BURNABY – Yesterday’s federal election officially ended the Stephen Harper era in Canadian politics, and that’s good for all working people in the country. His meanspirited and divisive policies—and campaign tactics—were clearly rejected by a majority of Canadians.
We’re disappointed by the reduction in the number of NDP Members of Parliament across the country, but we’re pleased that British Columbia will be sending more New Democrats to Ottawa with the election of a number of great new MPs. MPs like Wayne Stetski, Richard Cannings, Jenny Kwan, Sheila Malcolmson, Alistair McGregor, Gord Johns, and Rachel Blaney.
Those gains—impressive in the face of the Liberal surge—were offset by the loss of two great MPs in British Columbia—Jinny Sims and Jasbir Sandhu—and the tough losses for many great candidates in non-incumbent ridings.
And we congratulate re-elected NDP incumbents Peter Julian, Don Davies, Nathan Cullen, Kennedy Stewart, Murray Rankin, Randall Garrison, and Fin Donnelly.
I know the B.C. caucus will do a great job in Ottawa, holding the new Liberal government to its extensive commitments.
Above all, I want to thank each and every CUPE member who got involved in this campaign. More members than ever before got involved at the local campaign level, and that kind of activism is the oxygen of democracy. Win or lose, getting involved in the political process is the first and most important step toward effecting lasting progressive change, and we thank each of you for getting involved.
