The Liberal Party’s positive campaign resonated with voters from coast to coast.
That’s the view of first-time candidate Sasha Ramnarine, who took second spot in New Westminster-Burnaby on election night. Ramnarine said Canadians rejected the “politics of fear” of the Harper Conservatives.
“It shows that we ran a very good, positive campaign, a lot of voters resonated with that,” he told the Record. “Our leader, Justin Trudeau, showed a very positive campaign and a campaign for real change.”
Other parties have attempted to run positive campaigns, but haven’t always met with success at the polls.
“A lot of people wanted a positive government, wanted a positive message,” Ramnarine said. “When we went door knocking, when we met people at events, people really liked the fact that our campaign and the national campaign led by Justin Trudeau was positive.”
While critics ran with a message that “he’s just not ready,” Ramnarine said Trudeau did an amazing job on the campaign trail.
“Clearly it shows tonight that a lot of people believe he’s ready,” Ramnarine said.
Ramnarine sat with about a dozen supporters at his constituency office to watch TV coverage showing the Liberals win a majority government in Ottawa. With 195 of 199 polls reporting, Ramnarine had 28.8 per cent of the votes in New Westminster-Burnaby, compared to Julian’s 43.7 per cent.
“Peter Julian has done a very good job here representing the people,” he said.
Ramnarine said he will continue to live in New West, work at his legal practice and do advocacy work.
“Four years from now you will likely see me again,” he said. “I plan to stay here and build.”
