The federal Liberal candidate in North Island-Powell River riding is confident the surge of support behind prime minister Mark Carney will boost her chances in a riding that historically leans orange or blue.
Jennifer Lash noted that Carney, a former governor for the Bank of Canada and more recently for the Bank of England, is laser-focused on the economy.
“He is, by far, the best federal political leader we have to keep a steady hand on the tiller as we navigate the very stormy waters that Donald Trump is stirring up,” she said.
Lash suggested that as a potential Liberal MP for the riding, she’d have a seat at the federal table to advocate for her riding’s specific needs, something that’s more effective than being an opposition MP with the NDP having little chance of forming government. Her most recent work has been as a senior policy advisor to the federal ministry of environment and climate change Canada. She is also the founder of the Living Oceans Society, a BC science-based marine conservation group.
As a riding resident living for close to three decades in the village of Sointula on Malcolm Island, she said she understands the challenges faced by rural communities and can ensure their interests are addressed when it comes to the impacts of potential tariffs.
Like Canadians everywhere, voters are anxious about how tariffs are going to affect the economy and people’s livelihoods in the riding.
“How we ensure that people are kept whole during this time is the number one issue for us,” said Lash.
The Liberal Party will concentrate on uplifting community strengths and Canadian unity in contrast to divisive Conservative tactics, she added.
“Conservatives are using tried-and-true populist techniques where they discredit experts like economists and scientists, and then use fear to whip up this frenzy of anger that's really tearing away at our communities,” said Lash. “People are really starting to see how that's playing out in the United States, and they're realizing they don't want that here.”
The Liberals would cooperate with the province to reduce dependency on US markets for logging and the fishing sector and ensure support is there for workers in industries hard hit by tariffs, said Lash, adding that she’d also work to continue diversifying the riding’s economy and find ways of keeping more revenue from industry like forestry within the community. Other top goals are to assist and support small businesses and entrepreneurs in the region as well as addressing the ongoing health care crisis by attracting more doctors and nurses to the riding.
The Liberals remain committed to reconciliation with Canada’s Indigenous people and First Nations within the riding, said Lash, emphasizing that the Liberals have worked hard to ensure reconciliation is internalized in the federal government.
“We cannot afford to walk that back, both from a moral perspective or from an economic perspective,” said Lash. “We need to renew that relationship so that we have healthy, vibrant communities going forward.”
The riding has been held by the federal NDP for the last decade, and before that by the conservatives. However, Lash feels Carney will draw votes regardless of past election results.
“Mark Carney has been able to draw support from across the spectrum of voters,” she said.
Rachel Blaney, who isn’t running in the upcoming election, held the riding since 2015. She won for the NDP in 2021 with 39.5 per cent of the vote, followed by the Conservatives at 36 per cent, and the Liberals with just over 13 per cent.
Also seeking to represent North Island-Powell River as MP are Aaron Gunn (Conservative Party of Canada), Tanille Johnston (New Democratic Party), Paul Macknight (People’s Party of Canada), Jessica Wegg (Green Party of Canada) and Independent Glen Staples. Powell River Chamber of Commerce will host an all-candidates meeting from 6 to 8 pm at Evergreen Theatre in Powell River Recreation Complex on Thursday, April 17.
This story was made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
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