Kingston & the Islands NDP News - ARCHIVES
*This page is dedicated to past news items from the front page of our site.*
Riding Executive Changes for February 2008
February 15, 2008
Due to member attrition, the Kingston & the Islands NDP executive was forced to initiate some changes to the executive body in the month of January.
We would like to welcome Helga Mankovitz and Matei Savulescu into their new roles as 'Member At Large' and Matt Hodgetts as our Youth Chair and Database Coordinator.
Additional changes were made to institute Federal NDP candidate Renee Stephen as our Vice President and Jamie Masse as Secretary. We hope these changes will carry our executive to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in April.
*You can access our current Executive membership directory HERE (PDF format).
Downes Campaign A Building Block for the Future
Contributed by Matt Hodgetts
November 22, 2007
For many staunch NDP members and campaign volunteers, the results of the past general election were disappointing. However, if we put personal feelings aside, there is some very encouraging data to report.
First, while the NDP received 16.8% of the votes provincially, here in Kingston Rick got 20.6% of the votes. This amounted to 10,126 votes, an increase of nearly 84% over the 5,514 votes received in the 2003 Provincial Election.
Data from this election shows that the Liberal’s received 28,877 votes in 2003 and 23,273 in this election. This means that the Liberal’s vote share fell 13.5% among the four major parties. This is a huge difference and is a credit to the hard work of Rick and his team.
Where vote share is concerned, both the PC party and Green Party received just over a 2% increase from 2003 in Kingston & the Islands, while the NDP achived an amazing 9.1% vote share increase. This means we increased our vote share more than double what the Green and PC parties did together. This makes it absolutely clear that the NDP has become a very viable alternative to the Liberals in Kingston.
Some Other encouraging numbers are: 838 households took one or more signs during this election and 178 individuals volunteered time at one point during the campaign. Best of all, 3,152 individuals we contacted out of a total 7,664 (41.1%) said they supported or we’re open to supporting the NDP!
Perhaps the most encouraging piece of data from this entire election is this: in the past 20 years (since the 1987 General Election), only once has a party in our region gained more vote share in the space of a single election than the 9.1% Rick Downes achieved in this election and that was when the NDP's Gary Wilson was election in 1990 (a 13.3% increase).
So, take heart...Your local NDP most definitely has something to build upon with the citizens of Kingston and the Islands.
Provincial Campaign Wrap-Up: A Message from Rick Downes
*Published in the Kingston Whig-Standard on Nov. 7/07*
I wanted to offer my congratulations to John Gerretsen on his recent election as MPP and thank my other opponents in the provincial election, John Rapin and Bridget Doherty, for an excellent contest. The candidates were excellent representatives of their respective parties, and the all-candidates debates were engaging. It was also clear to me that each candidate had great behind-the-scenes support from their families and friends. I had such support, and I could not have run without it.
For me, this election has brought my politics full circle. My run to serve was one that honoured my father and mother. My father was a factory worker, and when he lost his job a very long time ago when I was in Grade 8 and growing up in Etobicoke, my mother worked for the minimum wage to make ends meet for our family. I thought that the NDP platform was the most sensible and realistic for Kingston families.
As a very young man, I worked for Patrick Lawlor, the NDP MPP for Lakeshore, because he helped my dad get back on his feet. What a great privilege it has been for me to run for provincial office for the NDP here in my home, Kingston and the Islands.
I also want to thank my campaign manager, Daryl Finlayson, for nothing short of a brilliant campaign. He organized a team of incredible and dedicated volunteers who not only worked hard but were continuously upbeat. I enjoyed their company and fellowship, but, most all, I really had fun.
Our provincial leader, Howard Hampton, had the passion and commitment to fight for the hardworking families of Ontario. Howard not only inspired me as a candidate but touched many people across this province. His personal support for my campaign, by way of the leader's tour coming to Kingston, gave us all a great boost.
We raised a lot of important issues over the course of the campaign - issues that really matter to the people who live in this riding - and I know the NDP will continue to raise these issues in the Ontario legislature.
I offer my best wishes to all of the newly elected members of the provincial parliament from across Ontario and wish John Gerretsen well in his new position as minister of the environment.
Rick Downes
Provincial NDP candidate - Kingston and the Islands
rick@rickdownes.ca
Rick Downes Nominated Kingston & Islands NDP Provincial Candidate
June 12, 2007
Speaking before a standing-room only audience at a nomination meeting Tuesday, June 12, three impressive candidates duked it out verbally to win nomination as the provincial candidate for Kingston & the Islands NDP riding.
