Tony McQuail from Huron County seeking NDP Leadership

A Huron County farmer and longtime New Democrat, Tony McQuail is seeking the leadership position of the NDP.

According to McQuail, he is not hearing politicians address the issues that are concerning for the future of Canada.

“I see the symptoms of a collapsing ecosystem on my farm and a collapsing social system in the news,” said McQuail.

Planning to emphasize representation, regeneration, redistribution and redesign in his campaign, McQuail says Canada needs a truly representative democracy with a proportional electoral system.

McQuail explains that if Canada uses the first past the post voting system, the Greens and Progressives need to work together to offer voters a unified option and stop splitting the vote.

“At its best, democracy helps us find our collective wisdom, but for it to work, everyone has to be at the table,” McQuail explained.

“We need to regenerate the earth’s ability to heal and thrive, we need a redistributive system that is equitable. Our current economic and tax system has been very good at concentrating the wealth of society in a few hands.

“Finally, we need to redesign how we do things so that we use less energy and materials while creating more satisfaction and joy.”

After first running in the 1980 federal election, McQuail has also run seven times as a candidate for the NDP – five federally and twice provincially.

He served three terms as an elected trustee on the Huron County Board of Education during the 1980s.

McQuail also served as the executive assistant to the Hon. Elmer Buchanan, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in the early 1990s.

In addition to his political experience, McQuail and his wife Fran ran Meeting Place Organic Farm, a 100-acre regenerative farm, for over 40 years before selling it to their daughter.

He and his wife still live on the farm, helping with the farm and their grandkids.

McQuail’s application was submitted on August 28 and must be vetted before he can proceed with the application process.

Part of the process is paying the NDP $125,000 raised from supporters and getting a minimum of 500 signatures to nominate him as a candidate for leadership.

For more information contact McQuail: tonymcquailgreenprogressive@gmail.com