Union leaders step up for NDP candidate in federal byelection, including one who represents her Tory foe

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This article was published 01/08/2024 (409 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A large group of local labour leaders lined up Thursday behind NDP candidate Leila Dance in the upcoming Elmwood-Transcona federal byelection.

Among the 13 was Dave McPhail, business manager for Local 2085 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which happens to be the union Dance’s Conservative opponent, Colin Reynolds, belongs to.

“Colin has a right to go with what he wants; he still remains a proud union member,” McPhail said after the rally at Transcona Centennial Square attended by several dozen people.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the Sept. 16 byelection last weekend. Former NDP MP Daniel Blaikie vacated his seat earlier this year after nearly a decade in office.

McPhail said he’s hopeful voters will return a New Democrat to Ottawa “to build on the work of ‘brother Dan Blaikie,’” who was a member of the electrical union.

Elmwood-Transcona has belonged to the New Democrats since 1979, save for one term between 2011 and 2015, when it was represented by Tory Lawrence Toet.

The Tories are banking on the appeal of Reynolds, hoping he can persuade blue-collar voters to go blue, rather than orange this time.

Reynolds could not be reached for comment Thursday.

In a visit to Winnipeg Sunday that drew hundreds, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre declaring his support for Reynolds, called the byelection a “mini carbon tax referendum.”

Dance told the rally her campaign has a “long way to go.”

“The Conservatives are going to throw a lot of money into this riding,” she said. “We need to knock on every door, we need to phone everyone, we need to raise funds.”

Canadian Labour Congress president Bea Bruske voiced her support for Dance, highlighting her experience as Transcona BIZ executive director, and her lifelong commitment to the community.

“We are ready to roll up our sleeves and to work to ensure that Leila wins this,” Bruske said.

Dance said she started pounding the pavement seven weeks ago.

Concerns with living costs, including grocery prices and health care, are top of mind for voters, she said.

“Where you used to be able to buy a large cart of groceries for $100, now you’re lucky if you walk away with two smaller bags,” she said.

Last month, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh passed through Winnipeg to appear with Dance and reinvigorate his calls for a cap on grocery prices.

Dance said at the time residents had told her they were skipping meals and visiting food banks because they were unable to afford food.

She said Thursday there isn’t “one specific thing that can be done” by the NDP to control or lower grocery prices, but added — without offerings specifics — “there’s a lot of different ways.”

Dance said voters are up against a “rigged” system favouring big corporations, with the rules written by Conservatives at the expense of workers.

“I think the support today shows that we aren’t going to let anything change here in the riding — we’re going to stay an NDP riding, and we’re going to continue to fight for people in this area,” she said.

Retired teacher and union leader Ian MacIntyre is running for the Liberals, and Nic Geddert is the Green Party candidate.

jordan.snobelen@freepress.mb.ca