The word “communism” may carry a negative connotation in many circles, but Esquimalt-Metchosin candidate Tyson Strandlund, running for the Communist Party of BC, hopes to change that.
“I could have chose an easier party to run for, for sure, but I think it’s largely what we do as communists. We try and give people an idea of what communism’s really about and what we as socialists are about,” he said.
Strandlund, who ran for the federal Communist Party in the 2015 election in the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke riding, is an advocate for universal post-secondary education, electoral reform and a $20/hour minimum wage.
People often ask him how all of these programs will be paid for, but Strandlund said it’s as simple as raising the corporate tax rate to pre-2001 levels.
The 24-year-old University of Victoria student will graduate this spring with a Bachelor of Arts in European history and Slavic studies and has previously served as an organizer for the local Young Communist League.
He said he plans to attend candidate forums and debates prior to the May 9 election.
Strandlund enters a crowded field in the race to replace retiring NDP MLA Maureen Karagianis, which includes NDP candidate Mitzi Dean, Liberal candidate Barb Desjardins and Andy MacKinnon for the B.C. Greens.
Dean currently serves as the executive director for the Pacific Centre Family Services Association. Desjardins is a three-term mayor for Esquimalt, while MacKinnon has served on Metchosin council since 2014.
joel.tansey@goldstreamgazette.com