HSA Members Stepping Forward
By Karl Riley
Here at HSA, we know how committed our members are to their communities. Whether it’s in acute care, community health, or social services, our members are on the front lines every day making life better for people and ensuring they have access to the services they count on.
So it’s not surprising that two of our very own HSA members will be running in the upcoming federal election, which will be held September 20.
Laura Dupont is a Program Administrator at SHARE Family and Community Services in Coquitlam, as well as a City Councilor in Port Coquitlam. She will be running with Jagmeet Singh and the NDP in the riding of Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam.
Sonia Andhi, a social worker and mental health liaison at Delta Hospital and in the community, will be running in the riding of Surrey Centre, also for the NDP.
Andhi says that working in health care is incredibly rewarding, but that there are also real challenges. “We need a federal government that invests in healthcare. Canada is the only major country with a public healthcare system that doesn’t cover prescription drugs. Jagmeet Singh and the NDP have a real plan for Canadians including one for a truly public pharmacare system so people don’t have to choose between prescriptions and paying rent.”
For her part, Dupont says that she decided to run with the NDP because they are the only party that shares her commitment to making life better for working people. It’s this commitment that pushed her to start working at SHARE almost ten years ago. “When you help people in your community get the support they need, it’s a very rewarding experience. Right now I see our federal government working only for the wealthy and the well-connected. But Jagmeet Singh and the NDP are actually working for regular Canadians like you and me. I’m proud to be a part of that team.”
As active union members, both said they think it’s important that unions and their members get involved in politics.
Dupont told us she’s proud of what the labour movement has accomplished here in Canada, but that there’s still much more to do. “If it wasn’t for unions, working people wouldn’t get a fair shake. But we need to fight not just for ourselves, but for everyone in Canada, especially people from historically marginalized groups like the BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ communities.”
Andhi agrees. “Unions and union members can bring about real change when they get involved in the political process. The HSA has done amazing work advocating for paid sick leave and a public pharmacare system. These are things that will make a real difference in people’s lives and I am proud to say that my union supports them.”
Like Dupont and Andhi, HSA members all across our province work hard every day to make a real difference in people’s lives. They deliver services that families count on. This shared commitment and dedication to one’s community is what makes our union strong and the people in it so special.
To learn more about their campaigns, including information on how to get involved, you can visit their websites: