NEW GLASGOW, N.S. — With less than a week remaining before election day, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau made a brief stop in New Glasgow on Oct. 15.
In preparation for his arrival, a large section of Archimedes St. was shut down as a crowd came for a chance to get a signature or selfie.
More than 300 people were gathered both inside and out of the Coffee Bean café where Trudeau was scheduled to make his appearance at 3:15 p.m.
The Liberal leader started the day in Fredericton before stopping at Masstown Market. His next stop in New Glasgow was delayed, and Central Nova’s Liberal candidate and incumbent Sean Fraser got the crowd warmed up.
“The single tool you have that can implement the greatest social change in our country for the next four years is to go vote,” said Fraser, speaking to his supporters before Trudeau’s arrival.
With support for the Conservatives projected to be close behind the Liberals in Central Nova and a recent rise in the polls for the NDP, the election-day results for the riding are still up in the air.
“We expect to win a close election and we’re going to do it because we have enough people who show up in the middle of their work day to come out here,” said Fraser.
Among the red campaign signs in the crowd there could also be seen a black, red and white ‘No Pipe’.
“Politicians can’t represent you if they don’t know what you think,” said Terry Mosh Dunbrack, an active member of the Clean Up the Mill Facebook group.
Chief Andrea Paul of Pictou Landing First Nation, was also at the event and was among many people wearing red A’se’k shirts.
“We’re not satisfied with guesses and assumptions,” said Paul ahead of Trudeau's arrival. “We need to know exactly what’s going into the water.”
At a Q&A event in Merigomish on Oct. 9, Fraser said that he could not approve Northern Pulp’s plan for a treated effluent facility based on the current advice that he’s gotten from federal and provincial scientists.
“They do not have enough information to confirm that it is, in fact, safe,” he said. “I am interested in hearing what the federal scientists and provincial scientists have to say, and I am committed to being part of a government that abides by legal processes that considers facts, science and evidence when they are considering major projects.”
When Trudeau did arrive shortly after 4 p.m. there was little time for anything other than signatures and selfies with his supporters.
Between chants of ‘four more years’ supporters asked for photos which Trudeau obliged to as many people as possible before stepping back onto the bus and travelling to Halifax where he was scheduled for a rally at the end of the day.
