 |
|
BREAKING NEWS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Last updated at 11:00 AM on 06/10/08 |
|
Michelle Stewart photo/Phyllis Artiss is carrying the NDP banner throughout Labrador hoping to win the riding that has been a Liberal stronghold for years. |
|
|
The NDP alternative 
Retired professor vying for Liberal stronghold
MICHELLE STEWART
The Aurora
She may have come via parachute, but NDP candidate Phyllis Artiss is no stranger to Labrador issues and definitely not to Aboriginal people from the Big Land.
The retired Memorial University professor is passionate on social issues and feels she can offer a lot to the people in the federal riding of Labrador.
Artiss feels the very issues that NDP Leader Jack Layton address are very much issues of the Labrador people.
"I think Layton is saying the things I hear from all sides," she said of her party leader. "He has a vision and a long-term strategic plan for health care, housing and the environment; and these are huge issues here in Labrador."
She knows the riding has been historically represented by Liberal, there was one PC win, but she hopes the voters will see that no huge successes have been won for Labrador under the Liberals.
"The Liberals have been in for many years and I can't see that they've brought in many changes," said Artiss while in Labrador City campaigning last week. "There have been small, individual things, but nothing really huge when you consider very important things like transportation."
Artiss says she isn't pleased with the overall big performance picture of the Liberals and the party's leader.
"I have a particular problem with the way [Stephane] Dion and the current Liberals follow [Stephen] Harper," she said. "They criticize him at election time and the Conservative policies but, then, they either vote with the Conservatives or the members don't show up for the vote. When you don't vote or oppose, then you are voting with them. And now Dion has come out in support of this $50 billion tax cut for large corporations. That $50 billion could go a long way across the country to address issues of Aboriginal people and others who are marginalized and others who need the federal funding permanent funding for housing, seniors, environmental initiatives."
Artiss feels the NDP is a far better choice when the Conservatives are much too far to the right and the Liberals are complacent and not an effective opposition. The Conservatives are breeding an American model, she said, when it comes to fiscal and foreign policy and have no real solutions for many Canadian issues.
"Conservatives specialize in these short-term solutions," she said "That $100 per month child benefit, is an prime example. They put that in rather than the childcare program that was agreed to by all provinces."
Social justice is a big priority for Artiss who says her work throughout the years have exposed her to many concerns of people, especially those in minorities as well as women's issues.
In her 40-year tenure at Memorial, along with English, she was a professor of women's studies.
She was one of the founders of the First Native Friendship Centre that was primarily used by Labrador native people who attended university in St. John's.
"That was important to me because there were students down from Labrador who didn't have a place in the city to connect with each other and meet," she explained her interest in starting the Centre. "It was a little intimidating for the people who came from the coast and other small communities and I felt it was important for them to have a place where they were comfortable."
Her involvement with the native university students developed into great friendships, the students even had access to the then professor's house near campus.
"I had a key outside the door for them and they knew where it was if they wanted to drop in for something to eat of whatever," Artiss explained. "I enjoyed working on political issues with them."
It bothers Artiss to see injustice and people who fall between the cracks of governments. Thought it's her first crack at running in an election, from Oxfam to women's groups, her work towards social issues has been very involved and long running.
"I think sometimes I never really grew up because, I guess in ways, I have a child's sense of justice. I want things to be fair," she said. "When I see that no women were running for the NDP, I had to step up."
Artiss says she is at a point in her life that she can dedicate herself to the Labrador riding. With her husband now deceased and a career as a professor completed, she has no strong anchor to St. John's.
"Oh if I won this seat, I would move to Labrador," she said. "I would probably live in different areas even of Labrador."
In the meantime she will continue to campaign in as many areas as she can reach over the next week and talk to as many people as possible in her effort to change the Liberal pattern in her riding.
"I believe in democracy and I believe the people of Labrador are perfectly capable of judging for themselves," she said. "Mr. Russell speaks well and he criticizes the Conservative for things I'd criticize them for but really he hasn't done a lot for Labrador."
|
06/10/08
|
Comments: |
|
This Conversation is Semi-Moderated. What is moderation?
|
| What does moderation mean? |
 |
The Aurora is committed to encouraging intelligent discourse among our readers and to creating a forum where diverse views and opinions on a wide range of topics can be aired. The forum you are in now is a result of our continuing efforts to facilitate a dynamic online conversation among our readers.
This is a semi-moderated or reactively moderated conversation. Once a reader follows the steps to register and submit his or her comment it goes directly to the website. A comment may be edited or deleted for reasons of content or language.
All readers wishing to join a conversation must first sign in and agree to the Terms of Usage, which explain the rules of acceptable content.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Undecided from Labrador City, NL writes: If you win this seat you MUST live in Labrador.
|
| Posted 06/10/2008 at 11:41 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
Undecided from Labrador City, NL writes: Betty (no last name)~
Why don't you stick to comments on the article at hand.......and I will decide who to vote for without your unput.
|
| Posted 06/10/2008 at 1:40 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
|
Labradorian from nl writes: NONE OF THE ABOVE -- mark your X in that slot -- none of them are worth the effort
|
| Posted 06/10/2008 at 6:44 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
|
Undecided from Labrador City, NL writes: Wouldn't it be great to have someone who understands the needs of Labraodrians from living in Labrador to represent us....and of course qualified to do the job. No on the job training here.
|
| Posted 07/10/2008 at 9:23 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
Lorraine Michael from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador writes: I was delighted to read this article which so clearly presents Phyllis Artiss. I have know Phyllis for over 35 years and have a personal knowledge of her commitment, hard work and love of social justice.
I was most disappointed when the federal NDP, in partnership with the provincial party, was unable to find someone from Labrador to run in the election after our candidate of almost a year dropped out. We tried for many weeks to come up with someone in consultation with supporters in Labrador. Since we know that there is much support for the NDP in Labrador the party had no choice but to bring in someone from outside. It was far from our first option.
We could not have come up with anyone better to parachute in than Phyllis Artiss if we had tried. I was delighted when she volunteered to fill the role. Obviously the best possible option was to have someone from Labrador. That didn't happen.
Phyllis has shown her commitment to the people of the riding by acknowledging the need to move to Labrador if she wins. There is no doubt in her mind of what needs to be done.
Phyllis has worked in solidarity with Labradorians for years. She knows the issues but would never presume to speak for Labradorians. She will always speak in consultation with, not in place of, people from Labrador.
Lorraine Michael, MHA
Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi
Leader, NDP of Newfoundland and Labrador
|
| Posted 07/10/2008 at 9:10 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
Undecided from Labrador City, NL writes: to Lorraine Michael~
Thank you for the insight.
|
| Posted 08/10/2008 at 10:13 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
|
LabradorGuy from Labrador writes: I find it a bit odd for this NDP candidate to be talking about liberals supporting the Harper government and then going on to talk about wanting new programs for things like housing, childcare and aboriginals. When it was Jack Leyton and the NDP who supported Harper in defeating the Liberal government and killing what would have been the best child care plan canada has ever seen , the Kelowna accord for aboriginals and a new housing program for Canadians. We could of had these things if the NDP along with Harper didn’t bring down the government. It’s a little hypocritical of them to start being critical now, my family was excited about these programs and it would of made a lot of difference in our lives, it was very upsetting to us.
|
| Posted 09/10/2008 at 5:28 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
NOTE
The management of this site emphasizes that it is in no way liable for persons, physical or legal, who are hosted here. Moreover, the managers of this site may not be held liable for errors and omissions that may slip into the information displayed in these reader comments. Everyone who submits a comment should read, understand and agree to the Terms of Usage for this section.
|
|
|
|
|
