Badawey to run for Liberals again in 2019
The next federal election might still be a year away, but candidates are already getting into election mode, including in Welland where Liberal MP Vance Badawey was given the nod to carry the red banner again in 2019.
Badawey flipped the Niagara Centre riding in 2015 back to the Liberals after nearly eight years of NDP control. At a “Team Trudeau” event in Welland on Thursday night, Badawey’s status as the Liberal candidate was confirmed after an uncontested nomination process. At his nomination party, he was introduced by fellow Liberal MP, Chrystia Freeland, who is also the country’s current minister of foreign affairs.
“The last time I was in Welland, it was to talk about the GE plant, and now I’m back and it’s really there, you guys are really doing it,” said Freeland.
Next year, Freeland will be running again in the downtown Toronto riding of University Rose dale. She said Badawey is the right man for the job in Niagara Centre.
“I want to see Justin Trudeau elected as prime minister again next year, but I think that only happens if everyone in this room works very hard,” said Freeland to a crowd of about 200 Liberal supporters gathered at Eglise Sacre-Coeur during the Thursday night snowstorm.
For his part, Badawey said he was pleased to be selected to carry the Liberal banner again next year, and was honoured to have a “rockstar” like Freeland speak at his nomination event.
“I started this journey three years ago, because I felt the Conservatives were taking our country in the wrong direction,” said Badawey.
“And since then, I’m proud to say I’ve been a part of a Liberal team that has improved life for all Canadians.”
Voters across the country will go to the polls for the next federal election on Oct. 21, 2019.