Laurel Collins has announced she intends to run for the federal NDP nomination in Victoria. (
Laurel Collins – Victoria City Councillor/Facebook)
One of Victoria’s city councillors has announced she intends to seek the federal NDP nomination for the Victoria riding.
“I’m running for Parliament for many of the same reasons I ran for Victoria council, to tackle the housing crisis and the urgent climate crisis,” Laurel Collins said in a statement.
“After decades of underfunding, I want a federal government that will support co-ops and affordable housing, a government that will support first time home buyers as well as seniors who want stay in their own homes.”
The first-time councillor, who is an instructor at the University of Victoria, said she also wants a federal government that will address climate change and start a Green New Deal. In the United States, a Green New Deal aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. It aims to fix what the text of a 14-page resolution calls “systemic injustices” — deeply entrenched conditions that disproportionately affect low-income communities, people of colour, women, the elderly and people with disabilities.
“We need a Green New Deal for Canada. One that delivers substantial investments in manufacturing jobs, affordable and energy efficient housing, which brings us rapidly to a low carbon reality,” she said. “We can’t afford to wait. Now is the time to stand up for our communities and to stand up for our coast,” Collins said.
Today, I am announcing my intention to run federally. I'm doing so for many of the same reasons I ran for council. I love this city & we need strong voices in gov't pushing for action on climate change & housing. We now know we have less than 12 years to meet our climate targets. pic.twitter.com/PfESwdg4Ts
— Laurel Collins (@laurel_bc) March 6, 2019
We need a federal govt that will to take urgent & unprecedented action, that will stop spending billions on fossil fuel subsidies & buying pipelines & instead invest in green infrastructure. We need a Canadian #GreenNewDeal. And we need reconciliation at the core of all our work.
— Laurel Collins (@laurel_bc) March 6, 2019
We need progressive MPs who will take principled positions & provide real solutions. Whether it’s addressing climate change, housing, or the growing gap btw the wealthiest few & everyone else, we need NDP MPs with political courage to stand up for social & environmental justice.
— Laurel Collins (@laurel_bc) March 6, 2019
She is hoping to succeed the current NDP MP, Murray Rankin, who announced last week he would not seeking reelection.
Collins is one of the newest city councillors. She was elected to Victoria city council in October 2018. She said she will continue to work on council throughout her nomination and will take unpaid leave through the writ period.
The NDP has not released a timeline of when the party will announce its 2019 candidate for the Victoria electoral district. The Liberals and Conservative have announced their candidates but the Green Party has announced Racelle Kooy, community outreach specialist, as their candidate.
The federal election will take place on Oct. 21, 2019.
With files from CBC
CHEK News
