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Who will lead the NDP?

To the Editor: We're in difficult times with a majority Conservative government, but we're also in a time of enormous opportunity and hope.

To the Editor:

We're in difficult times with a majority Conservative government, but we're also in a time of enormous opportunity and hope. In less than two months, we will find out which of the eight contenders will head up Canada 's NDP as leader of the Opposition and will be taking on Stephen Harper.

Who is the most suitable to lead the NDP?

Peggy Nash is someone who believes strongly in the vision that Jack Layton brought to his leadership when he ran in 2003. Peggy is a soldier in the fight for social justice, for workers' rights, for women's equality, for green communities and jobs, for a most just Canada , and for party values.

As a Member of Parliament, Peggy has challenged the Conservative government's economic policy and inaction on rising inequality and unemployment in Canada .

Prior to her work in Parliament, Peggy began her activism as an organizer with the Canadian Airline Employees Association, and worked her way up to senior negotiator with the Canadian Auto Workers union where she became the first female to negotiate a major contract with one of the Detroit-based automobile corporations in 2005.

In her role as a negotiator, Peggy was also instrumental in improving pensions for same-sex partners, developing anti-harassment and anti-racism programs, and negotiating a 'right to refuse work' clause for women facing workplace harassment.

With decades of experience as a top executive for Canada's largest private-sector union, Peggy Nash has distinguished herself has a national leader on economic affairs.

Peggy has been involved with many organizations advancing women's equality and was a founding member of Equal Voice, promoting the election of women in Canada.

Equality is a central policy issue in her campaign. Her plan includes increasing support for women and families, reinstating an amended federal long-gun gun registry and legislating protection of the data it collects and encompasses, establishing a 21st Century (Royal) Commission on the Status of Women, and a focus on violence against Aboriginal, Métis, and Inuit women and girls.

With an alternative economic vision for the country, priorities for supporting Canada's LGBT community, a strategy to protect wild salmon habitat and support sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, a plan for achieving women's equality, a strategy for greening Canadian municipalities, investing in infrastructure, and creating green jobs, a plan to increase accessibility to post-secondary education and alleviate student debt loads, a plan to make Canada a global leader in innovation and build market support for innovative Canadian products and services, Peggy Nash is certainly capable of leading Canada's NDP and taking on Harper in 2015.

It's no wonder leaders from across our country have lined up to endorse Peggy Nash in her bid for Leader of the NDP. She's certainly #1 on my ballot.

Candace Maxymowich, Vita, MB.