Agree or disagree with her politics, Niki Ashton is certainly a prominent voice for northern Manitoba.
The two-term Churchill MP is among Ottawa’s more recognizable opposition politicians, regularly appearing in the pages of Maclean’s magazine and the Winnipeg Free Press.
In 2012, Maclean’s named her the Canadian MP who best represents her constituents. The Huffington Post, a left-leaning news website, calls Ashton “a strong voice for equality in Parliament.”
But Ashton has also faced criticism from within and outside of her party.
NDP hard-liners were disillusioned by her vote to abolish the long-gun registry, though she later changed her mind when a registry-ending bill also required that some firearm ownership records be destroyed.
For others, Ashton is prone to needless pessimism. When she declared on International Women’s Day in 2010 that “Canada’s women have nothing to celebrate,” a Thompson Citizen editorial accused her of “bitterness” and “griping” motivated by a desire to find “a fresh reason to complain about the federal government.”
Regardless, Ashton, 32, may not be going anywhere anytime soon. In 2011 she won re-election with over half the popular vote, only the third time since 1965 that a Churchill MP had earned majority support.
The Reminder conducted an email interview with Ashton this week.
REMINDER: If you were able to get $100 million in federal funding for Flin Flon tomorrow, how would you spend it?
ASHTON: First off, it would be great to see the federal government commit significant resources toward our communities’ needs. Sadly, the federal government has cut funding or simply removed itself from various issues affecting our communities, from housing to post-secondary education to healthcare. We need the federal government to be a willing partner in improving our communities.
Whatever the investment, the priorities as set by the people of Flin Flon ought to guide the way the way forward. As the MP, I have heard of the need for investment in affordable housing for seniors. I have heard of the need for expanded recreation services. The people of Flin Flon have also made clear the need to invest in economic diversification in order to ensure a range of economic opportunities exist going forward. This is something in which local leaders and all levels of government can take part.
REMINDER: A major health care concern among Flin Flonners is the relatively brief amount of time many physicians spend in the community before moving on. Is there a solution to this concern or is it simply a fact of life in a rural community such as ours?
ASHTON: Health care is the number one issue for many Canadians. One of the most important aspects of our system is having access to a family doctor. For many of us living in the North and in rural areas, it is difficult to have access to a doctor for too long, as many choose to move on. This is an issue in northern and rural regions across the country.
I believe that while there is no quick fix, we can work on various levels to help shift this trend. First of all, we must look at innovative ways of getting more northern youth into medicine. We know that there is a greater probability that someone from the North will return to practise in the North and encourage others to do so, too.
We could also implement the national strategy proposed previously by the NDP where we looked at incentives in terms of bursaries and tax credits for those that choose to work in the North and in rural areas. We could learn from other regions to see what has worked – and how we can continue to attract physicians and other medical professionals to our region.
REMINDER: You opposed the First Nations Financial Transparency Act, which allows First Nations people across Canada to go online and learn how much their chiefs and band councillors earn. What’s the downside of giving these individuals easy online access to this information?
ASHTON: The NDP supports accountability for all levels of government. Unfortunately, the bill presented by the federal government was not the answer to enhancing transparency for anyone.
Many First Nations work hard with what they have to provide all important information to their members, and they must be supported in doing so. I am concerned by the Harper government’s repeated and chronic underfunding of key priorities on First Nations such as education, housing and health care, among others.
REMINDER: Last December, your leader, Tom Mulcair, vowed that an NDP government would create a program “that allows the police to track every gun in Canada.” He characterized this idea as different from the now-defunct long-gun registry, though not everyone understood the variation. Do you want the police to track every firearm in Canada? Why or why not?
ASHTON: The NDP does not support bringing back a long-gun registry. As the MP for Churchill I have been clear about our region’s position and our province’s opposition to a long-gun registry.
Beyond this I must express my concern about the Harper government’s desire to ease access to weapons that are not necessary for hunting and trapping.
Thankfully, their reckless bill was abandoned following the shooting in Parliament earlier this fall. We must continue to respect the lifestyles of northern and Aboriginal people while continuing to make our communities safe.
REMINDER: First Nations issues are dear to your heart. Many politicians cite jobs and economic opportunity as the best solution to First Nations woes such as poverty and substance abuse. Is that a simplistic approach?
ASHTON: First Nations struggle with the worst living conditions in our country. These conditions are a result of the history of colonialism and systemic discrimination evident in government policy past and present that in turn has permeated First Nations peoples’ daily lives.
Canada needs to rebuild its relationship with First Nations, to one founded on respect and trust. We must also look to the bold leadership that many First Nations are showing on a daily basis and seek to partner with First Nations and support the good work that is taking place.
There is no question that we must also address the chronic underfunding of education, healthcare and housing on First Nations. It is unacceptable that a child going to school on a First Nation receives up to two-thirds less support for her or his education than a child off reserve.
Many Indigenous Canadians, many non-Indigenous Canadians and increasingly many people around the world are saying that Canada must do much better.
REMINDER: Liberal leader Justin Trudeau wants to legalize marijuana. Your leader, Tom Mulcair, has stopped short of making that same promise. Where do you stand on the issue and why?
ASHTON: I support our party position on marijuana. I appreciate that a growing number of Canadians are looking to their federal leaders for new ideas on this front.
REMINDER: Name your favourite TV show, movie and song.
ASHTON: I do like This Hour Has 22 Minutes – nothing like laughing at fellow politicians, or yourself! A movie that I watched recently and found to be powerful and inspiring was Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. And I like listening to music by A Tribe Called Red, my cousin’s band Fish and Bird, and of course any Flin Flon performer – because they are all so talented!
The second part of this interview will appear Friday.
