NDP leadership candidate, Mike Farnworth, will be in Prince Rupert for three hours on Tuesday. He will be the first of the NDP candidates to come to and meet with local party members.
Farnworth is currently the MLA for Port Coquitlam and is the Opposition house leader. He entered politics in 1984 when he ran to become a Port Coquitlam city councilor at the age of 24. He has also worked in the private sector for the railroad and mining industries.
According to his website, his leadership platform consists of job creation through rural an natural resource development, and green technology investment; protecting the environment out of economic and moral considerations; promising to tackle big issues such as transport safety; and strengthening public services.
When Farnworth announced his candidacy on Janurary 13, declared publically that he is an openly gay man and has been in a happy relationship with his partner, Doug, for 22 years. He said he felt because he was running for party leader, he needed to say so publicly. Even though it was never a secret.
If NDP members elect him as their leader, he will be the first openly gay leader of a provincial party in Canadian history. If he were to win the next election, he would be the first openly gay premier.
The schedule for Farnworth’s Prince Rupert stop has not been finalized yet. Check back with The Northern View for more information.