Federal New Democrats have officially kicked off the campaign for their candidate Sandra Arias in Battlefords-Lloydminster.
Arias was officially nominated at the party’s nomination meeting on Sunday in North Battleford at Third Avenue United Church.
However, it had been known for about a week that Arias would be the nominee, as she was the only candidate to put her name forward for nomination.
She is the last New Democrat to be officially nominated for a federal riding in Saskatchewan. In speaking to reporters, Arias indicated she was happy to have the nomination finally behind her so she could start campaigning.
“I feel very excited. I feel like the horse out of the gate here, just being held back, and I want to get going,” said Arias.
“I want to start talking to people, I want to get our office set up, I want to start calling in volunteers. I have already had many inboxes on Facebook (with) people wanting to be part of this historic election. You know, I am not going to be turning anyone away, because I believe that everyone in the riding wants a change. Even the Conservatives, I believe, want a change.”
She joins Conservative incumbent Gerry Ritz and Liberal Larry Ingram as candidates in the federal election Oct. 19 in Battlefords-Lloydminster. The Green Party is also fielding a candidate and expects to have their nominee in place this week.
Arias, who works as director of operations for Sunchild Law office and is a small-business owner, has also served as band councillor on Red Pheasant First Nation.
While Arias has voiced her support for a number of NDP issues, she said what really “tipped the scales” and motivated her to run was Bill C-51 – the anti-terrorism legislation.
“Bill C-51 is very scary legislation, and people in Canada need to open up their eyes and really see what it is.”
She also was critical of the Stephen Harper government’s previous legislation such as Bill C-45 (The Jobs and Growth Act) and Bill C-38.
“What is this prime minister doing? Where is he trying to take this country? So these bills alone have sparked me to want to stand up for the people in this riding, and want to stand up for the First Nations people in this riding, for the Métis people in this riding, for the people who don’t have a voice, who can’t find their voice yet.”
Arias says she is a longtime supporter of the NDP. “I believe in their vision, I believe in what they have as a party to bring to the table – where they stand on all of their issues is something I can get behind 100 percent.”
A campaign manager is in place and the party expects to have a campaign office up and running shortly.
Both former MP and MLA Len Taylor and the party’s 2011 nominee, Glenn Tait, were at the nomination meeting and pledged to offer their support and assistance to Arias during the campaign.
Taylor also served as guest speaker at the nomination in which he gave a rousing endorsement of Arias and urged NDP supporters to campaign and get the word out.
“Everybody in this room has to take her message all around our communities, our neighbourhoods, and make sure that when people go into the ballot box on election day, they’re going to feel comfortable supporting Sandra Arias and the NDP.”
