaign should I run in the next federal election,” Stetski said.

At the meeting, members approved four very significant resolutions which will be forwarded to the NDP Convention for consideration for adoption.

These resolutions included: Declaring a climate and environment emergency, encouraging NDP and Green Party collaboration, providing income support for election candidates of all parties to encourage involvement of the financially disadvantaged, and enabling job sharing for Members of Parliament to encourage more interest in the position from parents with children.

John Chisamore, President, Kootenay Columbia NDP said, “the Electoral District Association (EDA) is welcoming new members of all ages, and interested persons can contact Dave Gregory at [email protected] to become involved in the local campaign or in specific tasks with the riding association. It promises to be a very exciting year!”

Kootenay-Columbia NDP

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