By Jason Daley/The Guardian
Federal NDP parliamentary leader Guy Caron accompanied provincial NDP Leader Mike Redmond in support on Friday while Redmond campaigned in Charlottetown.
Redmond is running in the District 11 byelection that was called following former Liberal MLA Doug Currie’s resignation in October.
Caron centred in on the issue of tax reform and its significance to P.E.I. residents, including small businesses, farmers and doctors who have been adversely affected by proposed changes.
“It relates to provincial work because those are resources that are not available for provincial services,” Caron said.
Redmond alluded to the tax haven issues that have surrounded the Liberals in Ottawa, referring to them as “Liberal loopholes”.
“It’s a political entitlement that we’re addressing about the inequalities that exist in Prince Edward Island. It’s a lack of opportunity for all Islanders based on patronage and the Liberal party’s desire not to clean up government and provide transparency and openness,” said Redmond.
“We have one in six children living in poverty. Food security numbers are about 24 per cent. There’s a growing inequality that exists. We need a government that wants to react to those situations."
-Mike Redmond
Redmond said there are a number of local issues he is addressing as he vies for a seat in the legislature.
“We have one in six children living in poverty. Food security numbers are about 24 per cent. There’s a growing inequality that exists. We need a government that wants to react to those situations.”
Caron is in the Maritimes to attend the New Brunswick NDP provincial convention in Fredericton, Nov. 17-19.
Caron acts as federal NDP parliamentary leader because the NDP’s current leader, Jagmeet Singh, does not have a seat in Parliament.
The other candidates in the District 11 Charlottetown-Parkdale byelection are Liberal Bob Doiron, PC Melissa Hilton and Hannah Bell from the Green Party.
Advanced voting begins today from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Eastlink Centre, with two more advance dates, Nov. 20 and 24. The byelection is Monday, Nov. 27.
