Lifelong Richmondite Scott Stewart announced Tuesday that he’s the New Democratic Party of Canada candidate for the new Steveston-Richmond East riding for the upcoming federal election.
“I’ve lived in Richmond all my life and see a need for a change in Ottawa. I think I can help put (NDP leader Tom Mulcair) in a position to better represent the people of Richmond,” said Stewart.
The Canadian Armed Forces reservist takes the position that Canada has marginalized veterans, seniors and First Nations people.
“They took $1.1 billion (in lapsed funding) from Veterans Affairs (since 2006) to pad government coffers in an attempt to make the budget look better,” said Stewart, who runs a small consulting business.
The former provincial NDP candidate states that impending air strikes in Syria are illegal and Canada must wait for approval for military intervention against ISIS from the international community.
“That’s a war the United States has been fighting for some time. I don’t think we have the legal right to be there right now; it’s not a war sanctioned by the United Nations or NATO,” said Stewart, a retired New Westminster police officer.
Stewart, 56, lives in the riding, just outside the village, with his wife and teenage daughter.
When asked, Stewart said the environment was the federal issue most important to the riding itself, noting the government has “gutted” environmental protection during its tenure.
He said he wasn’t apprised with details as to how Port Metro Vancouver is able to operate at arms length of the federal government to make important land-use decisions, such as a jet fuel terminal, along the Fraser River.
Stewart said the economy needn’t suffer with better environmental protection.
Nationally, Stewart said Canada needs an affordable housing strategy. He said the NDP’s proposed childcare program and a higher, national minimum wage would benefit families facing housing issues.
Furthermore, he stated Medicare “needs to be renewed, not replaced.”
When asked how the NDP expects to pay to restore social and health programs, he stated Canada ought to raise its corporate taxes to at least the average of G8 countries.
Stewart is to square off against former Richmond school trustee and Conservative candidate Kenny Chiu as well as expected, but yet to be nominated Liberal and Green candidates.
The riding of Delta-Richmond East was split into Steveston-Richmond East and Delta for the upcoming election. From 2004 up until now Delta-Richmond East has always been a Conservative stronghold represented by MP John Cummins from 2004 to 2011 and MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay ever since.
The last time Steveston was represented by a non-conservative political party was in 1972 under the Liberal Party with MP Thomas Goode representing the Burnaby-Richmond riding (after winning the 1968 election).
