The federal by-election in Cumberland Colchester Musquodoboit Valley (CCMV) is over and it must have been the generous outpouring of support from our CHP supporters from across Canada that made it an event like no other that I have ever experienced.
I always run to win, and run we did indeed. Every member of our campaign team was focused to the task at hand, worked long hours and was stretched physically, mentally and spiritually. Much of our encouragement to stay on course came from so many supporters across Canada participating throughout the campaign.
Even what some may consider a small contribution reaped big rewards. The CHP was virtually unknown to most of the constituents of CCMV. Therefore, we needed a team of supporters to make phone calls to my electoral district to let the constituents know about the CHP and my candidacy.
About sixty-five CHP volunteers from across Canada agreed to join this team. One of our telephone team members in Saskatchewan called a lady in Wallace, Nova Scotia, to explain to her about the CHP leader and our party platform. After hearing that she had a CHP candidate, this Wallace constituent contacted our campaign office to request to have one of my large election signs placed on her lawn-to replace the small sign of another party, already there. A few days later, when we arrived to put up our sign, the lady had already contacted another friend to tell her of my candidacy and this lady also asked for one of our large signs on her lawn. These two families then attended the local ‘All Candidates Debate’ to support the CHP.
This is the power of just one phone call! Such a small thing can make a big difference.
I knocked on nearly a thousand doors and many people told me of the phone call they had already received from somewhere in Canada—that alone impressed many.
Only a very few in Cumberland Colchester Musquodoboit Valley remember back to the early 90′s when we last ran a CHP candidate. To everyone else, we were virtually a brand new party. Yet, in only thirty five days, seven hundred and seventy eight voters decided that CHP Canada was worthy of their vote, and many more could not get out to vote.
I am grateful to everyone for every effort you made. Much ground work has been achieved to establish a strong CHP foundation in this electoral district and others in Nova Scotia.
I received a phone call the day before voting from a first time CHP voter who told me: “Jim, regardless the outcome tomorrow, you did more good for Canada in 35 days than Parliament has done in a year. Thank you for running.”
I, in turn, thank you. Someday, the Lord willing, an electoral district in Canada will have the privilege of electing a CHP Member of Parliament. And when they do, they will have at their disposal the best national executive and political party this nation has to offer.