John Fraser ran unsuccessfully for the Liberal Party in Pictou East in 2003, losing to Progressive Conservative Jim DeWolfe, and while he has long had a deep interest in politics, he says he doesn’t intend to be a career politician.
He’s added his name to the ballot again because of party loyalty, filling a void after the former candidate was removed from the campaign for what a Liberal Party statement called “inappropriate social media commentary.”
Fraser said he’s been running into former students while canvassing, having taught senior high for 15 years at East Pictou and 10 years at North Nova Education Centre. He’s having the time of his life, he said, as he hears from people he educated and others in the community.
“If you hang around positive, intelligent people, and I’ve been running into lots of them, it just sweetens your day. What a great experience. I’m very happy to be out here doing what I’m doing.”
When he has talked to former teaching colleagues, the reaction hasn’t necessarily been as positive. He said he understands the position of teachers during the recent contract dispute with the province, and said he doesn’t claim the situation was handled perfectly.
“I think having a former teacher putting their hat in the political arena is a good thing for both sides. I’ve been there; I understand the challenges. I understand the issues. I think I could probably embrace the middle ground,” he said. “…I think we have to do some peacemaking in order to get things get to a stage where teachers are comfortable doing the incredible job they’ve always done.”
The main issue Fraser said he’s hearing about during the campaign is health care. He notes the party’s plan for collaborative practice clinics and believes it will attract more doctors to the province. He also said his party has significant funds earmarked for mental health care and remarked on the pressing need in the province for that, especially in Pictou County.
Fraser said one thing that drives him is the fiscal challenge facing the province, adding he’s confident Liberal leader Stephen McNeil is on the right track.
