Jennie Stevens nominated as NDP candidate
ST. CATHARINES — The race for the role for St. Catharines MPP is growing, with the addition of some new candidates.
St. Catharines City Councillor Jennie Stevens has been acclaimed as the NDP candidate for St. Catharines, while Saleh Waziruddin is back on the ballot after once again being declared candidate for the Communist Party of Canada (Ontario).
Stevens said it was a personal decision to accept the nomination for the NDP Party. After being acclaimed on Monday night, Stevens said she felt an overwhelming support from the community.
“People want change, and after seeing the support I had, I decided this was the right opportunity,” Stevens said in an interview.
During her speech at the nomination meeting, she said she wants to ensure the community is well represented at Queen’s Park.
“It is time for a government that stands up for the residents of this city by creating jobs and by making life more affordable for all of us,” said Stevens, who has served on St. Catharines city council as Merritton Ward councillor since 2003. “It is time for a government that makes sense. Making sense means not only creating jobs but also by keeping promises.”
The NDP, she said, have a “realistic and practical plan to create jobs.” That is one of the key issues, said Stevens, in addition reducing auto insurance rates as well as health care. She also voiced needs such as GO Transit expansion into the region, additional infrastructure dollars for municipalities and strategies to enable seniors to remain in their homes longer.
Waziruddin represented the Communist Party in the last provincial election and highlights economic concerns as the key issue.
“We used to have good jobs in Niagara. Companies don't invest when the economy is down, so instead of tax breaks for corporations that won't hire we need to use political power to keep jobs here and fund the public services we need,” he said.
The 36-year-old call centre worker, who is an activist in the peace and Cuba solidarity movements, has two years experience working in municipal government. He is one of 12 candidates running for the Communist Party in the provincial election and encourages those not familiar with the party to review its platform online at www.communistpartyontario.ca.
The Green Party continues to try and finalize a candidate for the June 12 provincial election. While party officials had hoped to have a candidate in place last week, no announcement had been made.
St. Catharines City Councillor Laura Ip, councillor for St. George’s Ward, released a statement Tuesday morning indicating she had been courted by the party, but was declining to focus on her efforts on city council, and the fall municipal election. She was just appointed to the role on council in January following the resignation of Greg Washuta.
