Alexa McDonough’s family helps NDP campaign in Halifax

Abbie McDonough told reporters on Saturday how she recalled the door to her late grandmother, former NDP leader Alexa McDonough.

With father Justin volunteered to work hard on this spring’s campaign, it’s for the 23-year-old to have a chance to connect with her grandmother in her former Halifax riding.

“I don’t usually mention it, but when we talk about the history of the New Democratic Party in Nova Scotia, it’s definitely hers [former MP] Megan Leslie,” she said.

“Be able to say, ‘Oh, this is actually my grandmother, and that’s fun for me.’ It’s nice to feel that her legacy does exist- because it’s so important.”

Alexa McDonough led the Federal New Democrats from 1995 to 2003 and served as a member of Halifax’s Congress from 1997 to 2008.

Before entering the federal government, she was elected the first woman to lead the New Democratic Party in the Nova Scotia province in 1980. When she first won a provincial seat in Halifax in 1981, she was the only woman and the only New Democrat in the provincial legislature.

She died in 2022 after a long struggle for what her family called Alzheimer’s disease.

Leslie succeeded McDonough as a member of Congress in Halifax, and served in the House of Commons from 2008 to 2015.

Former Nova Scotia MLA Lisa Roberts attempted to regain seats for the New Democrats in the elections this spring after the party was completely locked up in Atlantic Canada in the 2021 federal election.

Abbie McDonough and her father were evacuated by Roberts’ campaign office on Saturday afternoon, while New Democratic leader Jagmeet Singh’s travel bus stopped to facilitate the local campaign.

McDonald calls Roberts “a strong woman I look up to.”

Justin McDonough said he believes it is really important to have the NDP presence in Parliament.

When a reporter asked his mother about the impact on the current state of Canadian federal politics, he said he found things “a little discouraged, to be honest.”

“The highest call is to be a politician. I think it’s very important to understand the perfection of no one in society,” he said.

“In the past, it wasn’t that negative. I think it’s very important for the public to be a part of it, embracing politicians and trying to get society working together instead of … against each other.”

“Everything is fading”

Abbie has an incredible physical similarity with her grandmother, and he said that because of the internet, she was able to glimpse the political situation in her grandmother’s time.

“I think positivity is a key driver of many things in the world,” she said. “I think there needs to be more light, hope and focus on that, rather than tearing up … things and people.”

So will she join Ottawa’s growing list of second-generation politicians?

“I absolutely love to dip into my toes,” she said. “Never say it!” Maybe one day it will be offline. ”

Justin said his mother’s role model led the NDP through past challenges could be the inspiration for today’s new Democats, who may lose seats instead of gaining a seat in the sport.

“Everything is fading,” he said, suggesting that the New Democrats in the Halifax seat had a “legal opportunity.”

“You have to be able to have resilience and perseverance…I think our mothers show these traits. I think when Jagmeet does the best and some people are beyond anyone’s control.”