Saganash NDP leadership bid carries ‘hope and change:’Chow

APTN National News
OTTAWA-Jack Layton spent “many years” persuading NDP MP Romeo Saganash to run for Parliament, and now that the Cree politician has jumped into the race to replace the deceased leader he is also carrying the “hope and change” embodied by the party, says Layton’s widow and NDP MP Olivia Chow.

Chow, who was in the Yukon this week campaigning for the territory’s NDP party, said she saw it as “exciting” that Saganash had jumped into the race to replace Layton, who died from cancer in late August.

“I think it’s exciting to see Romeo Saganash run,” said Chow. “I hope he can inspire different communities to get involved, to say, this is our party.”

Saganash, a former Cree leader and NDP MP from Quebec, is running against party president Brian Topp, B.C. MP Nathan Cullen and Ontario MP Paul Dewar. Quebec MP Thomas Mulcair is expected to jump into the race next week.

A little known Nova Scotia party member named Martin Singh has also declared his intention to run for the party leadership.

Chow told APTN National News that she had promised to not support any one candidate in the race.

Chow, however, said Layton had worked a long time to persuade Saganash to run for the NDP.

“Romeo had a long working relationship and friendship with Jack Layton,” said Chow. “Jack spent many years persuading Romeo to run as a Member of Parliament and Romeo has done a fine job.”

Chow said she hoped to see support grow around Saganash’s candidacy, which reflected the essence of the NDP.

“The New Democratic Party is about democracy and participating. If we come together we are strong and we can create a different world, a different Canada,” said Chow. “That sense of hope and change I know Romeo will carry into his leadership race and I hope people come behind him and support him and get involved.”