The lone independent candidate in Cape Breton-Canso says party politics have left the riding behind.
Michelle Dockrill says she’s running as an independent so she can focus on her constituents, and not worry about what party members want.
Dockrill represented the region before, holding the seat as the NDP MP for Bras d’Or-Cape Breton between 1997 and 2000.
She says that experience left her disillusioned with the party system.
Dockrill tells The Hawk independent candidates are better able to represent their constituents than party politicians.
“Being an independent gives an individual freedom- freedom to work with whoever the party (in power) is,” she says. “The party structure has become so far removed from the real important component, which is the electorate.”
Dockrill says only an independent candidate can properly represent the interests of their constituents.
She says there’s opportunity for independent candidates in this election.
“I think it looks like we’re going to be a minority government,” she says. “I think that independents are going to be able to play a key role in that kind of a parliament.”
Dockrill says independents have more power than most people give them credit for, and that’s especially true in a minority government.
