Medicine Hat-area NDP candidate grateful despite party’s lost status

“They appreciated having somebody that answered their questions and picked up the phone. And I think they also just appreciated the energy and the message and the values that I brought to the campaign,” she added.

“So overall, very, very positive experience. And I think people were very interested in this election, and people were really watching. And that’s always very positive.”

Johnson said there are cycles in elections, and there’s different factors at play in each election cycle and different moments in time.

She said this is one of those moments where there’s going to be different factors and different circumstances in the future that the NDP need to be looking ahead at, and be ready to take on as a party.

Johnson said the NDP has an influence on other candidates, and that it’s critical for their party’s space in government to be influential in the rest of parliament, but also in the community.

She said whether a small or big space, helping open it for conversation as a candidate is part of healthy debate in democracy.

She said as a party, the NDP respects voters, and uses their choices as insight.

“[Insight] into what we need to be doing at the party and what Canadians are saying is most important to them at this time,” she said.

“You look to the future, there’s been lots of instances across our country when New Democrats have had a large vote turnout, many have won government in provinces across the country,” she added.

“There’s been instances where they’ve been down to one seat, and they’ve come back to form government.”

Johnson said she feels the NDP will continue to have their space in government.

She said after the outcome of the federal election, as a party, there will be some reflection — but she wouldn’t be surprised to see some rebuild come out of the prairies.

by Jayk Sterkenburg

Medicine Hat-area NDP candidate grateful despite party’s lost status

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