It hasn’t taken long for a potential successor to Jean Crowder to step forward.
And he’s from Cowichan Lake.
Ian Morrison, regional district director for Cowichan Lake South since 2008, has announced his intentions to seek the NDP nomination in the new federal riding of Cowichan-Malahat-Langford.
“Understanding the issues and relationships between federal, provincial and local governments has helped make me an effective community servant,” he said in a media release. “I believe these relationships created value for our communities and shows the spirit of cooperation can prevail over the politics of division.”
Morrison said his decision to throw his name in wasn’t spur of the moment by any means. He’s been chewing on it since the last federal election.
His experience in local government as an area director reaffirmed the push to the next level.
“I spent my first term as a (CVRD) director learning the craft and I was rewarded in 2011 when I was selected as a director for another term,” Morrison said Monday.
“You know I can take what I hear, whether that’s in, say, the grocery store or the line-up at the bank, and try to be as reflective as I can of the community’s wants,” he said.
But when it comes to the federal position he’s seeking “ultimately, this election is about restoring the office of authority.”
Issues like pushing the feds to supply organizations and volunteer-run groups like Cowichan’s Wilderness Watch, with the funds they require to perform the tasks downloaded on to them from the government, is near and dear to his heart.
If he’s given the green light to campaign, there will be several other election issues he will be running with, including fisheries, health care, and daycare, to name a few.
Morrison acted as NDP MLA Bill Routley’s campaign manager in the last provincial election.
The Lake resident isn’t the only one to toss his hat into the ring. Crowder’s constituency assistant Alistair MacGregor also made the same move this weekend.
“Jean has been a very inspiring person to work for, and I plan on continuing the strong tradition of excellent community representation she has personified if I am elected,” said MacGregor in a media release.
MacGregor has worked in the federal constituency office since 2007.
He plans on using the experience gained from this position as a central part of his nomination campaign.
“I’ve worked with hundreds of individuals and many different community groups to help solve local issues and complex federal problems over the years, and I’ve witnessed first-hand how government policies affect people,” said MacGregor.
The 24-year Cowichan Valley resident has served on the board of the Cowichan Green Community for two years.
Crowder has announced her intention to step aside at the end of this term. The next federal election is scheduled for 2015.
A decision on who’s chosen to run on behalf of the NDP is expected this coming June.
