I apologize for not updating the group sooner, as to confirm as of early July 2008, the Newfoundland and Labrador First Party became a political party eligible for Official Party Status. As of last night, Wayne Bennett (the NL First Party Candidate for Humber-St.Barbe-Baie Verte and Director of Communications within the party) that not only did Elections Canada notify him that we now have Official Party Status, but that Greg Byrne will be the NL First Party candidate for St.John's South-Mount Pearl.
So now with this news, both have launched Facebook Groups for their campaigns...
1. " Supporters of Wayne Bennett - Humber-St.Barbe-Baie Verte"
Link: http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=50391770416&ref=ts
2. " Supporters of NL-FIRST candidate; Greg Byrne for St John's South-Mount Pearl"
Link: http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=34933833759
In two out of seven Federal Districts (and maybe more, depending on how many people can meet the September 22nd 2008 Elections Canada Deadline), voters will have an opportunity to choose between the old-line national parties and a nationalist party that will put defending Newfoundland and Labrador's interests in Ottawa our first priority. As Wayne Bennett described, "Our party is a coalition of Conservatives, Liberals, Socialists, and Greens who are committed to putting Newfoundland and Labrador First, and Canada Second".
If you're interested in volunteering for either campaign, want to run as a candidate, or would like to help produce lawn and/or window signs, you can contact Wayne Bennett (who is also our Director of Communications) at wayne_bennett@nf.sympatico.ca . Or if you live closer to the MUN (Memorial University of Newfoundland) campus in St.John's, would like to help Greg get the 100 signatures he needs to get Elections Canada approval for his candidacy, organize a Town Hall-style Q and A (Questions and Answers) section or help out organizing a NL First Party- Youth Wing Association event/s to support the two existing candidates, I can be reached at j.lester@mun.ca
There will be more information to come, as finishing touches need to be made on other news releases, and transferring copies of the Party's Election Platform!
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Last night, I spent close to 5 hours talking to him on the phone about the issues that i've found most people in the district have a strong opinion and/or concern on:
-The Economy
-The Environment ( some sort of Green Mortgage/retrofits program, in addition to supporting reneweables such as Hydrogen, Electric,etc...) is much needed. The need to link programs for Energy Efficiency (which will help reduce Home Heating costs, an Economic Issue) with the need to reduce GHG Emission (an environmental issue)
-Housing and Affordable Housing (the existing funding will expire in March of 2009: without this funding getting renewed, Affordable Housing in this province could be in trouble.... as to date, the Harper Conservatives have made no commitment to renewing this much needing funding)
-Education (most of the west end of St.John's South-Mount pearl is residential, middle-class, with a minority being lower income or upper-middle income. Mount pearl is a mixed zoning area, combining new housing developing (Mount Carson Avenue is expected to provide up to 100-200 new houses, Pearlview has and is being expanded by 100 or so houses). Yet, the district also has Donovan's Industrial Park, and Kenmount Industrial Park is under construction.
-Infrastructure (with all the news coverage on 2 CBS schools being closed due to mould, some people within the district might be wondering if a school in their district is next. The Provincial Government has committed to developing a West End High School in the next 4-5 years, being the key local issue in the 2007 Provincial Election Campaign. With water manes on the West End Breaking, flooding 7 houses on Lester Street and causing half of Blackmarsh Rd. Mount pearl bound to be closed for 6-7 days, I believe people want an MP who will impress upon the Federal Government the need for more funding for infrastructure)
-Public Transit: a Metrobus Mount Pearl route that would've connected Kelsey Drive to Pearlview (a quasi-suburban subdivision within Mount Pearl) and to Mount Pearl Square was scrapped, because Mount Pearl City Council says it lacks the funding to pay for it. But with rising gas prices, growing concern over the environment, and the growing number of service-sector jobs in the area, getting the Federal Government to funding such a route is essential. Plans are underway by the City of St.John's to re-locate the Metrobus Depot from Kings Road to Kelsey Drive, making the shift to Hybrid Buses).
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