STEWIACKE, N.S.
A former Stewiacke councillor is putting his name forward as a possible candidate to replace outgoing MP Bill Casey.
Matthew Rushton, 47, said he hopes to win the Liberal nomination to vie for the position in the Cumberland-Colchester riding in the next federal election, expected for this fall.
Casey has previously announced that he will not reoffer.
Rushton said he would like to represent the federal riding to help fulfill a long-held interest in helping others.
Two top-of-mind areas of interest that he would like to pursue if he were to become the area’s MP, are in healthcare and personal income, Rushton said.
“I think a national health care system and a national minimum wage would be good things. Justin Trudeau and the Liberals have started on the right path I just want to help them continue it,” he said.
Regarding health care, Rushton said he believes that one federal system, instead of each province providing individual systems, would reduce the cost of medications because of the increased buying power it would provide.
“And I think it would be much easier to recruit doctors and retain doctors if they worked for the federal government (instead of each province competing for new recruits),” he said.
He also said the federal government should take responsibility for setting the minimum wage nationwide.
“We need to find a wage that’s equal across the country,” he said. “I don’t think people should have to work 50, 60 hours a week to be able to barely pay their bills.”
Rushton served as a Stewiacke councillor in 2003 and ’04 and also ran unsuccessfully for the Liberals during the past provincial election.
Rushton said at this point, he isn’t officially associated with any political party but his views are more closely aligned with the federal Liberals than any others.
“I think every politician, every person should have a say and everyone has an idea and you can’t just rule out their idea because you don’t believe in what they say,” he said.
