NDP Leader Joe Byrne has added three members to his team.
At a combined nomination meeting last week at the Murphy’s Community Centre in Charlottetown, Lynne Thiele was acclaimed to represent Stratford-Keppoch, Leah-Jane Hayward was selected as candidate for Brackley-Hunter River and Gordon Gay gained the bid to carry the party banner for Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park.
Byrne expressed gratitude to the candidates and their supporters and said he was impressed with the “depth and diversity” of the candidates.
“Their backgrounds in education, labour and business represent the diversity within our party and the Island,” Byrne said in a statement. “They will be part of a strong team of New Democrats to offer Islanders in the coming election.”
Byrne also addressed the crowd of approximately 35 New Democrats on the contentious issue of PNP.
“No consultation, no deliberation, just another arbitrary decision”.
Byrne also said this latest MacLauchlan government decision places blame for program faults on newcomers.
“When in reality, it was administrative bungling and insider interests that corrupted the federal government immigration initiative. Provincial governments’ failure, including that of MacLauchlan, with lack of transparency and accountability, is yet another immense lost opportunity for Islanders, both new and resident.”
Byrne said he’d like to have seen what could have happened if the minister had chosen to allow the newcomer entrepreneurs to invest in a sustainable energy strategy or in a public housing strategy.
“We can and will do better on the Island with New Democrats in Province House.”
