NDP candidate is sixth name in Dufferin-Caledon field

May 10, 2018 · 0 Comments

Written By MIKE PICKFORD

There will be at least six names on the ballot when local voters turn out for the June 7 provincial election.

On Monday, the New Democrat Party announced that Bolton resident Andrea Mullarkey will represent the party. A health and safety coordinator for Etobicoke-based Give and Go Prepared Foods, Ms. Mullarkey says it’s time to introduce Ontario to a new wave of thoughts and ideas in the upcoming election.

“For decades, Ontario has switched between Conservative and Liberal governments that have cut our health care and the services we all count on, making it harder to build a good life in Dufferin-Caledon,” Ms. Mullarkey stated in a release to media. “People are tired of governments that neglect and squeeze our schools, freeze and slash our health care and leave us to struggle to make ends meet in a province that is only getting more unaffordable.”

Ms. Mullarkey was brought on board during a special nomination meeting held by the Dufferin-Caledon NDP riding association, on Monday. Having lived in the community for close to three decades, Ms. Mullarkey listed her desire to create a better, brighter future for her three children as one of her main influences for running.

“People in Dufferin-Caledon deserve better. But we won’t get better by changing from a bad Liberal government to a worse Conservative government that will only make deeper cuts, and privatize more of the public services we depend on,” Ms. Mullarkey said. “They deserve a government that listens and that will put them back at the centre of decisions that impact their lives.”

She added, “That’s why I’m proud to be part of Andrea Horwath’s New Democratic Party.”

Looking at the party’s extensive platform, Ms. Mullarkey noted there’s lots for local residents to consider. Andrea notes that she, along with the NDP party, are passionate about building a more inclusive, affordable province where everyone’s voice can be heard.

“With an NDP government we can restore and expand our public services, and make our province more affordable and livable for all Ontarians,” Ms. Mullarkey said. “Our plan includes expanding the universal health care that we all rely on to include universal pharma care and dental care for everyone, implementing $12-a-day child care, investing in education from kindergarten to post-secondary and putting Hydro One back in public hands so that we can lower hydro bills by 30 percent.”

With nominations for the election open until May 17, Sylvia Jones, incumbent Progressive Conservative member for the riding, currently faces opposition from five other would-be MPPs, Liberal Bob Gordanier, the Green Party’s Laura Campbell, Libertarian Jeff Harris and Andrew Nowell of the Trillium Party.