Ho wants to start new political party

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This article was published 15/10/2019 (2504 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A federal candidate dreams of starting a new political party in Winnipeg.

Brian Ho, 34, is running as an independent candidate for the Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley. Ho was born and raised in Vancouver, before travelling around the world to complete his PhD in French literature.

He moved back to Manitoba, in the middle of finishing his thesis, to make a run for political office.
Ho feels confident about his chances. He said many Canadians are frustrated at the major political parties.

“I find that a lot of people are frustrated with the current parties. I’m coming from a place of pure positivity, I’m not going to put anyone down,” Ho said. “But we do need fresh blood (in Parliament) and I represent that.”

Ho said he’s going to focus on three main issues if he’s elected to office: Strengthen local industry, improve relations with Indigenous communities and invest in northern communities.

To improve reconciliation efforts, Ho said the government needs to take a serious look at the Indian Act, changing and removing harmful policies, as well as provide more services in housing, education and employment.

Ho also wants to invest in the north, creating safe passage for the northern communities and enhancing environmental protection programs in the area. Ho said it’s important for Canada to be responsible custodians of northern Manitoba and Nunavut, and it’s imperative that they continue to provide safe passage throughout the region as the Arctic sea continues to get warmer.

Ho believes that creating incentives for companies to produce goods in Canada will help residents with better-paying jobs.

“The other day, I was at Roots, a Canadian company, and I asked if anything here was made in Canada. (The clerk) pointed to three satchels on the wall, and that was it. That’s a shame,” Ho said. “We need to incentivize companies to produce more (goods) here. We should say ‘Hey, if you’re producing goods here … We will give you a 10 per cent tax break.’”

Ho said this will allow the companies to hire locally, and draw in more business to the area. This is the first time that Ho is running for political office.

Also running in Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley are Doug Eyolfson (Lib.), Marty Morantz (Con.), Ken St. George (NDP), Steven Fletcher (PPC), Melissa Penner (CHP), and Kristin Lauhn-Jensen (GPC) Multiple attempts to reach Kristin Lauhn-Jensen were made, but she did not respond by press time.