Note: I wrote this a while ago, and never got around to posting it. I did, however, want to pay my own brand of tribute to someone without whom I would not be involved in politics, so I’m posting it now.
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Monday was a bit of a bittersweet day for me, because Alexa McDonnough, the MP from Halifax and former leader of the New Democrats, has announced that she is stepping down from the federal political stage. For ages, she has represented the people of halifax in bth a provinail and federal capacity, wtwide as the leader of the NDP – once in Nova Scotia and once for all of Canada.
Alexa was the reason that I am involved in politics. I remember watching her at the 1997 leadership debates, and wanting to find out more. The NDP platform was very appealing, and while I have, in the ten years hence, come to my senses (I was in grade four – cut me some slack), she still has undeniably made an impact on both me personally and the nation as a whole.
Then again, Alexa was also a destructive force, most notably for my number one issue – education. When an MP who claims to be supportive of PSE initiatives stands up and opposes the Millennium Scholarship Foundation for reasons that, frankly, did not make any sense, there is a problem. Even after the Foundation was proven, over a number of years, to be the most effective way of navigating the shark infested waters of federalism and distributing monies to students, she stood in firm opposition on principle. What this principle was remains unclear to me, but to a teleologist, it boils down to opposing more money for students.
She has left indelible marks on the Canadian politician landscape, some good and some bad. Without her, I never would have taken up the cause and, oddly enough, gone on to fight against both her and her party. So, thank you Alexa. You will be missed.
