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Stephen Schneider's      Candidate Blog

A brief summary of my activities as the NDP candidate for Kings-Hants, including events I have attended.

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Thank you!

10/30/2019

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Now that the federal election has come to an end, I would like to extend a sincere (albeit belated) thank you for all your support. It was an honour and a privilege to represent the NDP and its members and supporters in Kings-Hants.

We should be very proud of the campaign we ran; our vote total for Kings-Hants increased from roughly 3,000 in the 2015 federal election to 8,200 this time around.

I am particularly grateful to my dedicated and tireless election team who deserve much of the credit for whatever success we achieved in this election. On those days where my motivation may have been lacking or I had an especially exasperating time canvassing, a spark within me was rekindled by the commitment and enthusiasm of those working within and outside of the campaign office.

At my nomination meeting, I paraphrased Robert Kennedy when I said, "I am not running to oppose any individual but to propose new ideas." Indeed, inspired by our party’s history of progressive and consequential policy prescriptions, I emphasized that in this election, the NDP must put forward big, bold, innovative, ideas (and ideals) that reflect our social democratic roots.

Now that we hold the balance of power in Parliament, we have the opportunity to push for the ideas we campaigned on: a comprehensive climate change strategy, pharmacare, more affordable housing, debt relief for students, reconciliation with First Nations, better care for seniors and veterans, a livable wage to lift those out of poverty, and electoral reform, to name just a few.

In a political climate increasingly characterized by division, acrimony, and ad hominem attacks on political opponents, the Canadian electorate was forced to make choices about what we ultimately stand for, and to consider how to talk to one another about divisive issues.

Indira Gandhi once said, “Winning or losing of the election is less important than strengthening the country.”  Following this discordant election, we, as New Democrats, must continue to build upon the values and hard work that not only strengthen but unite our great country.

The pride I have in being Canadian is what ultimately binds me to the values of the NDP and of social democracy. During this election, we lived up to our repute as the conscience of the nation by emphasizing social justice issues the other parties were not talking about. We were also blessed with a party leader, whose moral leadership and unifying message of love, inclusion, and tolerance shined a light on a path forward that rose above the rancour and discord of the election.

Throughout the campaign, I personally drew strength and inspiration from Jagmeet, from my family, from the indomitable spirit of my campaign team and supporters, from our dedication to social and environmental justice, and from the sincere belief that our party and our cause is resolutely guided by what Lincoln called "the better angels of our nature." 

Thank you once again to everyone for your support and dedication!

Steve

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Visit to the Sipekne'katik First Nation in Indian Brook

10/17/2019

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I had the pleasure of visiting the Sipekne'katik First Nation in Indian Brook. Thanks so much to Cheryl Maloney and her sister April for taking me around (and for the photos, courtesy of April).

I also had the opportunity to meet a few of the councillors, including Lena Knockwood, who arranged the meeting for me.

I reiterated our party's commitment to reconciliation, including implementing all of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Inquiry on Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Indigenous People.

Cheryl and others were very helpful in identifying some of the issues facing the Sipekne'katik first nation (which I repeated at an all-candidates forum the other night): (i) honouring treaty rights  (ii) poverty (iii) housing shortages and (iv) lack of jobs and other opportunities for young people.

I also had the opportunity to watch a documentary directed by April Maloney entitled Treaty Tribulations: The Indian Brook Fishing Dispute, which provides details on the 1752 treaty between the British and the Mi'kmaq people of Sipekne'katik; in particular, their right to make a living off fishing. As documented in the video, despite the treaty and Supreme Court rulings in their favour, Mi'kmaq commercial fishers still feel they are not able to exercise their full treaty rights.

In all, it was a very eye-opening and educational experience. It was especially troubling to see the high level of poverty that many children are raised in as well as the lack of local jobs and career opportunities for young people. 

Given this, one of my priorities (whether I am elected or not) is to bring the tutoring/mentoring programs I run in the city to Indian Brook (and other First Nations in the Kings-Hants riding) to help young people graduate from high school and get into university.

Thanks again to Cheryl, April, and Lena. I appreciate that First Nations and Indigenous people are skeptical of federal politicians and political parties. With that said, a number of people expressed their fondness and respect for the NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, at the very least because he could relate to the racism and discrimination that Indigenous people have experienced.

After my time in Indian Brook, we received close to 20 orders for lawn signs there!
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Wolfville Farmer's Market (with Gary Burrill), Tour of Wine Grape Vineyard (Steve Ells) and a visit to Booker School

10/7/2019

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Another busy weekend on the campaign trail. We set up a table at the Wolfville Farmer's market on Saturday and was lucky enough to have the provincial NDP leader Gary Burrill join us. Gary also came along for a tour, on behalf of the Grape Growers Association of Nova Scotia, of a wine-grape vineyard in Canning owned by Steve Ells.

As Steve himself stated in an email to me, "Independent growers like myself control over half of the wine grape production in Nova Scotia and we are creating jobs in the rural areas. Many of us are expanding and investing in our businesses to help the local wineries meet the demands of a growing industry. Nova Scotian wines are being recognized as high quality and with global wine trends focused on crisp aromatic whites and sparkling we are perfectly placed to take on a larger role in our economy."

I am personally committed to helping this the grape-growers and the winery's prosper and expand. It is increasingly producing world-class grapes and wines and has also contributed to our tourism industry. As the M.P. I will work to continue to find research funds so as to grow the better (and more resilient) grape.  I am also committed to helping local winery's find export markets and am very supportive of the Temporary Foreign Workers Program, which is crucial not only to our grape-growers but our local agricultural industry as  a whole.