Former Kingston city councillor and mayoral candidate Rick Downes, nurse-manager Dorothyanne Brown, and longtime activist Marilyn Carter all presented powerful arguments why they should represent the party. When the fray was over, party members chose Rick Downes and his two opponents pledged their support for him in this fall's October 10th Provincial election.
In a closely fought contest, each of the candidates presented strong points, splitting the vote. As party members considered the merits of each candidate, it took a second ballot to finally determine the winner of the nomination.
At Tuesday's nomination meeting, Paul Ferreira, Member of Provincial Parliament for York South-Weston and the NDP's first openly gay MPP, was the keynote speaker, stressing the efforts the NDP had made to prevent dismantling of Ontario's social safety-net by the governing parties. Following the nomination meeting, Ferreira, who is of Portuguese descent, went to a second meeting to speak to members of Kingston's Portuguese community.
Former Mayoral Candidate Downes Adds Spice To NDP Provincial Nominations
June 8, 2007
Former Kingston city councillor and mayoral candidate Rick Downes is once again throwing his hat into the ring, joining Dorothyanne Brown and Marilyn Carter in a race to become the candidate for the New Democratic Party in October's provincial election. At the NDP nomination meeting on Tuesday, June 12, party members will have the opportunity to decide who will represent them.
Besides the three candidates for nomination, Paul Ferreira, Member of Provincial Parliament for York South-Weston and the NDP's first openly gay MPP, will be guest speaker. While only recently elected to office, Ferreira has long been active in advocating for social action and justice. Ferriera, who is of Portuguese descent, will also be taking time to speak to the Portuguese community in Kingston.
Dorothyanne Brown is a nurse manager with degrees in nursing, social policy and planning, and epidemiology, with experience in public health, primary health care, and community development.
Marilyn Carter holds degrees in psychology and education and has taught in Ghana and at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto among other socially responsible positions.
With candidates from three quite different backgrounds and with varying points of view, nominations for this year's provincial NDP candidate should be hotly contested. At the nomination meeting, party members will have the opportunity to hear from all three nominees before selecting their candidate for the next provincial election.
Ferreira Takes Time to Offer Support, Insight to Activists
May 28, 2007
Kingston, ON: NDP MPP Paul Ferreira (York South – Weston) arrived in Kingston on Thursday, May 24 for the first of two visits in 19 days. The setting on this occasion was the sidewalk fronting the Shell Station at 285 Ontario St., where local NDP activists had assembled to protest rising gas prices in the face of record corporate profits.
Upon arrival, Ferreira was warmly greeted by a number of local members from the Kingston & the Islands Riding Association, including Riding President Gary Wilson, Labour Representative Don Arkell, Youth Representative Jamie Masse, Provincial Council Delegate Aline Blais, Provincial NDP Candidate Ross Sutherland (Lennox, Addington & Lanark), and Provincial Candidate Nominees Dorothyanne Brown and Marilyn Carter.
The meet and greet was followed by a public statement from Ferreira decrying the apparent lack of competition between major gas companies, as well as the impact of rising gas prices on seniors and working families. Local media coverage of the event was minimal; but special thanks go out to CTV television and Kingston’s CFLY and CKLC radio for stepping forward to cover a topic that is a growing concern for all Canadians.
Ferreira, who is the Ontario NDP’s critic for Housing, Citizenship and Immigration, will be returning to Kingston on Tuesday, June 12th for the Kingston & the Islands Provincial Nomination Meeting.
*Photo Credit: Bob MacKenzie | www.communication.ca*
Learn More
Download our latest Riding Association NEWSLETTER. [Updated April 08]
Download our Riding Executive DIRECTORY. [Post-AGM Update]
Get Involved!
The Renee Stephen Campaign is working hard to prepare for a spring federal election and we need YOUR HELP!
If you are able to contribute time or money, please contact Jamie Masse, the volunteer coordinator for Renee's campaign.
Local Events
Sustainability Presentation
Enjoy a free presentation and discussion with Bob Willard on the business appeal of sustainability.
Thurs. May 15, 2008
7:00pm - Memorial Hall, City Hall
Join the FRILL Community Garden for their May Day Festival and Plot Lottery. Enter the plot lottery, learn about snakes from conservationist Matt Ellerbeck and share a finger food potluck!
Sunday, May 4
1-4pm - 38 Charles Street
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The Fine Print
“At year's end, Layton is seen as more prime ministerial than his Liberal counterpart. The last time that happened, Ed Broadbent and John Turner were respectively NDP and Liberal leaders.”
Chantal Hebert
Toronto Star
12 December 2007