Morrison wins NDP nomination (update)

Skip Morrison, an Essar Steel Algoma crane operator and Manulife financial advisor, will be the NDP's candidate in the Sault Ste. Marie riding in the next federal election campaign.

The election is scheduled for October 19.

Morrison defeated Peggy Lauzon, a Sault businesswoman, at a nomination meeting held by the New Democrats at the Delta Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront Hotel Tuesday evening.

Morrison said the NDP's traditionally biggest source of support (labour unions) helped secure his winning bid for the nomination.

"I was able to get a lot of 2251 steelworkers signed up as new members, they're very excited," said Morrison, speaking to SooToday.

"The NDP is the only party which has come forward in opposition to Bill C-51…it (the legislation) overshadows and affects any form of opposition, whether its First Nations concerns, environmental concerns, it could even be a protest or rallies about unfair labour practices," Morrison said. 

"I think this will be the most important election in this country's history," Morrison said to a room packed with the party faithful at the Delta.

"What Bill C-51 (the Harper government's recently-passed anti-terrorism act) has done is blanketed all the other injustices that have been perpetrated on us by this government."

Critics of Bill C-51 say the legislation opens the door to excessive information gathering on individuals and the sharing of that information between CSIS and other law enforcement authorities, and perhaps goes as far as harming freedom of expression.

"Prior to Bill C-51there were other procedures where they have hurried through debate, closed debate, or carried on debate in closed committee where there is no realistic scrutiny by the press or the public, and they have really finely-tuned the skill of stacking so many things in omnibus bills so it's been really easy to ram through changes no one has expected," Morrison said. 

Morrison also called for action on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's recommendations in regards to First Nations issues.

"We must always give support to the disadvantaged and we must always try to retain and secure individual democratic rights."

Morrison also said affordable housing and daycare are among a host of issues of concern to the NDP and among those he would fight for if elected to be the Sault's MP.

Morrison, 61, is a single father of three.

Lauzon, founder and president of the Aberdeen Group, which provides accounting and consulting services to local small businesses and not-for-profits, told Tuesday's audience she too is concerned with Bill C-51, the need to address First Nations issues and help small businesses survive.

Michael Mantha, Algoma-Manitoulin MPP, told supporters the coming election campaign "will not be a cakewalk."

"You will have to knock on every door, fight for every inch."

Bud Wildman, a former NDP MPP for Algoma and provincial cabinet minister, told Tuesday's audience the Conservatives, with a lot of money in their coffers, will soon start running attack ads.

To that end, Wildman urged party members to give generously to the NDP's campaign.  

(PHOTO: Skip Morrison gives acceptance speech at Sault Ste. Marie NDP nomination meeting, June 16, 2015. Darren Taylor/SooToday)