Jeffrey Swanson has entered the race for Lakeland MP as the candidate for the New Democratic Party (NDP).
When the opportunity presented itself, the 20-year-old University of Alberta political sciences student decided to take the leap into federal politics.
“I’ve always wanted to jump into politics at some point. I personally was not expecting this early on… This opportunity landed in my lap so I thought, ‘now is as good of time as any to just get my foot in the door.’”
Swanson resonated with the NDP’s platforms early-on, recalling seeing their ads back when Jack Layton was the leader of the party.
“I could see the NDP as working on a vision for Canada that included everybody and they were very mature and forthright about it, it didn’t seem like they were trying to attack anybody. They were trying to build everybody up. I’m seeing this again with Jagmeet Singh, I saw this provincially with Rachel Notley, and I think the NDP is full of incredible people that want to build this progressive vision for Canada where everyone is involved. Everyone can have access to healthcare, clean water, clean environment, and every Canadian doesn’t have to live pay cheque to pay cheque.”
Despite being a longtime resident of Edmonton, Swanson noted he’s spent a lot of time in the Lakeland and feels it’s a riding he can “stand up for.”
“I’m a hard, dedicated worker, and I believe in people. I know there’s an idea of a rural-urban divide. I’ve been to the region, I’ve met people in the region, I know these are some of the best Canadians coming out of here,” he expressed. “My partner lives out in the Lakeland, and I’m often out there visiting her and her family as well. I do find myself really in and around the St. Paul and Bonnyville areas. I see the people, I see the issues, so I feel like I can adequately represent this riding.”
Agriculture, small business, and climate change are some of the key priorities for Swanson in the upcoming election.
When it comes to agriculture, the Lakeland MP hopeful said the NDP “have some great plans.”
“We’re valiantly going to be protecting supply management, as well as reinventing taxes to make it easier for farms to stay within the family. As well as for small businesses to stay within the family. I know there are some incredible small businesses out in the Lakeland.”
Should he be elected, Swanson noted one of the first policies he’d be focusing on is ensuring the environment is protected.
“I love the Lakeland, it’s a beautiful place, I wouldn’t like to see climate change ruin that… It’d be really about standing up, putting in the protections that need to be in place, putting in the policies, transitioning to a green economy, and starting to transition into more green lifestyles.”
He add that protecting the rights of indigenous peoples and fostering partnerships is also at the top of his agenda.
“In the Lakeland we have reserves like Saddle Lake, Whitefish Lake, and two Métis settlements. I would really want to push to make sure the government in Ottawa would be adhering to our treaty promises, as well as really pushing to restore, nation-to-nation, our relationships that have been soured over the course of Canadian history and working to, particularly, implement and maintain the United Nations declaration of rights of indigenous people.”
Joining Swanson in the running for MP of the Lakeland riding are candidates Kira Brunner with the Green Party, Roberta Graham of the Veteran’s Coalition Party, Robert McFadzean with the Libertarian Party of Canada, Conservative Shannon Stubbs, and the Liberal’s Mark Watson.
