Don Davies, the Director of Legal Resources for
Teamsters Local Union No. 31, has entered the race to replace
David Emerson as the Member of Parliament in Vancouver-Kingsway.
Davies, a father of three with an extensive background
in labour and social justice issues, said his main priorities
in seeking the NDP nomination are to protect, strengthen and
expand the health care system, bring the federal government into
the affordable housing debate, and restore integrity to the political
process.
“David Emerson betrayed the voters
of Vancouver-Kingsway and the most fundamental values of democracy. He
thought the “King” in Kingsway made him a monarch,” Davies
said. “I want to put the “constituent” back
in Constituency, and restore the essence of what a representative
should be: a voice that reflects the will of the people, and
not the other way around.”
Davies said free dental care and affordable housing
are two major initiatives he will pursue in parliament.
“Canadians should receive dental care the
same way they receive doctors’ services. Why do we have
free health care for most of the body, but carve out an area
in your mouth and say that’s not part of health care? No
person should be denied dental care because they can’t
afford it.
“And affordable housing is a basic human
right for everyone. In a society as wealthy as ours, we
should be able to ensure that we all live in decent housing at
all income levels,” Davies stated.
Davies described the sprawling riding, which stretches
from Boundary Road to Oak Street, as a microcosm of Canada, with
tremendous ethnic diversity, a strong working class tradition
and proud history of electing effective NDP politicians both
federally and provincially.
After being admitted to the Alberta Bar in 1989,
Davies served as executive assistant to former Alberta NDP leader
Ray Martin. He moved to B.C. in 1991. He is currently co-chair
of the Parent Advisory Council for Mount Pleasant Elementary
school, and serves on the board of directors of Composite Hall,
which provides community space for cultural functions, a day
care, and a church and respite centre for the local Filipino
and Burmese communities. He has been the Director of Legal
Resources for Teamsters Canada, Local 31, for the last 15 years.
The NDP nomination meeting for Vancouver-Kingsway
will be held in mid-March at a location to be announced.
