Black Press Media has reached out to all Central Alberta candidates for the 2025 Federal Election and asked four questions:
1) Why are you running to be a Member of Parliament?
2) What skills do you have that make you suitable for this role?
3) What is your plan to address affordability and the cost-of-living crisis?
4) How do you think Canada should handle threats to its sovereignty?
Candidates were given a 500-word limit to answer these questions. Answers may have been edited for grammar or length.
The Federal Election is April 28. Advanced voting starts on April 18.
Riding: Red Deer
Candidate: Elias Assefa- NDP
Why are you running to be a Member of Parliament?
I grew up working-poor, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone, especially children and families. Canada needs to invest more in eliminating child poverty and the NDP is the only party meaningfully dedicated to that goal in this country. From what I see, we have a far-right party in the Conservatives and a centre-right party in the Liberals. I was asked to be a candidate by the NDP, and I am proud to offer residents of Red Deer a progressive choice to vote for in this election.
What skills do you have that make you suitable to be an MP?
I have spent most of my career in public service as a frontline healthcare provider. I believe public service is one of the highest callings, and I know firsthand the effects of cuts to social services. In my role as a community organizer I know how to lead, collaborate, advocate and negotiate to improve the lives of people in their communities, and I want to bring that lived experience to Ottawa. The most important asset I bring is my values. I believe in fair wages, that workers deserve to be protected from exploitation, and that the ultra-wealthy in this country need to be paying their fair share.
What is your plan to address affordability and the cost-of-living crisis?
We need more competition in the grocery market, whether that means funding for more co-ops, or bringing in foreign investors, the fact that 3 grocery chains act as a cartel in this country is a travesty. We have the tools to break them up. The evidence shows that they are taking advantage of Canadians to the point where scurvy is on the rise in children because they don't have access to fruits and vegetables.
On housing, the Federal government also needs to take a leading role in developing affordable homes. Marginal tax cuts that benefit people who already have money to buy expensive houses isn't the answer. Incentivising cities to rezone is a start, but hoping and waiting for developers to tackle this crisis is inadequate. We dealt with this same problem in the 70's. The answer then is the same one now, the Federal government needs to spend money on putting shovels in the ground.
How do you think Canada should handle threats to its sovereignty?
First and foremost, Canada will never, ever, become a U.S. state. Beyond that, we need to acknowledge that our international trade needs to be diversified. The U.S. is no longer a reliable partner, and we need to take steps to realign our economy to this new dynamic, adjust accordingly, and ensure that we’re taking care of workers and small businesses during the transition. What we can’t do is follow the disastrous policies of austerity Mark Carney oversaw in the U.K. Deep cuts to social services have devastated communities there and led to worse outcomes for families.
