EDITOR’S NOTE: This is another in a series of profiles on candidates running in the Oct. 19 federal election.
CORNWALL, Ontario – It’s not politics as usual when it comes to Elaine Kennedy’s first federal campaign – an environmental advocate and retired school teacher vying for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry’s top spot.
While shades of blue, red, and orange, dominate the scenery across the SDSG riding, thanks to thousands of electoral signs, placards from the local Green Party candidate are few and far between.
So what inspired Kennedy to throw her colourful hat (a trademark accessory) in the political ring (for the second time, after running provincially to represent SDSG in 2007)?
“I feel that the Green Party has a great platform, and I want people to have choices,” she said.
Kennedy says she’s very invested in speaking politics, just not campaigning.
“I’m very willing to talk, but I’m not going door-to-door,” she said. “I really find it awkward to invade other people’s space. I make myself available through social media and email. If anyone wants to discuss local or national issues, I encourage them to talk to me one-on-one.”
Kennedy’s opponents in the October 19th election are incumbent Conservative Guy Lauzon, Liberal Bernadette Clement, and New Democratic Patrick Burger.
Kennedy slammed Lauzon for being unable to convince then-Minister of Safety Peter Van Loan to visit the area for a meeting with the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, before or after the neighbouring Mohawk territory heavily protested CBSA guards being armed at the Cornwall Island border crossing in 2009, resulting in a newly constructed facility in Cornwall, Ont.
“I think Guy should’ve put his foot down and insisted. That had to happen. It showed a lack of respect,” she said.
Kennedy is also a founding member of the Green Party in SDSG.
Her lengthy resume includes: chair of the Public Advisory Committee of the St. Lawrence (Cornwall) Remedial Action Plan; secretary of the board of directors of the St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences; president of the SD&G chapter of the Ontario Woodlot Association; and chair of the Cornwall and District Environment Committee.
Polls will be open for 12 hours starting at 9:30 a.m. on Election Day (Monday, October 19). Voters will have to provide one piece of picture ID (driver’s licence or health card), or two pieces of non-picture ID ,with at least one including a current address.
Click here for the ‘Elaine Kennedy, Green Party Candidate, SDSG’ Facebook page.
