A former police officer who lost his leg after being struck by a vehicle at Victoriasa国际传媒檚 Ogden Point is running for the Peoplesa国际传媒檚 Party of Canada in the Saanich-Gulf Islands riding.
sa国际传媒淚 decided to run in this yearsa国际传媒檚 federal election simply because I cannot vote for the other options available,sa国际传媒� said Ron Broda on Facebook announcing his candidacy. Since sa国际传媒榥one of the abovesa国际传媒� was an option, Broda said he decided to offer himself as a sa国际传媒渧iable alternativesa国际传媒� for voters, who sa国际传媒渓ike me, donsa国际传媒檛 like the other choices.sa国际传媒�
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Broda said in a later interview that he used to be a Progressive Conservative, before becoming disillusioned with the party in eventually joined the Peoplesa国际传媒檚 Party of Canada under Maxime Bernier, who founded the party after losing the leadership contest for the Conservative Party of Canada. sa国际传媒淗is values and vision resonated with me,sa国际传媒� he said.
Broda said he is running with the goal to restore trust between the political class and the public. He also expressed frustration with the current political culture. sa国际传媒淧eople seem to take offence at the slightest things,sa国际传媒� he said, adding that he would like to see an sa国际传媒渙pen and honestsa国际传媒� discussion about the issues without the risk of being mis-labelled.
But he declined to give a specific example of a statement that politicians would not be allowed to air in the public.
He also defended Berniersa国际传媒檚 criticism of multi-culturalism. sa国际传媒淲e are all Canadians regardless of ethnic and religious backgrounds,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 a Canadian first and we should all be Canadians first,sa国际传媒� he said.
Broda is running against incumbent and federal Green Party leader Elizabeth May. sa国际传媒淚 donsa国际传媒檛 think she has considered all the evidence related to climate change,sa国际传媒� he said, pointing to what he calls a sa国际传媒渟ignificantsa国际传媒� amount of evidence that contradicts prevailing scientific views on the subject. sa国际传媒淐limate change is real,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淭here is no question about it.sa国际传媒� But if humans are having a effect, it is not clear if they bear full responsibility for it or if they are just one factor among many, he said. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 matter of degree.sa国际传媒�
Broda lost his leg in July 2013 after an SUV struck him while he was riding his motorcycle. Broda, who said he has no memory of the crash, later sued the driver of the SUV, claiming he had been deliberately struck. The driver received 60 days in jail and a driving prohibition of five years in October 2016, after being found guilty of dangerous driving causing bodily harm. In September 2017, a court upheld this sentence.
But thatsa国际传媒檚 not the only crash Broda has been involved in that has made headlines. In 2006, while driving an 18-wheeler, Broda struck a six-year-old walking on Blanshard Street. The collision left the boy with crushed legs and other injuries. Broda has publicly acknowledged the pain he has caused because of this incident.
According to his professional online profile, Broda currently works as a teacher and speaker, offering workshops, seminars, and other personal growth services.
Before this current career, Broda spent 14 years with the Vancouver Police Department, 14 years with the Saanich Police Department and seven years with the Canada Border Services Agency.
The events of 2013 loom large in Brodasa国际传媒檚 profile.
sa国际传媒淭hat experience drove home to me how precious and uncertain that life can be. I have a much greater appreciation for living each day to the fullest. I have a greater sense of urgency to accomplish what I am meant to with my life,sa国际传媒� he writes.
Also running in Saanichsa国际传媒揋ulf Islands are Liberal Ryan Windsor, Conservative David Bush, and New Democrat Sabina Singh.
wolfgang.depner@peninsulanewsreview.com
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