Why I'm endorsing Peggy Nash

Jonah Schein, NDP MPP for Davenport:

Peggy Nash stands out above the rest as the best choice to lead our party and lead this team forward into government in 2015. Peggy exemplifies the best qualities in leadership. She listens, she consults, she takes decisive action, and she takes people along with her when she sets a direction. As Jack Layton did, and as my own leader Andrea Horwath does, Peggy inspires the best and the brightest to join her team. Not only has she garnered impressive endorsements, Peggy has built a team of young, talented, energetic and professional organizers in every region of the country including some of the best activists in Davenport.

Above all, our next leader needs to help us as a party and as a collection of progressive social movements – whether environmentalists, unionists, peace activists or students – to work together, in solidarity to chart a new course for our country. I know that Peggy Nash will motivate New Democrats to work harder than ever to organize to win. The stakes are too high to allow us to be divided.

I don’t need to tell you that Peggy Nash is a fighter for cities; that she has been a fierce advocate for funding for green infrastructure and a national transit strategy or that she’s fought on our side to stop the dirty diesel train through our communities in Toronto. You know that Peggy has worked for years to build our party from the grassroots up. Not only has Peggy helped turn all of Parkdale High Park orange, she has knocked on doors for candidates at all levels in Davenport and in ridings across the country.

Peggy has delivered real results for Canadians, whether in her time as Industry and Finance Critics, as party president, or at the bargaining table. Peggy will rebuild our economy so that it works in the interests of hard working Canadians – the 99% - not just the 1%.

I know that Peggy Nash will put families first when she is Prime Minister and she will put poverty and national childcare at the top of the agenda. I know that Peggy is a fighter, a builder, and a leader, and I am proud to offer her my endorsement.

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