Jan Johnstone of Kincardine was elected to head the New Democratic Party for Huron-Bruce, ahead of the June 7 provincial election. She said that she has never been prouder to be a New Democrat and “enjoys the challenge of moving progressive policy forward.”
Hub Staff
After being acclaimed as the New Democrat candidate in the upcoming June election, Jan Johnstone of Kincardine quipped, “it’s going to be third time’s a charm,” at the NDP general election April 13 at the Kincardine Legion. Johnstone ran federally in 1997 and then provincially in 2014 where she secured 22.85 percent of the Huron-Bruce vote, the highest poll the New Democrats have seen in Huron Bruce. Regarding the upcoming election, Johnstone said it is time for change in the provincial government.
“I know that the second choice of every Progressive Conservative and Liberal is actually the NDP we’re sitting second in the polls,” Johnstone said to the room full of supporters. “We need a focus on rural Ontario and I'm the person that can bring that change at Queen’s Park,” she added.
Johnstone has lived in Huron-Bruce for over 30 years and sits as Vice-Chair for the Bluewater District School Board where she has served as a Trustee since 2001. She was also elected as the Director of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) where she chairs the Program Work Committee, while also serving as Vice President of Kincardine's famed Scottish Festival and Highland Games.
“I am fortunate to be at the point of my life where I can fully dedicate my passion, my energy and commitment to our party’s cause at this election,” said the candidate, who emphatically supported Provincial NDP leader Andrea Horwath.
“Andrea Horwath has been leading the policy in the agenda in Ontario where one opponent superficially copies her ideas while the other relies on bumper sticker slogans. In this election we don't need to choose between bad or worse, we just need to choose for better,” said Johnstone before addressing key issues.
Johnstone’s platform is that of affordability. “When you saw the privatization of Hyrdo One and the rates continue to go up, it created a problem, especially in rural Ontario,” she said. “That people were having to make a decision whether they were basically going to heat their house or put food on their table,” she added.
If elected, Johnstone said the NPD would work towards making Hydro One a public entity once more and that there should be access to broadband services across Bruce and Huron counties. She also wants to bring education closer to home and will complete a review of the education funding formula.
“I think there is a real opportunity to bring democracy back to the local level, for example as a school board trustee, I think that Queen’s Park shouldn't be making a decision about what schools we’re going to open and close,” she said, while also stating the she is committed to the Trade Union Movement.
In her speech to constituents April 13, Johnstone professed that affordability is a staple of her platform heading into the June election.
Bluewater School Board Trustee Kevin Larson of Saugeen Shores as he seconded the nomination of Jan Johnstone April 13 in Kincardine.
