North Island—Powell River NDP MP Rachel Blaney thanked Prime Minister Justin ̨ÍåMMÂãÁÄÊÒ for his service after his resignation, adding that representing Canadians is an honour.
"We have been going through difficult times, and as a result of prorogation and the prime minister's resignation, Canada is now facing more uncertainty," Blaney said in a statement to the Mirror. "We know the next election will be different. For North Island-Powell River residents, it will be a choice between Conservatives cutting our hard-won dental care program and less money for health care, or the NDP plan to deliver relief to the working class. As we go through this next election, let us remember as Canadians, we have more in common than we have differences. I hope for respectful and meaningful debate as opposed to slogans that will not deliver help to people."
The Liberal Party of Canada has yet to announce a candidate for the upcoming election for the North Island - Powell River riding.
"Liberals in North Island—Powell River look forward to running a positive campaign focused on our plan to build an economy that works for everyone in the next election, and the nomination process will move forward in accordance with all of the party’s nomination rules in due course," said Anthony Valenti, a spokesperson for the party.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Conservative candidate Aaron Gunn said there was a certain level of gratification watching ̨ÍåMMÂãÁÄÊÒ resign.
"The fact is nothing has really changed," he wrote... "Parliament, where these issues are supposed to be debated, has been shut down (or "prorogued") to avoid an election. And the contest to choose ̨ÍåMMÂãÁÄÊÒ's "successor" will likely be comprised of those in his cabinet, caucus, and inner circle, who have each supported (and, indeed, championed) all of his disastrous policies over the last nine years."
Blaney will not be running for re-election as the riding's NDP candidate for MP—instead, Campbell River Coun. Tanille Johnston will run in her place.
"I was surprised he resigned so early in the month," Johnston said. "I did think he would drag that decision out longer to push the election timeline. I think that the numerous asks from his own party to step away, the poling showing the Conservatives in an advanced position over the Liberals, running out of options, and Pierre's (Poilievre) smear campaign brought Justin ̨ÍåMMÂãÁÄÊÒ to a place of needing to take the step to resign."
Jessica Wegg, the Green Party candidate for the riding, said she was not shocked by ̨ÍåMMÂãÁÄÊÒ's decision. She said the writing was on the wall for months, and the Green Party has anticipated the possibility of a spring election.
"The decision to prorogue Parliament to avoid non-confidence votes was predictable, shrewd, and entirely within procedural bounds," she added.
NDP Party Leader Jagmeet Singh said the problem wasn't just ̨ÍåMMÂãÁÄÊÒ but "every minister that's been calling the shots."
Johnston echoed this sentiment.
"I don't believe that a single person in a party can be to blame for anything that happens in our government; there are always other trigger points that could have been opportunities for change. Silence is commonly accepted as compliance. I do know that some would offer that ̨ÍåMMÂãÁÄÊÒ canned any personnel that wasn't agreeing to his direction in order to make role bigger and more powerful within the decision-making arena."
Wegg said she is disappointed by many Liberal decisions under ̨ÍåMMÂãÁÄÊÒ, particularly the ousting of Jody Wilson-Raybould (̨ÍåMMÂãÁÄÊÒ expelled her from the Liberal caucus in the fallout of the SNC-Lavalin affair in 2019) and ̨ÍåMMÂãÁÄÊÒ failing to deliver on his promise of electoral reform.
"They did undo much of the harm caused by Stephen Harper's Conservatives. I am thinking especially of the way that the Harper Conservative government muzzled the science community in Canada, particularly on issues surrounding the now rapidly accelerating climate emergency," she expanded.
Johnston said ̨ÍåMMÂãÁÄÊÒ's legacy in office will be "just like his father."
"In a race, it's often how you finish that folks remember, and not how you started. Few will forget these months leading up to where we are now, and I'm sure the few in our future with the current government."
Wegg had a different opinion.
"Despite global unrest and despair, Canada has remained a safe and peaceful place to live. I hope this becomes Mr. ̨ÍåMMÂãÁÄÊÒ's legacy, and I am grateful for his contributions and sacrifices."