AMHERST, N.S. — Jody O’Blenis believes Canadians are tired of the same old promises from the same old political parties.
That’s why he has decided to join one of the country’s newest parties, the Veterans Coalition of Canada, as the candidate for Cumberland-Colchester.
“People are in bad shape and they need change,” said the 42-year-old Amherst native who works at Novapet in the town’s industrial park. “Health care is in a crisis and we need doctors.”
O’Blenis said he has already received a strong message from the voters he has talked to in Cumberland County and imagines he will hear the same thing from those in Colchester. Seniors, he said, are frustrated that no one seems to be working for them when it comes to the Canada Pension Plan. He questions why it’s taxed by the federal government while family allowance is not.
He also wants to see people be able to get a pension earlier.
“It’s hard for seniors to make ends meet. When they pay the bills, they have nothing left and they’re being taxed when they shouldn’t be,” he said. “All Canadians are paying too much in taxes and they are not getting back nearly enough.”
While the party leader is a veteran of the Canadian military, O’Blenis said not every candidate is a veteran. He’s not a veteran, nor are many of the approximately 150 candidates the party will run across Canada in October’s federal election.
He said it’s a coalition of Armed Forces vets and ordinary Canadians such as himself who feel disenfranchised and forgotten by the federal government.
“Parties come and parties go and nothing changes,” he said. “You look at Amherst as an example. We are the border town that has been forgotten. Whether it’s Conservative or Liberal, nothing has been done for this area and I’m sure the same is true in Colchester County and Truro. We are a party of the people for the people.”
He said he plans to spend as much time in the riding prior to the election, although he admitted it will be difficult considering he is working in a job that he can’t afford to leave to campaign. He promises honesty and said he will not make promises that neither he nor the party can deliver.
“The party believes strongly in honesty, integrity and truth and I feel I represent all three of those,” O’Blenis said.
The party’s leader, Randy Joy, will be at O’Blenis’ 22 Boylston St. address on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 3 p.m. At that time, Joy will announce the party’s candidates in eastern Canada.
Right now, the party has five candidates in Nova Scotia and one in Prince Edward Island. He said work is continuing to recruit candidates in New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador.
