A new name has been added to the list of people running in Battlefords-Lloydminster and it is a well known one.
Doug Anguish is running for Parliament, but he is not running for the New Democrats this time. Instead, he’s seeking office as an independent, for a few reasons.
“I feel frustration with the political parties, I don’t feel there’s much progress,” said Anguish in speaking to the News-Optimist Tuesday.
Also, “I don’t like what’s happened to the Canadian fabric. I think the government we have presently is the most anti-democratic government we’ve had in the history of the country. And I think there needs to be some independence there to instill some good order to what political parties decide.”
He observes there “could be a minority government coming down the chute” and notes independent MPs play an important role in minority governments.
“Sometimes it’s only a matter of one vote between a minority and a majority. If that happens, and there’s enough independence there, you’ll have democracy restored into the British parliamentary system that we use.”
The biggest reason he is running, Anguish said, is “I want people to feel represented. I don’t think the people feel represented anymore. I think the candidate, for whatever political party, they run, they get elected, they want constituents to vote for them.
“But it seems when they get to Ottawa or Regina or wherever it is they get elected to, all of a sudden they represent a political party. They don’t represent you anymore. I want to change that. I want to represent the people of Battlefords-Lloydminster in Ottawa in the federal house. I don’t want to represent a political party that tells people what they think is best for them. I want to pass that on the other way around and change that 180 degrees so what people are saying in constituencies has some impact on what the Canadian government does.”
Anguish has a long history in politics representing the Battlefords and area at the federal and provincial level.
He represented Battlefords-Meadow Lake from 1980 to 1984 for one term before losing to Progressive Conservative John Gormley.
Two years later, he was elected MLA for the Battlefords area and later served in the cabinet of Roy Romanow.
Of his time in politics, “I want that to tell people that I have good experience,” said Anguish.
But he resigned his seat in 1996, mainly out of frustration with party politics and his own government’s policies.
“I quit because when your own party undermines your own constituents because there’s some larger plan out there, I didn’t like that and I was frustrated by that,” he said.
As for where he stands on the issues in this election, Anguish’s views are wide ranging.
He acknowledged the changes to the Canadian Wheat Board are a big issue.
Farmers are “divided on the Wheat Board, that’s what I’ve found.” Anguish said younger farmers and bigger farmers tend to support the changes, but smaller and the older farmers “don’t like what’s happening to the Wheat Board,” which they relied on for marketing.
“Smaller farmers who are truly independent on their own, have trouble with the removal of the Canadian Wheat Board and having a system that is likely not even owned by Canadians,” Anguish said.
On energy issues, Anguish says he is “a pipeline supporter,” and believes “it’s a very dangerous practice, hauling oil and hydrocarbons by train.” He pointed to the Lac-Megantic disaster as an example of what can happen.
He called pipelines “the safest, most economical means of moving hydrocarbons in the ground.” Anguish also supports more refining capacity in Canada, saying “we could use more of them to value-add to our overall products before we move them out of the country.”
Other issues of importance to Anguish include democratic reform — including Senate reform, though he does not support abolishing the Senate completely — as well as addressing seniors’ issues and creating more jobs in the private sector.
Anguish also expressed his desire to be a visible MP within the riding itself during those times when Parliament is not in session.
He intends to mount an active race and expects his campaign will focus on the urban areas in the Battlefords and Lloydminster, but he expects to make trips to the rural areas as well.
“We’ll spend our money wisely and do the things we have to do in the last few weeks in the campaign,” said Anguish.
Anguish said his campaign will be setting up a campaign office on the 1200 block of 100th Street and that will be up and running very soon.
He has also expressed interest in being involved in the all-candidates forums for the electoral district. The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce has scheduled their forum for Monday at 7 p.m. at Third Avenue United Church in North Battleford.
“If they allow me into the debate, I’ll be at the debate,” Anguish said.
Anguish’s entry, as well as scheduling of all-candidates meetings for North Battleford and Lloydminster, has provided a spark to what to this point had been a relatively sleepy race in Battlefords-Lloydminster.
The news of Anguish’s entry came just hours before major news broke from the NDP campaign, with word that Sandra Arias had withdrawn as their nominee.
The other nominated candidates in the race in Battlefords-Lloydminster are incumbent Conservative Gerry Ritz, Liberal Larry Ingram and Green candidate Mikaela Tenkink.
As of Tuesday both Ritz and Ingram had officially filed papers according to the Elections Canada website. Anguish said he would be filing his papers this week as well. The deadline for all nominations to be filed is Sept. 28.
