Nash confirms NDP candidacy

LISA RAINFORD - Link to article

Layton attends to endorse former Parkdale-High Park MP

Nash confirms NDP candidacy. Peggy Nash, sitting with Canada's Leader of the NDP, was confirmed as the federal New Democratic candidate in the riding of Parkdale-High Park, Thursday evening, Jan. 29. Staff photo/LISA RAINFORD

Peggy Nash, president of the Federal New Democratic Party (NDP) vowed to 'create a new democracy' in Ottawa as she was confirmed as the MP candidate for the social democratic party in the riding of Parkdale-High Park, Thursday evening, Jan. 28.

"Let's work together to create a new democracy where parliament rises above partisan bickering," she told her audience at Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton Catholic Secondary School. "Action means more than words."

Taking the podium before a crowd of supporters, Nash said she believes a new kind of politics is emerging.

"We saw it this weekend with the rallies against proroguing. People are so tired of doing things the same old way," she said. "We're tired of photo ops, saying one thing and doing another, the same old way of doing things."

Thanking her friends from the neighbourhood and beyond, Nash, a life-long resident of the Parkdale-High Park area, said she was determined to win back the riding not only for the New Democrats, but for the entire community.

"Now, it's time. We've seen our caucus grow. It works hard and does more than any other caucus, but we've got to go further. I want to be a part of that. We've got to take the next step," said Nash.

Criticizing Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Nash called his government "politics of secrecy and arrogance, of proroguing parliament instead of working to help Canadians," refusing to talk about the war in Afghanistan, the treatment of detainees, climate change and jobs.

"What's clear to me is that Stephen Harper doesn't care about the issues we care about like jobs, childcare, pension protection, student debt and climate change," she said.

Nash also pointed the finger at the riding's incumbent MP, Gerard Kennedy.

"To my opponent, I say it will take more than just saying you're progressive. It takes substantive action. We're not seeing that in Parkdale-High Park," she said.

Lending their support to Nash's nomination were fellow NDPers, Leader of Canada's NDP Jack Layton, Parkdale-High Park MPP Cheri DiNovo and Parkdale-High Park Councillor Gord Perks. Had the government not been prorogued, Layton would have been in Ottawa and not available to speak on Nash's behalf, said Susan Rogers, president of the Parkdale-High Park NDP Riding Association.

"In one way, I'd prefer to be kicking a particular part of the body - metaphorically," said Layton. "It's great to be here at this nomination. We want Peggy back. This riding needs Peggy."

DiNovo said she had no doubt Nash would be back in Ottawa. â?¨"We're here for one reason and one reason only and that is to elect Peggy back to the House of Commons," said DiNovo. "I'd like to welcome any Liberals here tonight because by the end of the night, you're going to love the way we do things."

The New Democrats, said DiNovo, were the first to elect a woman; they were the ones to introduce medicare to this country. That's why it's important to stand up for working people "because we're made up of working people."

"We should be ashamed we elected a man when we could have sent Peggy," she said. "We're going to send a feminist message - yes, the F-word. We need women who have had experience."

Perks spoke about why the City of Toronto needs Nash in Ottawa. The federal government does not invest one dime into its child care programs, he said.

"We need Peggy Nash to fix this injustice," he said.