Gingras seeks federal NDP nomination

by Staff Writer - Vernon Morning Star posted Jul 21, 2014 at 8:00 AM

The race to represent the NDP has started. Jacqui Gingras has announced she wants to be the NDP candidate for Okanagan-Shuswap in the 2015 federal election. “It is now more important than ever to become engaged in the democratic process,” she said. Originally from the Okanagan, Gingras lived in Toronto for six years but now resides in Falkland with her two school-aged children. Gingras has a professional background in nutrition and has campaigned for climate justice with LeadNow, for a fair economy with the Occupy movement, and for indigenous treaty rights with Idle No More. “I believe the people of North Okanagan-Shuswap are impacted by regional and national issues that need to be urgently addressed. For one, many people who live here need to travel great distances for work,” she said. “We need to invest in green jobs for local hands; that is just one of many practical economic policies the NDP and I will bring to the people of this region.” Most recently she was elected treasurer of the Canadian Women’s Voter Congress. “My passion is bringing dedicated people together to work towards and accomplish ambitious goals. There is nothing that groups can’t accomplish when they unite their collective efforts,” she said. “There has never been a more urgent need for citizens like you and I to act. Our families, our environment, and our way of life as Canadians depend on it. This election is about standing up for each other and making sure we are better off today then we were eight years ago. Unfortunately, people are working harder for less and I am committed to making things right for the people of this region.”

The NDP’s Okanagan-Shuswap nomination convention will be held Aug. 23 at 2 p.m. in Armstrong.