Federal Election: A Test of Trudeau’s Pandemic Response and More

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

A nation can rebuild its economy, pay off its debt, and create new jobs. What a nation can’t do is bring back the lives lost from COVID-19, and from the mental health crisis we’re already in the midst of as we emerge, hopefully, from the worst of the pandemic.

In the bigger picture, there are crises beyond COVID-19 happening in this country, and many of them are issues that have been ignored for far too long.

The federal election will be a good indicator of how different regions and populations in Canada viewed the Liberals’ pandemic response, and approach to the economy and jobs.

It will also be a test of both the government and the public response to First Nations Reconciliation, systemic racism, violence and terrorism, gender equality, and much more.

Working people need a government that will work hard to:

• Prioritize employment and income security,

• Improve our healthcare system,

• Invest in the protection of jobs and the environment, and;

• Address systemic racism and oppression through real change.

I encourage you to read through the bullet points on page five, and take special note of how many of the problems we face in this country are not only related to one another, but are also related to decades of undervaluing labour and the well-being of working people.

When the approach to governing focuses only on the bottom dollar, those not at the top are pushed further to the bottom.

It’s clear that when governing focuses on profit and corporate interests, a lot of people, many of whom make an average income,

get left behind to fend for themselves.

This is an important election. Even if your priorities differ from those on page five, I encourage you to speak to the federal candidates in your area about their vision for Canada and their positions on the things that matter to you.

I will use my vote to choose the party I feel will make the best strides toward a future that values your hard work and sacrifice; a government that works to ensure every person in Canada has equal access and opportunities, and that takes action to strengthen this country’s approach to healthcare, social justice, employment, and the environment to secure a better future for us all.

Your vote is your voice. Please use it.

In Solidarity,

Shawn Haggerty president@ufcw175.com