MP Report

By Denise Savoie

As I write, we have just witnessed an extraordinary change in Canada's political landscape. The 'Orange Wave' that swept across the country is a symbol of the change that Canadians want to see.  New Democrats put forward practical ideas that put people first, and our positive message was embraced. Now the work begins, in our role as the Official Opposition, to pursue constructive discussion about the challenges we face.

Here at home, I am humbled and honoured that the people of Victoria, Oak Bay and Saanich have put their trust in me again, and in larger numbers than ever before. I am returning to Ottawa committed to reflecting the concerns that I heard on the doorsteps, through social media and at rallies and all-candidates meetings.

It was a pleasure during the election campaign to attend an all-candidates meeting in James Bay where I fielded great questions from the young and the not-so-young, from seniors to a group of elementary school children. James Bay New Horizons also hosted a BC Transit Open House where local residents provided feedback on a local transit plan that will ultimately feed into a larger regional transit plan. New Horizons is a valuable organization, and I will continue to remind the government of the important role it plays in the community.

As I canvassed and spoke with residents of James Bay, I heard about a wide variety of issues, from concern about the threat of tanker traffic to our fragile coast, to alarm about Canada's move towards an expensive American-style approach to crime that has been proven not to work, to the need for a real mental health strategy that does not allow people to fall through the cracks.

My joy at the new role for New Democrats in Parliament is tempered by my concerns about how Canada will be changed by the new Conservative majority. More than 60 per cent of Canadians did not vote for them, but voted for progressive change - to cut subsidies to dirty oil, protect local jobs and improve our public pension system - and we will strive to convince the government to listen to the will of all Canadians.

My colleagues and I want to change how politics work. In my role as deputy speaker over the past two years I have developed a determination to bring civility to Parliament, and now as the Official Opposition I believe New Democrats have an opportunity to make intelligent, constructive debate a reality. We will fight for what we believe in, cleanly and honestly.

Jack Layton set the bar high with a positive, issues-based campaign. It is clear that Canadians are tired of the politics of fear and division, that you want Ottawa to focus on the pressing concerns of the replacement of well-paid jobs with unstable contract work and the rise in child poverty, especially in British Columbia.

As I head to Ottawa, I am already preparing new legislation to address some of these concerns, and preparing to reintroduce my bill to support green commuter choices. Where we have ideological differences, New Democrats will be challenging the Conservative government and opposing what is bad for Canada. But we will also be proposing workable strategies to lift Canadian seniors out of poverty, increase the supply of affordable housing and make our tax system more fair.

I also want to say that I am heartened that the progressive vote in Quebec opted for the New Democrat national vision to bring diverse interests together. And by the engagement of youth in this election. And that there will be a record number of women Members of Parliament, most of them members of the New Democrat caucus. This is the promise of change.