Alberta NDP lends a hand

Photo: Darren Handschuh

Alberta NDP MLA Lori Sigurdson, left, chats with North Okanagan-Shuswap NDP candidate Jacqui Gingras Monday.

Jacqui Gingras is hoping the orange wave that rolled through Alberta in the provincial election earlier this year will wash over the rest of Canada in October.

The North Okanagan-Shuswap NDP candidate teamed up with Alberta NDP MLA Lori Sigurdson, who is the Minister of Innovation and Advanced Education and Minister of Jobs, Skills and Labour to promote the NDP's national aspirations.

Sigurdson was in town Monday to add a little inter-provincial boost to the Gingras campaign.

Gingras said there are lots of people from Alberta living in the Valley and the political climate in the Wildrose Province is paralleling the national political climate with people being tired of the long-time ruling party.

The NDP win came as a big surprise to many people as leader Rachel Notley led the party to a decisive majority with the Wildrose party forming the official opposition and the long-reigning PC Party holding on to just 10 seats.

Touting the party line, Gingras said people are also disgruntled on a national level with the long-time ruling Conservative Party and change is in the air.

“I think if you can win in Alberta, you can win anywhere,” said Sigurdson from Gingras' campaign office before the two headed out and talked to small businesses in the downtown area.

“It was a pleasant surprise in Alberta.”

The federal election has been called for Oct. 19.