In Quispamsis, the Greens will run a rookie candidate with some political experience.
Addison Fach has a history with the party, after being campaign manager for Tim Thompson in Fundy Royal during the 2019 federal election, and working on Courtney Howard’s campaign to become the leader of the federal Green Party.
He says the biggest issue for him in the 2020 campaign is how the province will rebuild its economy after the economic downturn from COVID-19.
“We have a massive opportunity here to rebuild our economy in a way that’s sustainable and self-sufficient,” Fach said.
He’d like the province to look to long-term energy and infrastructure projects. In particular, he cites the lack of strong transit infrastructure which means most New Brunswickers are required to own vehicles.
Fach’s opponent in the Progressive Conservative Party incumbent premier Blaine Higgs turned down federal funding for transit projects, a move Fach calls ‘irresponsible.’
“We’re going to need other options, so we might as well start using that money and that funding,” he said.
Fach was attracted to the Green Party because of its priority on the environment, however, he thinks there’s a misconception that it’s just a single-issue party.
“(People think) we just want this pie-in-the-sky, idealistic thing,” he said. “But really when you read the platform it’s fiscally responsible and practical.”
He says the platform deals with issues that ‘need to get done,’ including the immediate impacts of COVID-19, climate change, and long-term food security.
Since Fach is running in a riding that is home to the incumbent premier, he says he knows his candidacy is a long shot. But, he says it was important to him to show Quispamsis youth that they can get involved in politics at a young age.
In fact, Fach is one of two students running in the Quispamsis riding this election, along with NDP candidate Cait Grogan.
He believes that sends a strong message to the New Brunswick youth.
“Not only can you get engaged in politics, but you need to get engaged,” he said. “We’ve seen from COVID, your vote matters. Young people getting engaged is going to turn the tide on Canadian politics and make that change happen.”
