On the day after the federal election was called, NDP candidate Eileen Jones-Whyte accompanied 91-year-old June Gardiner to an event recognizing community volunteers. Above (photo submitted)
The event was held at the Civic Centre in Petawawa by the Ontario Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sports to honour local volunteers with awards for their work in the community. June Gardiner was given recognition for her work during the past five years. Although the work is voluntary, Ms. Jones-Whyte said, it is also supported by a whole network of public services on which we all depend.
“I was very grateful to be invited to the event by June” said Ms. Eileen Jones-Whyte, who is, herself, an active community volunteer in sports, literacy and environmental advocacy. “It was wonderful to meet the award winners and hear of the great things they’ve been doing in our communities.”
Volunteers are the backbone of our community, Jones-Whyte said. “It is distressing to hear from such dedicated volunteers how cuts to education, healthcare, legal aid, libraries and other services are making life more challenging for so many in our community.”
She is proud to support The New Deal for People, the NDP platform for this election, which pledges to make life more affordable for everyday people.
“This is not an empty slogan,” she said. “It will happen through initiatives such as a pharmacare plan for all. Canada is the only wealthy country with a universal health care program that does not include pharmacare.”
The pledge to make life affordable to ordinary Canadians includes so much more: a basic income pilot project, affordable housing, improvements to Employment Insurance, affordable cell phone service, among others.
These are issues that affect ordinary Canadians everyday. Jones-Whyte said, “The policies of Cheryl Gallant, Andrew Scheer and the Conservative Party, threaten the very services which underpin the work of our volunteers.”
Eisner,K. (2019,Sept.13) Conservatives threaten community services – Eileen Jones-Whyte [press release]
