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Vic Thapar seeking to represent Liberals in Dufferin-Caledon

April 18, 2019   ·   0 Comments

By Joshua Santos

Vic Thapar is seeking the Dufferin-Caledon Liberal Party nomination in the fall federal election. 

“Our issues and concerns are not being raised in Ottawa by our long-time federal representative (MP David Tilson),” Mr. Thapar said. “He has not focused on Dufferin-Caledon.”

An unsuccessful candidate for Orangeville Council in last October’s election who nonetheless got 1,490 votes, Mr. Thapar said that during the campaign he discussed with residents their concerns about all levels of government. 

“They don’t see you running for council,” he said. “They talked about everything.”

He says he is still in the vetting process to run as a candidate but has no problem voicing his support for the Liberal Party.

Mr. Thapar said the Liberals are the only party that represents every person and cares about the quality of life, fairness and making families and health care a priority.

“This party represents the middle class and lower-class people, which we mostly are,” he said. “I believe this is the time to make a change and make things happen.”

He did not shy away from discussing the Conservatives, saying they represent the business and high class community.

A native of India, where he received a medical degree, he worked as a general physician there, but is not licensed to work in Canada. 

He previously worked with the Government of Alberta in their department of employment and immigration. 

As a department supervisor for Home Depot in Orangeville, he said he talks to all kinds of people who discuss a wide range of issues. He said he has always wanted to help people by representing Dufferin-Caledon properly.

He said residents discussed the idea of mandatory mental health services for all Canadians, enhanced veteran affairs programs and more daycare facilities and help for those fleeing persecution from other countries.

The candidate says his work with Liberal candidate Bob Gordanier in last fall’s provincial election campaign was a good opportunity for him to understand the Liberal Party. 

“I knew Bob since, I’ll say about 2013, and I have been in touch with him,” he said. “When the election came, I was fully dedicated with him. I went door-to-door campaigning and advocating for him.

Mr. Thapar said he would represent Dufferin-Caledon well because he is very outspoken, 

“If you bring any concerns to me or any issues you’re facing, I will never be afraid to put them on the table,” he said. “Whatever the concerns are, how much help I can be, I always bring them to the table so as a whole unit, we can discuss what can be done and what we can do for our people of Dufferin-Caledon.”

Although a nomination meeting to select a candidate has not been announced by the Dufferin-Caledon Liberal Riding Association, Michele Fisher, president of the Rotary Club of Orangeville Highlands, has also announced her candidacy and former Shelburne mayor Ed Crewson, who represented the party and placed a strong second to Mr. Tilson in 2015, with 23,643 votes to the winner’s 27,977 has yet to indicate his intentions.

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