Orange signs with Konstantine Malakos’ name on them will appear throughout the Glengarry-Prescott and Russell riding during the upcoming federal election campaign.
Malakos was acclaimed as the New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate at a meeting held in Hawkesbury on April 11.
The meeting was short as only six people attended, but the candidate’s passion was undiminished.
Malakos criticized what he called a growing gap between rich and poor Canadians and said the wealthy are getting away with not paying a fair share of taxes—or are paying no taxes at all due to loopholes and tax havens.
“As your MP, I would be a champion of supply management,” he said in reference to dairy, poultry, and egg production.
Malakos blasted “corporate welfare,” and referred specifically to Loblaws recently receiving $12 million in federal funding to upgrade supermarket freezers.
“I want to meet every voter in this riding,” said Malakos, who plans to start knocking on doors right away.
Interim NDP riding association president Bonnie Jean-Louis said they wanted to have a candidate in place before the campaign begins this fall.
Malakos does not live in Glengarry-Prescott-Russell. He lives just across the provincial boundary near Ste-Justine-de-Newton.
However, he did not see that as something that should be a barrier to his prospects at the polls. He explained that most of his social and weekly business activities happen in North Glengarry and that he feels much more connected to the riding than the one where he actually lives.
“I live eight kilometres from Glen Robertson, Ontario,” Malakos said.
The NDP candidate will be running against incumbent Liberal MP Francis Drouin and Conservative candidate Pierre Lemieux.
