Collins intends to run for an NDP nomination to replace MP Murray Rankin

Coun. Laurel Collins intends to run for parliament to replace outgoing MP Murray Rankin (City of Victoria)

Victoria City Councillor Laurel Collins plans to run for parliament.

The newly instated councillor has only sat in her role for five months, but announced on Wednesday afternoon that she intends to seek NDP nomination for the riding of Victoria, replacing the outgoing MP Murray Rankin.

Rankin announced on Feb. 28 that he will not be seeking reelection after serving seven years in parliament.

READ MORE: Victoria MP Murray Rankin will not seek re-election

“I’m running for Parliament for many of the same reasons I ran for Victoria council, to tackle the housing crisis and the urgent climate crisis,” said Collins in a statement. “After decades of underfunding, I want a federal government that will support co-ops and affordable housing, a government that will support first time home buyers as well as seniors who want stay in their own homes.”

Collins said that a recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) prompted her to jump into federal politics.

ALSO READ: Victoria councillors want permanent residents to get municipal vote

“We need a Green New Deal for Canada. One that delivers substantial investments in manufacturing jobs, affordable and energy efficient housing, which brings us rapidly to a low carbon reality,” Collins said. “We can’t afford to wait. Now is the time to stand up for our communities and to stand up for our coast.”

Collins said she consulted with several MPs, including Murray Rankin, before making the decision.

“It’s a really difficult decision; I love being on city council, I love policy work and love constituency work,” she said.

Collins will continue her work on city council throughout her campaign. So far she has received positive feedback from other city councillors on her decision. In addition to working as a city councillor, Collins teaches social justice and social inequalities at the University of Victoria.

The NDP has not yet scheduled a nomination meeting.

nicole.crescenzi@vicnews.com

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