Social justice means that everyone has equal access to opportunities to thrive and resources to live in safety and dignity. This means equitable access to housing, healthcare, justice, economic opportunity and security. We must defend the hard-won rights fought for by generations of activists, such as women and pregnant people’s reproductive choice and freedom. We must fight and eradicate the social stigmas faced by marginalized people, such as people who are part of the LBGTQ community, people who belong to gender minorities, people who live in poverty or people who struggle with substance use disorders. We must address systemic barriers that continue the perpetuation of colonialism, racism, ableism, ageism, misogyny, and all forms of oppression.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh always says that “when we lift each other up, we all rise.”
Nowhere is this statement more evident than in the riding of Vancouver East. The diversity and commitment to social justice of this riding attracts many of the country’s most innovative, creative, progressive and compassionate people to make Van East the place to work, to create art, to look for community, and to call home. Van East is living proof that by working to create a place that is safe for, and inclusive of the most vulnerable and marginalized people in our community, we create an incredible place where so many people want to live.
CBC News VIDEO: B.C.'s majority female legislature brings back memories of 1991 election's record-breaking moment
B.C. voters have elected a majority female legislature for the first time in the province's history, with 49 of 93 legislative seats now occupied by women. It's a big step forward from 1991, when a then record-breaking seven female cabinet ministers were appointed. We talked to BC NDP MLA Jenny Kwan who spent 19 years as the representative for what was then known as Vancouver Mount Pleasant. She's now the MP for Vancouver East. We asked her what she makes of the majority-female legislature, and her time in the chamber.
