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UPDATE: Liberals rally troops in Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge

Sophie Gregoire Trudeau stops in at campaign office

Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, spouse of Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, stopped in at Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge candidate Dan Ruimy’s campaign headquarters Wednesday to rally the troops.

She then stopped by at the Pathfinder Youth Centre Society and talked with about 30 youth who were taking life skills and employment programs, as the national campaign enters its final weeks before the Oct. 21 vote.

Asked about the leader’s televised debate from Monday evening, Trudeau said she already knows the Liberal positions, and doesn’t watch.

“I don’t watch debates – I want to scratch the screen,” she said. “My responsibility is to be on the ground, with the people we’re listening to, and this is how we connect.”

She said in the decade she has been involved in politics, it has become too personal.

“It is, actually, and I think we should be careful with that,” she said. “I don’t think it’s a responsible thing to bring the personal attacks into the political sphere.

“I think we should be able to use the knowledge, facts and healthy debate to keep the conversation alive and growing for Canadians. It could be a waste of wisdom and of unity when we focus on personal attacks, and things like that.”

READ ALSO: Federal election: Six in race for Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge riding

A member of candidate Dan Ruimy’s campaign team asked when she will jump into politics.

“I kind of already am, although I’m not a politician,” she said. “I’m using the platform, even though I don’t have an official role in Canada, I’m out there and doing as much as I can, giving speeches on self esteem, eating disorders, mental health, physical activity in girls, equality, equity… I’m very active.”

“I will never stop to fight for social justice.”

She also spoke about the Liberal platform on the environment, saying “The Liberal Party is not a pipeline builder,” adding a pipeline is the safest way to transport resources to market.

“We have a vision for Canada, to transition from where we are, and old structures, to a new green economy, which is the future, which is starting now,” she told the Liberal workers, explaining the pipeline profits will go to transitioning to green energy.

Trudeau talked to the Pathfinder students about her own battles with an eating disorder, and told them dealing with trauma and difficulties can be a gift, because it shows people what they are made of.

Ruimy said he had the option of bringing Trudeau door knocking, but chose to her to the Pathfinder’s class.

“It’s dealing with youth at risk, and we have too many who fall through the cracks,” he said. “If we want to stop homelessness, start here. Stop them from filling up the pipeline.

“They’re the future doctors and lawyers and teachers.”


 

@NeilCorbett18
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Sophie Gregoire Trudeau visited Pathfinder Youth Centre Society in Maple Ridge. (Neil Corbett/THE NEWS)
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Neil Corbett

About the Author: Neil Corbett

I have been a journalist for more than 30 years, the past decade with the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News.
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