The chairman of the federal NDP’s Ontario caucus says he’s already got a seat picked out for Andrew Foulds in the House of Commons.
“Third seat from the left,” joked Malcolm Allen on Thursday night, as Foulds, the three-time city councillor, officially accepted the party’s nomination in Thunder Bay-Superior North.
The race was uncontested as Foulds, who was unsuccessful in a provincial run last June, takes aim at Liberal Patty Hajdu and Green Party incumbent Bruce Hyer, who won the seat under the NDP banner in 2011.
Foulds, who drew on the wisdom of NDP leaders Ed Broadbent, Jack Layton and Thomas Mulcair during his nomination speech, said he’s ready to go to work for the people of the riding, expected to be one of the most highly contested across Canada.
“I am not a quitter. I will never give up and I will not stop until the job is done,” Foulds said.
“I was born with NDP orange blood in my veins and I intend to die with NDP orange blood in my veins.”
A high-school teacher at Superior Collegiate by day and municipal politician representing the Current River Ward since 2006, Foulds said it’s time for the country to find out what an NDP government can do for Canadians.
Foulds listed a pharmacy-care program, affordable daycare, fighting the Conservatives controversial Bill C-51 and a national $15-an-hour minimum wage as four planks in a platform designed to improve the country’s quality of life.
Foulds called it a big night as he took the next step in his political career, a crowd of about 45 on hand at the Finlandia Club where the nomination meeting was held.
“It really gave me a lot of inspiration. It wasn’t contested, but it’s still a big night because it’s important that we get the message out of what we stand for,” Foulds said.
“I’m so pleased with our leader and with our party because I really feel our platform has some significant substance. The things Tom Mulcair and the NDP are saying really resonate with me and they really resonate with people.”
Greg Snider, who seconded Foulds’ nomination, said what you see is what you get with Foulds.
“I am telling you,” Snider said. “Andrew Foulds’ politics are the values he lives, the values his family lives.
“We need to get him (to Ottawa) because he gets it done.”
The federal election is scheduled for Oct. 19.
