Talk:CanadaVOTES: NDP candidate Ryan Dolby running in Elgin—Middlesex—London

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I have answered the questionnaire below with Ryan's responses.

Thanks

Terry Painter Campaign manager for Ryan Dolby Federal NDP Candidate Elgin/Middlesex/London Cell: (519) 777-9639 Work: (519) 633-2100 ext 233

Your name: Ryan Dolby Political party: New Democrats Riding: Elgin-Middlesex-London

New candidates: Why are you running for political office, why at the federal level, why this party, and why in this riding? Incumbents: Why did you choose to run for office, and why do you wish to continue as an MP?

I’m running because of the thousands of people who have asked me to run because they can’t trust Stephen Harper and the Conservatives to protect their jobs, their health care, and the environment. This election is not about Jack Layton, Ryan Dolby and the team of New Democrats. It is about you and your family. We will act on ‘kitchen table’ issues, not just boardroom table issues. I am hoping to make a difference by putting families first.

New candidates: Previous to this campaign, have you been politically involved? How will you apply your previous work/volunteer/life experience to serving your constituents? Incumbents: Are you satisfied with your time as MP? What would be the biggest highlights of the roughly two years since the last election? The biggest disappointment?

I have been involved over the years with the local Labour Council and helping to raise money for the United Way and local Women’s Shelters in St Thomas, London and the surrounding areas. As a member of my local Union in Politics Committee, I have helped out on many campaigns including the Manufacturing Matters Campaign. I feel that my experience as a CAW Representative will help me while dealing with members of the community, while trying to solve their day to day issues. While In Ottawa, my firsthand knowledge of the problems faced by working people will help me to shape policy and legislation.

As you campaign around your riding, it's likely that some issues are mentioned more often by voters, than other issues. What would you say are the three hottest topics this election, in your riding? What would you and your party do to address these issues?

  Definitely the 3 biggest issues are the Economy, Health Care and the Environment    

   For the economy, we will deliver on a 'Made in Canada' Green Manufacturing Policy that will protect jobs and create new jobs. The Conservatives and the Liberals have made many promises to improve the economy and they have failed to deliver. Hundreds of thousands of family supporting manufacturing jobs have been lost, including thousands in our own community. Jobs that make our communities a good place to live. Jobs that the Conservatives and the Liberals don't seem to care about. Meanwhile, the gap between the rich and the rest of us continues to grow, while consumers are being gouged by high gas prices, the banks and cell phone companies.

   For health care, the Conservatives and the Liberals promised to reduce your health care wait times, and they didn't do that either. On top of that, today 5 million Canadians don't have a family doctor. The New Democrats will shorten wait times, not by making more empty promises, but by training more doctors and nurses.

   For the environment, the Conservatives and the Liberals promised you they would tackle the climate change crisis and protect the environment. They failed at that too. Today, our polar ice caps are disappearing, our sea levels are rising and over 20,000 Canadians are dying each year from air pollution, while you pay record gas prices. The New Democrats Cap and Trade Policy will make sure Canada lives up to the challenge of climate change, not with idle words or by taxing you and your family, but with tough laws that force polluters to clean up their mess and pay their fair share.

Is there any misconceptions about you, your leader, or your party and platform?

I think the public is starting to recognize Jack Layton's leadership capabilities. The latest polls have shown that people feel he has the skills and qualities they want in a leader. Also, people are starting to recognize the sense in the NDP policies and that this is the time for a change.

There's a more ways than ever to get your message out, from the traditional campaign fliers and lawn signs, to new media like websites, Facebook, and YouTube. The tried-and-true routes get the message out to the masses much easier, but digital alternatives are much more measurable in how many are seeing or interacting with your campaign. What seems to be the most effective, from your experience?

We are getting an excellent response from our Facebook webpage. People can sign up for lawn signs or find out how to donate to our campaign. It is an exciting new method to get information out to people.