With the federal election underway, the major parties have all announced their candidates in the Nanaimo-Alberni riding.
The latest hopeful to throw her hat into the ring is Liberal candidate Renée Miller.
A criminal defence lawyer, Miller has been in private practice as a criminal defence lawyer for the past four years on Vancouver Island, spending many hours in courts from Victoria to Nanaimo to Port Alberni.
Miller didn’t waste any time after getting the green light for her nomination, attacking the Conservative position on criminal justice in Canada, arguing the Tory prison plan will not address the underlying problems of criminal behaviour, while costing taxpayers billions.
“Building larger prisons will not make Canadians safer,” she said.
“If we want to make meaningful change in the justice system, we need to properly address rehabilitation so we can actually break the vicious cycle of criminal offences. If Canadians are serious about getting tough on crime, we need to invest in early childhood education and supporting children at-risk.”
Miller said she understands that many voters in Nanaimo-Alberni feel their voices are not being heard.
She said she also understands their frustration with the Harper government’s deliberate and systematic undermining of Canadian democratic values through prorogation, misleading Parliament and the bending of the election laws.
“We are thrilled to present a candidate of Renée Miller’s obvious merit to voters in our riding,” said Bill Stewart, President of the Nanaimo-Alberni Liberal riding association and Miller’s campaign manager. said. She is a breath of fresh air in every sense, and we look forward to a campaign which will afford voters a chance to meet this young outstanding Canadian.”
Also running in the riding are incumbent Conservative James Lunney, Green Myron Jespersen and the NDP’s Zeni Maartman.