By Michelle Collins
Rookie MP Paul Dewar faced no challengers and last week received unanimous support to represent the New Democratic Party in the Ottawa Centre riding he has held for the past 13 months.
“I’m delighted to represent Ottawa Centre; it truly is the best riding in the country,” Dewar told the nearly 70 people that came out to the party’s nomination meeting at the Royal Canadian Legion on Kent Street in preparation for the next federal election.
“It has a little bit of everything in it and so it’s a wonderful reflection of Canada.”
In a short speech, Dewar, 43, talked about the issues he says are prevalent in the riding and will be priorities in his campaign.
These centre on a lack of affordable housing, poverty, post-secondary student debt and election reform.
Dewar also spoke of the need for Canada to send generic drugs to the HIV/AIDS-plagued countries of Sub-Saharan Africa.
“To this day, not one pill has been sent,” he told the crowd. “This is something we must push to change, something we will change.”
Constituent Dan Wilson, said in an interview that Dewar’s personal commitment to improving accountability and ethics has been important to him.
“Paul’s been a terrific MP for us since the previous election,” said Wilson.
“I think he’s going to be an absolutely fabulous MP for a long time to come in Ottawa Centre.”
NDP Leader Jack Layton was also there to support Dewar and deliver a campaign-style speech.
“He’s done a fine job,” said Layton. “Ottawa Centre is right in the heart of the political activity and they expect a lot of their MP.”
Layton attacked the Liberals and Conservatives for failing to act on climate change, poverty and election reform and told the crowd to be ready for an election at any moment.
“Get nervous because we don’t know when this election is going to come and we’ve got to be ready.”
Other politicians who attended the meeting included MP Libby Davies (NDP Vancouver East), MP Peter Stoffer (NDP Sackville Eastern Shore), MP Jean Crowder (NDP Nanaimo-Cowichan), and city councilors Alex Cullen and Clive Doucet.
“I’ve really come to respect Paul Dewar hugely,” said Davies, who came out to show her support. “He’s a really principled person and really does contribute an awful lot to our caucus.”
Ottawa Centre was briefly held by former NDP Leader Ed Broadbent between 2004 and 2006., when he retired.
Before that, it was held by Liberal Mac Harb for 16 years. Harb is now a senator.