Monday morning I was privileged to visit a precocious group of students at the New Booker School in Port Williams, who grilled me on my commitments and those of the party. I hope the adults in the riding are as well informed as these kids.


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Sisters-in-Spirit: Remembering Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, Acadia University, Oct. 4

10/6/2019

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On Friday, October 4, my wife Meg and I attended the Sisters-in-Spirit event at the Irving Centre at Acadia. 

The event celebrates, honours, and remembers Indigenous women and girls who have been victims of violence.

Thanks to Darlene Peters-Copeland for organizing this as well as to the Acadia students who helped out.


As described by the final report of the commission of inquiry, the deaths of more than a thousand Indigenous women and girls in Canada is the result of long-standing discrimination against indigenous people (and women in particular) and our collective failure to protect them.  The report concluded that the murders constituted a national genocide.

As a candidate in this year’s federal election I am fully committed to publicly supporting the recommendations of the commission and the creation of a national action plan to prevent and address violence against Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit persons.

I also want to respond to the recommendations by the commission that urges everyone to become allies in the fight against violence toward (Indigenous) women, to combat racism, and to break down barriers.

CBC News asked a number of Indigenous leaders to weigh in on how every person can contribute.

Here are my commitments, based what Sadie-Phoenix Lavoie from Sagkeeng First Nation had to say:

Be part of the community - I will listen to and support Indigenous women; I will believe what they tell me! I will make sure the issue of violence against Indigenous women and the findings & recommendations of the commission are discussed as part of the campaign.

Read, listen, learn - I will read the entire report of the commission and do what I can as a Canadian, political candidate (and M.P.) to help implement the recommendations. I will educate myself on the different Indigenous cultures and first nations to understand their history before and after colonization, to understand issues affecting first nations, Indigenous people, and Indigenous women and girls in particular; and learn more about role of residential schools in the cultural genocide aimed at Indigenous peoples and the lasting impact it has had on them.

Take responsibility - I will take responsibility for the violence against indigenous women and help them overcome historical and contemporary injustices.

Become an upstander - I will stand up and confront racism and violence against Indigenous women; I will not turn a blind eye to the injustice; I will not ignore racist sentiments or jokes.
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At the front left of the photo is Darlene Copeland-Peters and Councilor Lynwood Peters (front right), from the Glooscap First Nation. Others in the picture include Acadia students who helped out and who also interviewed me as part of a school project on murdered and missing Indigenous women.
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Food Sustainability Forums: Wolfville and Windsor

10/2/2019

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As part of a national "Eat, Think, Vote" campaign I attend two all-candidate forums on food policy and food insecurity at the Wolfville Farmers Market and the Avon Farmers Market (in Windsor).  

Food insecurity is largely about the struggle to afford food.  Statistics Canada estimates there are 1.7 million households (nearly 4 million Canadians) which are considered "food insecure."  

A UNICEF report ranked Canada 37th out of 41 countries in terms of access to nutritious food for children. 

Lower-income populations are affected more than others: recent immigrants, people of colour, single mothers. Children are especially vulnerable—one in six kids in Canada live in food-insecure households.  Increases in the number of low-wage, part-time, or contract jobs, a lack of affordable housing, the high costs of post-secondary education, and insufficient social assistance, have all created the conditions that contribute to food insecurity. 

The NDP believe that everyone one in Canada (especially children) should have access to nutritious food.  Key aspects of our policies regarding food insecurity:

First, governments must stop off-loading the job of feeding people to food banks, churches, soup kitchens, and charitable organizations. Access to healthy nutritious food is a fundamental human right; all Canadians should have access to adequate amounts of high-quality, healthy food.

Second, because food insecurity is so tied to poverty, an underlying solution is to reduce and eliminate poverty by providing a living wage and income support – whether this is $15 minimum wage, adequate income supplements or my personal preference: basic income guarantee. More money in the pockets of working poor and those below the poverty line mean more money to be spent on staples, in particular food.

A provincial food strategy should be developed as part of a broader national food policy.  As the MP for Kings Hants, I would work with key stakeholders to develop a food strategy for this riding that seeks to better understand the nature, scope, causes and impacts of food insecurity in the region and how it can be best addressed.

We need to ramp up efforts to ensure access to healthy nutritious foods in local supermarkets year-round by poor, marginalized populations. We should also subsidize the transportation costs that low-income people need to get to grocery stores (and farmers markets) with healthy selections. More importantly, we must make sure that low-income neighbourhoods, First Nations, and remote communities have grocery stores and other markets filled with healthy food.

We need to work with producers along the supply chain to increase the amount of Canadian (healthy) food that is sold, processed, and consumed in local and regional markets. 

The NDP supports the creation of a national universal school food and nutrition program to ensure all students in Canada have access to a healthy breakfast, snack, and/or lunch at school as well as the food literacy skills to make healthy choices for life. 

Finally, we need to reduce the amount of meat we eat; at the global level it is estimated that 40 percent of grain crops go to feed livestock and fish. If that grain was fed to humans instead of livestock, we could alleviate chronic hunger from 925 million people.

We may also want to consider taxing junk food and directing these funds to subsidize health food choices especially for those who are food insecure.
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    Stephen Schneider

    Kings Hants NDP Candidate Blog

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Kings-Hants NDP
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Wolfville, NS
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