Dominique Roelants was recently approved by the federal NDP as a candidate for the NDP nomination in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith federal riding in the next election.
Roelants, who lives between Ladysmith and Nanaimo, is a professor at Vancouver Island University, a lawyer, vice-chair of the B.C. College Pension Board and a director of Island Savings Credit Union.
“With my background and experience, I believe I would be an asset to the NDP caucus and would attract the votes of people who would not normally consider voting NDP,” he said in a press release.
Roelants says he wants to run because “we need to make sure that the NDP wins this seat. The Conservatives are draining Canada economically, destroying it environmentally, and damaging our reputation in the world. I believe in fiscal responsibility, and that involves responsibility to all of Canadian society, including future generations.”
The new Nanaimo-Ladysmith federal electoral district was created earlier this year as a result of redistribution. Local MP Jean Crowder has stated she will not be running for re-election in 2015.
When asked about his priorities, Roelants said his values are driven by the concept of “equality of opportunity.”
His priorities include expansion of the Canada Pension Plan to ensure people can retire with a decent income, protection of the environment, and an economy that works for everyone.
Roelants sees his priorities as the exact opposite of the Conservative agenda.
“Harper’s Conservative government is failing us on the environment, they are failing us in health care and they are failing to manage the economy in a way that helps ordinary Canadians,” he said. “We need a government that will put the needs of Canadian citizens ahead of the needs of multinational corporations.”
— Submitted