NDP candidate Dave Fluri smiles in the aftermath of his strong showing in Monday night's federal election. ____________________________________________________________
Voters in Nipissing-Timiskaming now realize the New Democratic Party does exist and offers a viable alternative in the future, Dave Fluri says.
Fluri, who ran for the NDP in the riding, brought in its single highest result of any election bringing 7,351 votes, and 17 per cent of the popular vote. He surpasses Dawson Pratt’s 1988 total of 6,479 votes; only Benonie J Levert, of the NDP’s predecessor, the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation, did better, winning 11,349 votes in the 1945 general election.
“I’m feeling really good, I’m really proud of what was done in the campaign,” Fluri said, from his Fraser Street campaign headquarters.
“We started out, we had a few bumps in the road, but the team came together quite well. I think if nothing else what we’ve done is impressed upon the voters of Nipissing-Timiskaming that there is an NDP party within this riding, that we mean business and that we’re determined to represent their best interests at every opportunity.”
Way it works Fluri was concerned, though, that the NDP nationally won 16 per cent of the popular vote, but just over six per cent of the 308 federal seats with its total of 19.
“That’s the way it works in the first past the post system we’re working under right now,” Fluri said.
“And my hope is right now that the Canadian people will become fed up with the system that we currently have in place and we will motivate the government to make changes to the system such that it could be more representative to the actual wishes of the people.”
Speak out Now that he’s done so well in his first foray into politics, Fluri said it likely won’t be his last.
“My intention is to continue to speak out for average everyday working people, that’s what I’ve always done and I will continue to do that in whatever venue presents itself,” Fluri said.
“If I see a need for that to happen again in some other election campaign, I won’t shy away from it, just as I didn’t shy away from entering this campaign. The only thing I’ve ever cared about is to speak out for average people and I intend to do that at every opportunity.”
Have a choice Fluri said he is “proud” about what his party has accomplished locally, in an area that doesn’t traditionally vote NDP.
“We’ve set a base that we can build on for the future and I’m confident the voters of Nipissing-Timiskaming realize that they do have a choice and the NDP is here to speak out for average citizen,” Fluri said.
