For Banff-Airdrie’s NDP candidate Joanne Boissonneault, history doesn’t always repeat itself.
With fewer than two weeks left before the elections and many polls showing a slight Conservative lead nationally, Boissonneault has been campaigning deep in Tory country – a region that’s gone Conservative since 1993. But that history shouldn’t be taken as gospel.
“You can’t look at the past, and you can’t say it’s always been like that. You never know,” said Boissonneault.
“It may be considered a safe seat for them, but as far as we’re concerned, we don’t believe it’s as safe as they’d like to believe it is.”
The Airdrie resident and long-time educator argues that the Conservatives that have dominated the region have changed, and changed for the worse.
“We have to look at what it used to be before Harper; it’s not the same Conservatives. All the programs that we used to have have been cut with the fear and division politics that Harper brings about.
“Supporting equality and equity for all is maybe not necessarily what the Conservatives believe in.”
Boissonneault has been a teacher for more than 25 years, teaching in Rocky View Schools and the Calgary Catholic School District. Along with her work as a teacher, she has been district representative for the Alberta Teacher’s Association for Calgary, is involved in multiple educational committees and is founder and president of The Key to Successful Learning Inc. During her conversation with the Eagle, she reiterated much of her party’s platform and spoke generally about her aspirations if elected.
When asked specifically about her priorities if elected, Boissonneault said she would “work to bring a voice, to work with our council and work with our municipalities to invest and create jobs.”
She stressed multiple times her promise to meet and work with mayors and council; working with municipalities to invest in infrastructure; providing funding tourism and protecting the national parks; providing supports for schools and school boards; and creating “good jobs.”
“There’s so much we can do to be stewards of the environment and to work together in partnership to build better municipalities and a better area. I’m really an advocate for that.”
Boissonneault pointed to the NDP’s recent campaign promise to allocate $345 million in infrastructure spending to municipalities as a concrete example of her party’s commitment.
She said she would “work towards working with the people to bring their voices and what they would like brought to the House of Commons and their ideas brought to Parliament.”
With the possibility of a minority government looming large, the Eagle asked her view on working with other parties to pass legislation, whether as a member of the government or as the opposition.
“We’re very supportive of working with other governments,” she said. “I’m not sure it’s the other governments that want to work with us. We’re not opposed to that.”
As previously reported in the Airdrie City View, for more than a month during the start of the official federal election campaign, phone or in-person interview requests with Boissonneault weren’t secured despite multiple calls and emails dating backing to Aug. 11.
Boissonneault reaffirmed her comments from a followup story published Sept. 24 with the City View, saying that her teaching responsibilities and involvement in committees, as well as having to restructure her campaign team mid-August restricted her availability.
It was also reported that her campaign manager was “let go” due to “inappropriate behaviour.”
Boissonneault would only comment that her previous staff went on to better opportunities as the reason behind the restructuring.
However, she said she’s now made a concerted effort to get in touch with constituents and is fully committed.
“I work over 60 hours a week with the (Alberta Teachers’ Association) as a district (representative). We work long hours into the evening and on weekends. I plan to keep working that hard for my constituents and, being out there for them, I will be there 100 per cent for my people, for all people in this riding.”
Boissonneault reemphasized that her team would respond to constituents trying to reach out to her through social media, “within 12 hours.”
