A former Conservative MP from B.C., who lobbied for change to justice and victims' rights, has thrown her support to the Liberal Party in the federal election.
Dona Cadman, who represented Surrey North from 2008 to 2011, urged constituents to "help elect a Trudeau government for positive change," she said in a Liberal news release Saturday.
Cadman's late husband, Chuck Cadman, was also an MP for the district from 1997 to 2005, when he died of cancer. He notably averted an election in 2005 when he cast the deciding ballot in helping Paul Martin and the governing Liberals pass a confidence vote.
The couple got involved in advocacy and then politics after their 16-year-old son Jesse was murdered in a random attack by other teens.
Chuck Cadman was first elected as a Reform Party MP and then again under the Canadian Alliance banner. In 2014, he won as an Independent and refused to rejoin the Conservatives.
"My late husband Chuck and I started out with the Reform Party where the emphasis was on family and strong sense of community," said Dona Cadman in this weekend's statement. "I have tried to stay true to this as the Conservative Party changed into what it is today but at this point, I do not feel comfortable with much of what is being done and even less of how it is being done."
The Surrey North riding has been folded into other constituencies under new border distributions for the 2015 election on Monday.
Cadman endorsed Randeep Sarai, the Liberal candidate in Surrey Centre.
"I'm retired from politics, so I can now say how and what I feel," she told the Surrey Leader.
On the final day on the campaign trail, Trudeau is scheduled to attend a rally on Sunday in Surrey, as well as in Calgary, Edmonton, and North Vancouver.
Dona Cadman's full statement:
Surrey is my home. We live in one of the fastest growing communities in Canada. Unfortunately, we also live in a community that is facing some of the biggest crime and safety challenges in the country, too. Crime is the number-one issue facing the residents of Surrey.
We need a government that is willing to look at the root causes of crime; that is willing to support those who are building intervention programs; that is supportive of those fostering rehabilitation and working to stop crime before it happens. For these reasons, I strongly support Justin Trudeau, Randeep Sarai and the Liberal Party platform on crime and prevention.
My Late Husband Chuck and I started out with the Reform Party where the emphasis was on family and strong sense of community. I have tried to stay true to this as the Conservative Party changed into what it is today but at this point, I do not feel comfortable with much of what is being done and even less of how it is being done.
For the people of Surrey Centre, I want you to know, I appreciate the Liberals’ approach in creating a comprehensive solution, which starts with building cohesion within the community. Specifically, that a Liberal government will in 30-60 days build a community of stakeholders from those involved in crime safety to restorative justice to victim and mental health services. We cannot remain on the same trajectory and expect a different outcome.
At this point, I feel change is needed to move our country forward. To date, Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party have stayed incredibly positive in their campaign messaging. A country is well served if the right people are given the right opportunity at the right time.
IT IS OUR JOB AS CANADIAN VOTERS… TO RECOGNIZE IT!
On Monday, October 19, 2015, I encourage you to vote for Randeep Sarai, the Liberal candidate in Surrey Centre, and help elect a TRUDEAU Government for POSITIVE CHANGE.
Election Day:
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