Armed with determination for change in federal politics, Shaunna Salsman is aiming for a seat in Ottawa.

B次元官网网址淚 hope to bring common sense back (to federal politics),B次元官网网址� Salsman said.

Salsman is the new face of the Green Party in the Esquimalt- Juan de Fuca riding. B次元官网网址淚 am just frustrated,B次元官网网址� Salsman said explaining why she decided to run for MP. B次元官网网址淚 am surprised the Green Party hasnB次元官网网址檛 gotten in yet.B次元官网网址�

Health care is an important issue for Salsman and if elected she plans to work hard to keep the Canadian Health Transfer a federal program. The CHT is a federal program that collects and transfers funds to each province for health care.

Salsman, 33, said the current agreement will expire in 2013 and itB次元官网网址檚 up to the elected officials to look after the program.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of parties want to go back to the old way and have it provincially run,B次元官网网址� Salsman said. B次元官网网址淭hat could be disastrous for low-revenue provinces. I want to keep it national to ensure everyone gets a fair share.B次元官网网址�

Salsman was born and raised on Vancouver Island, she currently lives in Sooke. With her roots in the community and a passion for the environment, Salsman feels strongly about banning raw log exports.

B次元官网网址淭hey are Canadian natural resources. We need to keep them here to help create jobs,B次元官网网址� Salsmans said.

By banning all raw log exports, all the timber harvested would have to be processed into lumber in Canada before being exported.

When talking specifically about the Equimalt-Juan de Fuca riding, Salsman said, B次元官网网址淚 know there is a lot of urban sprawl coming our way. There is a lot of concern. But I feel there are a lot of green opportunities too.B次元官网网址�

Helping people create zero waste is something Salsman would like to do. One idea for this would be to create a composting site.

B次元官网网址淚t would bring down our landfill,B次元官网网址� Salsman said. B次元官网网址淲e arenB次元官网网址檛 doing that yet. People are always telling me that they want to be more green.B次元官网网址�

Salsman is a wife and mother of two children, ages 16 and six. After having her youngest child, Salsman made the choice to stay home with her daughter. Her husband was the sole income provider for their family.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 extremely hard for one family member to stay home,B次元官网网址� Salsman said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 time to put families first. At the federal level we can do a lot.B次元官网网址�

While this is her first election and she has no prior experience in politics, Salsman is confident she would do a great job if elected as MP.

B次元官网网址淚 will use my vote in parliament to say B次元官网网址榶esB次元官网网址� to what my riding wants and B次元官网网址榥oB次元官网网址� to what they donB次元官网网址檛 want,B次元官网网址� Salsman said. B次元官网网址淚 have a lot of experience with government (in my daily life). IB次元官网网址檝e felt it, seen it and heard it.B次元官网网址�

A challenge Salsman faced early on was not having the backing of a Green Party riding association. Without one she was banned from accepting donations or spending any money on her campaign.

B次元官网网址淚 couldnB次元官网网址檛 spend any money until the election ball dropped.B次元官网网址�

Candidate at a glance

-Shaunna Salsman

Party: Green

Home municipality: Sooke

Occupation: Stay at home mom

-Main campaign issues for Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca: Health care and keeping the Canadian Health Transfer a federal program, banning raw log exports, building a community compost site.

-www.shaunnasalsman.ca