Andre is one of those activists and workers in the NDP that I have known for years. We’ve always encountered each other in the battles for social justice and progressive change in and around Toronto. Where we first crossed paths was in student politics at the University of Toronto. Both he and I have been very involved in the fight for justice for students and access to education.
Both of us make the connection between post-secondary education and national politics. Post-secondary education is a national issue because it affects the shape of the work and discourse happening in communities. Access to education is a fundamental requirement in the creation of a just and equitable Canada. Throw in access to education for underserved communities and you start to transformationally change cycles of poverty, build people who uplift their communities, and build a society that keeps moving forward.
I look forward to working with Andre in fighting for a better Canada and advocating for students, domestic and international.