Union activist carrying NDP colours in Dufferin-Caledon

May 29, 2014 · 0 Comments

By Bill Rea
Rehya Rebecca Yazbek has always volunteered for the New Democratic Party.
Now the Inglewood area mother of three is doing her bit as a candidate.
Although she has worked on other elections, even serving as campaign manager, this is her first bid for office herself.
“This election is way too important,” she commented. “I’ve got to stand up in my community and run in my community.”
Yazbek works for Local 1,000A of the United Food and Commercial Workers. She worked for Loblaws for about 20 years as a produce and flower department manager, and was always a volunteer with the union. She went to work full-time for the union about six years ago.
“I have a long history with the food sector and the grocery industry,” she remarked, adding she has been part of lobbying efforts for family farms for about 20 years.
Yazbek said it’s hard say what her chances are in the coming election.
“I don’t think there’ve been really strong candidates previously,” she observed. “I also think that times are changing.”
“We could see Orangeville painted orange,” she remarked. “It’s time for a change.”
Yazbek added the Progressive Conservatives have been shifting to the right. “That might not be what’s in the best interests of families now,” she said.
Local economies are suffering, yet Yazbek said PC Leader Tim Hudak talks of cutting 100,000 jobs. “That affects everybody, she remarked, pointing out people who are not working are also not going to be buying.
“I don’t understand how you expect growth from cutting middle-income jobs,” she added.