Powell River's Liberal supporters received a ray of hope for the federal election campaign.
Bob Rae, incumbent member of Parliament for Toronto Centre and former NDP premier of Ontario, was in Powell River with Ian Sutherland, Liberal candidate for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country, on Friday, Sept. 19. While in the community, he denounced Prime Minister Stephen Harper's decision to call an election for Tuesday, Oct. 14.
"The prime minister promised us there wouldn't be an election," Rae said. "He promised us he'd have a fixed-date election and he has clearly broken that promise. He's running around saying he only wants a minority anyway, which is clearly nonsense because he has a minority. He claims there was some kind of crisis in Parliament. Parliament was not even in session."
Rae said it raises right off the bat the issue of trust and fundamental honesty with the voters about doing what the prime minister said he was going to do."Clearly he's failed that test," Rae said. "I think that's something that people are going to have a view about. He's also trying to snatch an election. It's all very fast; it's all happening in four and a half weeks. Things are going very quickly. We are now only three and a half weeks away from election day. My sense is an awful lot of voters are just getting tuned in and beginning to realize an election has been called."
Rae said the Liberal Party of Canada is clearly here to fight this election and win it.
"It's a big issue for us and it's a big issue for Canadians," he said. "There are some very fundamental choices between the Liberal team and the values most Canadians hold, and the way this prime minister is running the country and the way he is trying to grab a majority. I don't think we should give it to him."Before hitting Powell River, Sutherland stopped by Coast Reporter in Sechelt.
He said the first two weeks of the campaign have been going well.
"It's been very interesting and a challenge with a late start, but it's been very positive out there so far," Sutherland said. "I'm seeing firsthand how big and diverse this riding is."
Sutherland said coming from small town politics and seven years as Squamish's mayor, he feels he has an advantage over some of the other candidates."Some have said I lack experience and I don't know the issues," he said. "But I challenge that. I have seven years of political experience. With all due respect to Mr. Weston, who has been campaigning for the past three years and been at a lot of events, he has never been elected to anything. I come from a small community, I've worked on issues for my community with the provincial and federal governments. I've worked hard for Squamish and I'll work hard for the people of this riding."
Sutherland said he feels people want an MP who will represent them in Ottawa and represent all of the issues that are affecting the riding.
"You need to have an MP who will speak his mind and speak to the issues of his constituents," Sutherland said. "I will vote with the Liberals on the issues, but if it's not in the best interest of the people of this riding, then I'll vote that way. You can't have someone in Ottawa who is a 'yes man.' You need someone who will look out for your constituents and represent them."
Sutherland said he echoes Rae's thoughts on the snap election call.
"There was simply no need to call an election," he said. "Mr. Harper broke his promise to Canadians, plain and simple. This election is costing taxpayers millions of dollars. I think people are going to see right through that and make the right choice by voting for a Liberal government."- With files from Ian Jacques, Coast Reporter
