Cardinal to take another run at federal politics

Canadians are not expected to go to the polls for at least another year, but the New Democratic Party has its first candidate seeking nomination. On June 20, Lewis Cardinal announced he hopes to once more carry the banner for the federal party in the riding of Edmonton Centre. No nominations can be made until changes to federal ridings are finalized this fall.

An election could be called as early as fall 2014 or as late as spring 2015, but Cardinal says Edmonton-Centre is a riding the NDP wants to target early with resources.

“(This riding) is ours to lose,” said Cardinal. “They did a five-riding poll and the numbers went up to the low 30s in terms of support. We’re the ones to beat.”

In the 2011 election, Cardinal lost to Conservative incumbent Laurie Hawn by a margin of two to one, but it was a strong showing in a city that habitually elects right wing representatives. NDP Linda Duncan held on to her Edmonton-Strathcona seat. NDP leader Jack Layton was swept in and his party formed the Official Opposition.

“We want to build on that momentum. We have raised a lot of cash already and we’ve made a lot of contacts with volunteers.  A lot of people are excited about getting this done,” said Cardinal, who added that his door-to-door campaigning has been met with positive results. The NDP does not take financial support from corporations or unions.

Duncan says she fully supports Cardinal’s push for the nomination.

“Lewis is so modest yet so accomplished,” she said. “He’s the kind of person who doesn’t just talk. He delivers.”

There are a number of reasons why the NDP are putting their support and resources behind Cardinal in such a visible manner. One is the high Aboriginal population in the riding. Edmonton itself holds the second largest urban Aboriginal population in the country. Cardinal says that if the outlying areas to the city are taken into consideration then greater Edmonton has the highest urban Aboriginal population.

“There are 61 ridings across the country that if the Aboriginal people turned out to vote by 20 per cent more all those ridings can change away from the Conservatives,” said Cardinal. “Indigenous people have an important role in changing the government.”

Duncan says she understands that leaders in Treaty 6, 7 and 8 areas aspire to form their own government.

“I tell them a good stepping stone is to get a decent federal government who will actually help you along that way,” she said.
In 2011, more Aboriginal people voted, in particular, in the urban centres, than ever before and Cardinal wants to see that trend increase.

“There are a lot more Aboriginal people who are willing to get involved in mainstream politics than ever before,” he said. “They realize … that if they don’t get involved, they’re actually supporting the regime that exists. Now they’re realizing they have sufficient influence across the whole country that they can change the government that they have.”

Duncan says she has encouraged Aboriginals, in particular young people and women, to get involved, whether as candidates or working on campaigns.

The Idle No More movement has helped Aboriginal people understand their influence. The movement has also brought to light with the general Canadian public that the rights Aboriginals are fighting for – clean water, access to health care and education, equity in employment, affordable and safe housing – are  shared by all, says Cardinal.

“A lot of the environmental movement relies on our Indigenous rights to protect water because of our unique relationship with the government of Canada. So really we are the front lines of the legal avenue to defend what all Canadians want,” he added.

“I’m certainly gunning for Lewis,” said Duncan. “It was just a delight to run with him last time and I certainly intend to be out there supporting him. I would love to have him in Parliament with me helping to represent Alberta.”

Duncan has not yet decided if she will seek another term.