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Guelph’s NDP candidate ready for a second run as pandemic highlights key issues in campaign

Aisha Jahangir, a registered Guelph nurse was re-elected by the NDP for a second run this upcoming election
20191001 Bishop Mac Debate KA 07
Aisha Jahangir for the NDP speaks during an all-candidates meeting held at Bishop Macdonell in the 2019 election. Kenneth Armstrong/GuelphToday file photo

Unimpressed by how the Liberal government is handling the pandemic, Guelph’s NDP candidate is ready to run the federal election race a second time. 

With a minority government, an election can be called at any time and the party’s 2019 candidate Aisha Jahangir, a registered nurse, was acclaimed this week as the party's local candidate.

Jahangir says she's running again to stand up for the very same principle and values the NDP believes in, and with the pandemic, the need to strengthen and expand public medicare has become more urgent. 

“I know that pharmacare is still part of the platform and now I'm standing ensuring that long-term care is also included in that,” said Jahangir. 

Healthcare, climate change and affordable housing were the issues Jahangir fought for during her previous campaign and will continue to fight for the next time around. Jahangir received 9,297 votes in the 2019 election, coming in fourth with 12 per cent of the votes in Guelph. Incumbent Liberal candidate Lloyd Longfield won with 40 per cent of the votes.  

Working on the frontlines as a registered nurse since 1997, and currently working in the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre, Jahangir said she’s seen firsthand how unprepared the government has been for the pandemic. She said the opioid crisis, a lack of PPE, an increase in suicides and people suffering by themselves has been evident throughout the pandemic. 

“What a lot of our long-term care homes are going through or seniors shouldn’t be a complete surprise because it's been underfunded and not properly regulated,” said Jahangir.

“It's really important to make sure that long-term is included in the Canada Health Act so that people and our seniors can live with dignity and get the high quality and safe care that they deserve.”

Jahangir said the federal government’s plan of vaccine rollout and preparedness for the third wave has been disappointing. 

"I’m not saying the decisions they’ve had to make were easy decisions to make but I think it is prudent to hold the government accountable for the decisions they’ve made on behalf of Canadians," said Jahangir.

"I think that's what we're seeing Jagmeet Singh do. He's really fighting for Canadians, he's really holding the current government accountable. That message is loud and clear."

Jahangir said being able to access healthcare is increasingly important as many people have lost their jobs during the pandemic and have been unable to access their benefits.

“People have already been suffering. One in five Canadians don't have extended health coverage or they don't have the means to meet their needs for their medications to be able to look after themselves. So that stuff is really important to me. it's about standing up for people for what they need,” said Jahangir. 

Jahangir said she was quite pleased with her previous campaign and wouldn't necessarily do anything different this time around. 

“There was a huge level of commitment and dedication amongst the volunteers,” said Jahangir. 

“I’m really excited about the next election when it gets called. We hope not anytime soon to be honest. We’re in the midst of a pandemic.”


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Anam Khan

About the Author: Anam Khan

Anam Khan is a journalist who covers numerous beats in Guelph and Wellington County that include politics, crime, features, environment and social justice
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