KITCHENER – All four major parties have now named their candidate in Kitchener South-Hespeler for the anticipated fall federal election.
Meeting on Monday evening (July 27), party faithful in the newly created riding chose Marwan Tabbara to carry their banner.
“It’s a great honour to have won the support and trust of a great group of Liberal members, many of whom have lots of political experience,” said the political newcomer in an email to the Times. “Our fight for fairness for the middle class, for the working people in this region, is a fight worth dedicating ourselves to. It requires a lot of energy, going out, meeting people and asking for their support for our plan.”
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According to a news release, Tabbara’s family moved to Canada from Lebanon when he was four years old; they sought to escape the violence and civil war.
He lives in south Kitchener and has worked 12-hour shifts as a line technician at the Cambridge Frito-Lays plant for the past 13 years. Currently on a leave of absence, Tabbara is also a field supervisor for Q2 Management, doing quality control work for the automotive industry.
Previously the MP-hopeful held a number of summer construction jobs.
Asked what he feels are the three biggest issues facing residents in the riding, Tabbara listed: “Making sure the manufacturing sector … gets the support it needs to grow and provide an increasing number of good jobs”, “lowering taxes for middle class Canadians and effective support for families raising children in the region” and “enhancing the Canada Pension Plan and rolling back from 67 to 65 the age at which seniors can receive Old Age Security is a start in that direction.”
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Also seeking the Liberal nomination for Kitchener South-Hespeler was Scott Burton, chief executive officer of Dolphin Digital Technologies Inc., an information communications technology consulting firm.
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Back in March, Conservatives selected Marian Gagné as their candidate, with David Weber chosen in February to represent the Green Party.
The first candidate named for the new riding was the NDP’s Lorne Bruce, announced last December.
In the Cambridge-North Dumfries riding, the candidates are incumbent Conservative Gary Goodyear, Liberal Bryan May and the NDP’s Bobbi Stewart.
According to the local Green Party website, candidate nominations are still being accepted for Cambridge-North Dumfries.
