After a collegial but spirited campaign, Langford councillor Lillian Szpak has landed the federal Liberal nomination for Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca.
Szpak will be seeking the seat of outgoing six-term Liberal MP Keith Martin in the next federal election. The minority Conservative government is expected to table a budget in the next few months, which could send voters to the polls.
B次元官网网址淚 feel honoured and delighted to know that eventually IB次元官网网址檒l be MP and will get to serve our riding,B次元官网网址� Szpak said Tuesday. B次元官网网址淎t this point its early in the day. I have good experience running an election campaign, but this is another level to learn.B次元官网网址�
The 17-year Langford resident and daughter of a Cape Breton coal miner edged out Esquimalt resident and retired fire chief David Hodgins.
Szpak said she plans to sit down with Martin and her team on how to hash out a federal campaign plan and develop policy, while digging down deeper into issues that touch on the federal arena.
B次元官网网址淛obs and the economy are key, and firming the ground under families,B次元官网网址� she said.
She expects transportation on the West Shore to remain a key issue. A military wife of a soldier who served in Afghanistan, Szpak said she plans to follow in MartinB次元官网网址檚 footsteps and advocate for the Canadian Forces, military families and veterans.
Current policies, such as lump-sum payments to veterans with certain injuries, might be causing more harm than good, she pointed out.
B次元官网网址淭his is something that can be very difficult for veterans to manage,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 well aware of the challenges of our military families and the need for long-term support of our veterans.B次元官网网址�
The three-term municipal politician said sheB次元官网网址檒l keep serving on Langford council until she is sent to Ottawa as MP. If a federal election is called, she would take a leave of absence from council, but otherwise itB次元官网网址檚 business as usual. Szpak has previously said she plans to run for re-election in Langford this November if sheB次元官网网址檚 not an MP.
The nomination campaign took Szpak across the sprawling Esquimalt-JDF riding encompasses part of Saanich, the West Shore, Sooke and the JDF electoral area. Much of the campaign work was signing up new federal Liberal members and talking to people in coffee shops and shopping centres.
B次元官网网址淵ou have to be a person connected to the community, and someone who cares and is knowledgeable on the issues,B次元官网网址� Szpak said. B次元官网网址淭he job is about delivering our voice from here to Ottawa, not the other way around.B次元官网网址�
Martin said Szpak is a long-time friend and colleague who would make B次元官网网址渁n excellent MP.B次元官网网址� If he had any advice to offer, he said it would be to remember that constituents come first.
B次元官网网址淎s MP, stick to your guns,B次元官网网址� Martin said. B次元官网网址淜now what issues you want to focus on for the community.B次元官网网址�
He also noted that the system in the House of Commons rewards B次元官网网址渞abid partisanship and mudslingingB次元官网网址� that helped drive MartinB次元官网网址檚 decision not to seek a seventh term. B次元官网网址淵ou might feel like the lonely voice in Ottawa if you offer constructive dialogue,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 succumb to the allure of mudslinging thatB次元官网网址檚 a dominant feature in Parliament.B次元官网网址�
In terms of running a campaign, Martin said he will advise Szpak if she wants, but doubts sheB次元官网网址檒l need much help.
B次元官网网址淟illian knows what to do for our community,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪he knows the system and the local problems. If sheB次元官网网址檚 elected sheB次元官网网址檒l be able to take that local knowledge and advance the needs of our community in Ottawa.B次元官网网址�
Conservative Troy DeSouza, New Democrat Randall Garrison and Green Shaunna Salsman are also nominated to run in Esquimalt-JDF.
