It will be the fourth time Labradorians will see Todd Russell's name on a ballot in as many years if a federal election happens this fall.
The Liberal MP though is primed to oust the Harper administration and was busy doing some early prep work in his riding last week.
Russell said he was scoping out some space possibilities for a campaign headquarters in Labrador West.
"I am supporting an election, yes," he said. "We have tried to work with the Conservative Government and have been trying to do what's best for Canadians -and for me doing what's best for Labradorians-but we can no longer support what this government is doing. I haven't been happy with Harper since he came into power."
Russell says there is a whole list of reasons why the Harper government must be taken down from how the recession was handled right on down to the prime minister's overall leadership of the country.
"Canada could have done more," he said of the response to the global recession. "We now have the biggest deficit we've had in our history, we have the first trade deficit that we've had in 30 years. We still have a half million more Canadians out of work this year."
While he agrees Stephen Harper can't be held responsible for the recession, he has harsh criticism for how the country was prepared for it.
"We can certainly blame them for the mismanagement of the economy leading up to the recession," he said of the Conservatives. "They spent the bank bare. And the last report that came out said that out of the G7 [nations], Canada is the worst performing country. We are coming out of the recession slower than the rest."
The Labrador MP criticized how Harper was short on helping the most vulnerable in his stimulus spending, the low-income families. And there was no concentration on seniors; he said there are seniors devastated by this recession with their savings and pensions.
Russell also condemned the lack of expediency in getting funding out.
"It was so slow coming and it's still slow coming," he said of the funding for stimulus projects. "There have been a lot of announcements, re-announcements and re-announcements, but these announcements don't create jobs or put money in people's bank accounts and don't feed families."
The only industry that really got Harper's attention, according to Russell, was the auto industry. The Labrador MP said he would have thought the mining and fishing industry would have been higher on the list of priorities, but wasn't.
The Labrador MP says he knows some people may not want a federal election again, but when it comes to down to it, it's the only way to get the country back on the right track, the only way to dethrone Stephen Harper.
"He hasn't been accountable to Canadians at all," said Russell of the prime minister. "I don't appreciate it when he attacks women's rights on pay equity. I don't like that fact that he pays lip service to the north it that he doesn't include Labrador in the Northern Strategy, and we are north, we are Arctic. I don't like that he made promises to the people of Labrador, particularly the people in Goose Bay, then three and a half years later say they have no plans to invest in 5 Wing Goose Bay. They promise infrastructure money and can't deliver it in a timely fashion. Both the provincial government and federal government were slow getting money out for the Trans Labrador Highway.
For a while there they looked like they had two speeds, slow and stopped."
According to Russell, whenever he visits the communities and people in his riding of Labrador, there is one question he is constantly asked.
"One of the first questions I get everywhere I go is 'when are you going to get rid of Stephen Harper?' that's a question they ask all the time," he said.
Russell is convinced Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is the proper leader for Canada and the one who will ensure Labrador is not overlooked.
"He has a better approach," he said of Ignatieff "I mean if we say we are going to do something, we are going to deliver. Right now there is no vision for this country, but the Liberal party will lay out a vision and Labrador will be included in that."
Another run for Russell
Labrador Liberal MP Todd Russell is pumped for a federal election that he hopes will divest the country of a Conservative regime.
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- Published on September 14th, 2009
- Published on July 14th, 2010
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Michelle Stewart
Labrador MP primed for federal fall election
It will be the fourth time Labradorians will see Todd Russell's name on a ballot in as many years if a federal election happens this fall.
The Liberal MP though is primed to oust the Harper administration and was busy doing some early prep work in his riding last week.
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Comments
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- Frank
- - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:31
I have supported our Federal Liberal Newfoundland Politicians for many years.
However, I feel that there are several who only communicate with selective people around their communities. It is almost like they are in Ottawa waiting for their pension cheques. I was always taught by The Rt. Hon. Paul Martin to be there for the people who respect and support us.get out there and be a part of their community. The Newfoundland politicians today are only seen on phamplets and placards during election time. I think Todd Russell has a nice placard, but people need to see him in real life. He is a gentleman, but he seems to be drifting around with the Harper dust in Ottawa, doing very little as a back bencher.
Squirrels are well organized and would climb the tallest trees for other squirrels like us who are always wagging our tails for change, but nobody seems to listen. We as Liberals have a lot of organizing to do to gain back the support of Canadians.If we can be a productive fighter like MP Scott Simms, we are on the right track.
I have to admit that MP Scott Simms is really doing a good job. I got to talk to Scott in Leading Tickles during a fisherman's demonstration and he was there fighting with the fishermen all the way. I travelled to most of the Outports and talked to mant people who were not at all pleased with their Liberal representatives in Ottawa.
Frank Blackwood
Newfoundland Writer
OFF THE SLATE -
- Frank
- - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:28
I really don't like some of the remarks made about Mr. Russell. He is a well respected politiician and does not need this.. If people cannot make a constructive comment without being nasty and disrespectful, they should refrain from making any remarks.
Remember the quote , it is much better to keep quiet and look stupid than to open your mouth and remove doubt.
Frank Blackwood
Newfoundland Writer. -
- Resident
- - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:26
Ditto ..... to David from Labrador. We need fresh blood with a real paasion to tackle our issues.
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- bev
- - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:22
Who elects this idiot? Another MP commented of Todd Russell He is the most negative and laziest MP ever sent from NL to Ottawa. He contributes absolutely nothing . Kind of sums it up doesn't it.
The easirst job in the owrld is sitting inthe opposition ranks. All you have to do is criticize and no one looks at you toproduce. Russell criticizes but NEVER has possible solutions / suggestions. Poor old George baker almost s*** himslef when the Liberals got in when he was an MP. He had to produce someting which was more difficult than criticizing for 20 years.
Sadly - you coudl run a squirrrel on the coast of Labardor as a Liberal and he/she woudl get in. And we wonder if we get what we deserve!!!!! -
- David
- - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:19
I haven't been happy with Harper since he came into power.
Todd, I haven't been happy with you since you came into power. Getting the Liberal nomination in Labrador is like winning the lotto. The only time you have to show your face is election time.
I'm far from conservative, but i'd rather vote with the government than keep sending useless MP's to Ottawa. Do we really need to waste another $300 million of taxpayers money for another minority government? -
- mike
- - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:14
Seriously - what's going on in this picture? Is this trick photogrpahy and they've shrunk his head using photshop OR is that all the space you need for such a little brain!
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- Resdient
- - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:09
To mike: No, his head didn't shrink.....he just got fat, happy and comfortable in his 4 year stint.
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