The NDP candidate for the Lakeland is Des Bissonnette. She is running in the riding for the April 28 Federal Elections. She shares her thoughts on the Vista Radio questionnaire to help you in your choices at the polls.
Question 1: Tell us about yourself in relation to what is at stake for Canada at this time.
Bissonnette: I am a worker, first and foremost. Many people, especially those who live in Lloydminster, have likely seen me working over the years in the community. I have worked fast food, support care, custodial, retail, reception, carpet tear outs; I’ve worn a lot of hats both here and in the more northern parts of this riding in the Bonnyville area.
So, unlike other politicians, who tend to come from wealth and influence, I come from paycheck to paycheck. I come from understanding the struggle, having empathy for those with less than me, because I have had less than I do now. I know that it is not easy to make a living right now; even running puts my finances at risk. But I am doing it because I care about workers having a voice. I’m doing this because I know that we all deserve better, and in a world where the extremely wealthy are lining political pockets, we need strong working-class voices.
Question 2: What does your party propose to do about the trade wars with the USA and China?
Bissonnette: We need a strong leader to push back against the USA. It is truly shocking how we have lost one of our country’s greatest allies, but here we are.
The NDP will always be steadfast in their commitment to Canada and Canadians, and will not bow down and lick the boots of bullies like Donald Trump. We have not been endorsed by anyone affiliated with the American Right Wing, nor has anyone in our party shown up at their fundraisers…some other parties can’t say the same.
Question 3: How would your party diversify export markets away from U.S. dependency?
Bissonnette: We need to strengthen our trade ties with the EU and other countries being targeted by the USA.
The last couple of months have shown us that we cannot rely on the USA as an ally; they have initiated an unprecedented trade war against us. We must also look at how we can produce the goods locally that we typically export. Producing these goods would both strengthen our independence and create Canadian jobs that we can be proud of.
Question 4: On immigration: What are your thoughts or those of your party on how to get greater involvement of immigrants in the national development of Canada?
Bissonnette: Talking and listening to immigrants is so important. Understanding why they chose to come to Canada, and from there, looking at our similarities. We used to consider ourselves a melting pot, but in the last few years, racism and individuality have really changed how Canada feels, even to me, as someone who was born here.
There is a need to embrace differences and celebrate cultures again, and to acknowledge that we are all just human beings doing our best. If we keep talking about immigration with disdain instead of love, humility, and curiosity, we will keep widening the divide between us, and no one wins but the extremely wealthy. If you’re more concerned about what your neighbour has or looks like, billionaires can exploit us without notice.
Question 5: On Indigenous issues: How do you or your party propose to get buy-in from First Nations on projects of national interest?
Bissonnette: I think Indigenous Sovereignty is national interest.
As Indigenous People, we are the custodians of the land and the animals who inhabit it, and we are crucial to the health of Canada.
I think the problem is we are still stuck in this colonial mindset of “What should Indigenous People do for us”. We have a wound that is still unhealed from the violence of colonialism, and that goes for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. We have residential school deniers in government keeping that wound from healing.
If we want to be serious about Indigenous collaboration, we need to have a conversation about Wahkotowin (Cree for kinship or the state of being related). About caring for each other and being responsible for all living things.
We have to stop telling Indigenous communities to do what we want; we have been doing this for centuries through violence and fear. We still do it through violence and fear, like in Wetsu’wet’an just a couple years ago.
National Interest should be giving the Land Back and healing the wound, it is not simply just a monetary transaction.
Question 6: On pipelines – How do you or your party propose to get Quebec on board with national projects and building pipelines through Quebec?
Bissonnette: I am not personally in support of making more pipelines.
First of all, the environmental impact is massive, and the climate crisis will not stop if we don’t start to decarbonize. We are in the make-or-break time of the climate; like the future of humanity hinges on us being better.
Having clean energy, more environmental repair, and stopping our extreme reliance on fossil fuels; these things should be our focus. Of course, we will still be using oil during this transition, but we need to start making the change now.
We should be focusing on making transitional jobs to protect workers in the oil industry, not building pipelines. I know this is such a controversial take in Alberta, but I have read the IPCC report on the climate crisis, and if you have read it, you will understand the way I do.
Science doesn’t care that we like using oil; it is a finite resource that is warming our planet to a point where things are already becoming unstable. We cannot make it worse. We need to be better. You can’t raise a family on a dying planet, and I’m in the stage where that really feeling the danger of what is to come.
Question 7: What are potential solutions to housing affordability and homelessness?
Bissonnette: First of all, NO LANDLORD MPS.
I do not believe that an MP can make unbiased decisions around affordable housing if they make money on being a landlord. How do you have a real conversation on lowering rent when you directly benefit from making money on high rent? It doesn’t make sense.
We should also acknowledge that housing should be a human right, since it is something we all need to not only feel safe and secure, but also to get employment. Because we do not treat housing as a human right, we see being unhoused as a personal failing instead of a societal one, like it is.
We have all the resources we need to make housing affordable, but we choose not to because it is not profitable to care about human lives. So what’s the solution? Housing people, for one. Taking away barriers for underhoused people, creating long-term transitional housing for folks so they can get on their feet. Building housing co-ops, heavier taxes on second and third homes, and no longer allowing companies to buy up all the real estate; there are plenty of ways to fix the housing crisis if we are serious about doing it.
Question 8: What do you propose to do for the riding if elected?
Bissonnette: Listen and do what is best for the communities within Lakeland!
If you look at running for what it is, it’s the biggest job interview one can attend. I’m asking 100,000 people to hire me for the job of representing them, being their voice, and the person who votes in their interest. It is a huge responsibility, one I don’t take lightly and shouldn’t be.
I have a lot of opinions, but it’s not just about me or the party I have chosen to run under. It is about the workers, farmers, families, and communities within Lakeland. It’s about making sure that everyone, regardless of their wealth or ability, is taken care of and heard.
Question 9: Are there any final thoughts on any topic that you would like to share?
Bissonnette: If the people of Lakeland hire me as their MP, I promise to do everything I can to make them proud.
I am not above learning new things to change my views, like how I got my PAL at the suggestion of a constituent in 2021 and now have a completely different stance and understanding about firearms.
I do not want the MP pension, I disagree with the short timeline to receive it, and I vow to only serve one term to avoid taking it.
I want to ask non-voters, who do not vote because they do not see hope, to give me a chance and prove to you that we have hope. More than anything else, I promise to work as hard as the people of Lakeland deserve their MP to.
