A former fire chief and assistant deputy minister is aiming to win the Liberal nomination for Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca.

David Hodgins, 61, a resident of Esquimalt, said he wants to be part of the team that does away with the B次元官网网址渃ommand and controlB次元官网网址� style of government led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

HodginsB次元官网网址� concerns echo outgoing Esquimalt-JDF MP Keith Martin, who decided not to run for a seventh term due to endless partisan bickering in Ottawa.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 quite concerned with the way this government operates,B次元官网网址� Hodgins said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not what the people want, itB次元官网网址檚 not what the people expect and itB次元官网网址檚 time to get back to a government that serves the people.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got to get back to democracy in this country. Right now we donB次元官网网址檛 have co-operative decision making on significant issues.B次元官网网址�

Hodgins served as a fire chief in communities in Ontario and Alberta before moving to Esquimalt in 2004. He worked as a B.C. fire commissioner and assistant deputy minister in the Ministry of Public Safety and the Solicitor General. In 2007, he was one of the main architects behind AlbertaB次元官网网址檚 emergency management agency.

Hodgins said his work history has given him broad experience in senior government and understanding the collaboration it takes to develop policy and legislation.

B次元官网网址淥ne thing I learned in my career is you have to be involved to make change. ItB次元官网网址檚 not good enough to sit on the sidelines,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 want to take my passion for collaboration and develop the right relationships in Ottawa to make things work.B次元官网网址�

Locally, Hodgins said he is in favour of building an interchange at McKenzie Avenue and the Trans-Canada Highway as one facet of building transportation infrastructure.

Federally, the health care system needs more focus on preventative solutions while using existing resources, he said.

B次元官网网址淲e have to reinvest in the system in a preventative way,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e canB次元官网网址檛 afford to keep putting money into the emergency and siren side.B次元官网网址�

editor@goldstreamgazette.com