It was my pleasure to have people meet Jagmeet Singh, leader of the federal NDP team, and find out for themselves who he is, what his values are, and the NDP plan for a New Deal for the People (the commitments we have set out as our vision for Canadians).
The comments I keep hearing are that people haven’t had the chance to get to know Jagmeet.
After meeting him [on Tuesday], Thunder Bay is saying that they are so pleased to have a party leader that actually cares about people, and has shown that he is putting people at the heart of our vision for all Canadians.
He spent the day chatting with folks from every walk of life, about what matters to them, and giving honest answers about his life, experience and reasons for wanting to make Canada a country where no one gets left behind.
I think that people have been saying they don’t know him, but in reality, there are few Leaders that we can say we know.
Press coverage, sound bites and pictures are often what give us our impressions of “knowing” who they are and what motivates them, what kind of Leader will they be?
As I walked beside Jagmeet Singh for the day, I saw his genuine interest in listening to the people and taking extra time to ensure he was able to hear from everyone.
He spoke passionately about his experiences growing up, the appreciation for services that changed his family’s life, and the drive to make Canada a country where no one gets left behind.
Diversity is a funny thing. Until we make connections, we are often wary of “different.”
Then, we find out that those differences often turn out to be just a first impression that vanishes once we learn we have shared stories of our families, our experiences and most of all, our hopes for the future.
I am humbled to be able to be able to bring our leader to the Northwest, first to let people meet him, but most importantly, for Jagmeet to see first-hand, the true heart of this region: our people. For it is the people that make our communities strong: their diversity, grit, and passion for the Northwest!
We believe in our communities, in our neighbours, and in our future. I was happy to be able to bring together the vision for Northwestern Ontario, and the vision of the NDP, for in my opinion, they are one and the same.
Editor’s note: Yuk-Sem Won is the NDP candidate for the Thunder Bay-Rainy River riding.
