Simcoe North federal Green Party Candidate kicked off her campaign at Little Lake Park in Midland this evening. A few dozen Green supporters showed up in person and several more attended remotely to meet Krystal; sign up to volunteer; donate to the campaign and socialise in a socially distanced event to mark the start of what is bound to be an interesting race.
For her first time as candidate, Krystal got the chance to address her party and let them know who she is and what her priorities are.
A transcript of her speech is provided below:
Aaniin, biiwaabik Nibi Kwe Ddizhnikaaz. Rama Mnjikaning nidoonjibaa.
Hello, my spirit name is Still Water Woman and I am a Chippewas of Rama First Nation. I am known best as Krystal Brooks and I take pride in both of the names I carry.
Prior to standing before you as your official Simcoe North federal candidate for the Green Party of Canada, I dedicated my time and energies to advocacy. I have been a strong advocate for the environment, mental health, addictions, the housing crisis and Indigenous issues such as; Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls And LGBTQ2S, the continuation of residential schools through the judicial system and child welfare, treaty violations, human trafficking, and much more.
I am deeply dedicated to raising awareness on each of these things because each of them have impacted my life. I am a survivor of the child welfare system, human trafficking and colonial violence. I have experienced mental health, addictions, homelessness and many other obstacles. I am, quite literally, the people I mean to represent in Ottawa.
My ability to relate to so many different walks of life through my personal experiences, compassion and understanding are what make me an ideal candidate. My resiliency, accountability and determination are what will make me an ideal member of parliament. I hold myself to the very standards I will demand from our elected officials. In Ottawa, I would ensure your voices are being heard. Under the current liberal government, the voices of those who are facing marginalization, discrimination, oppression and injustices are not being heard.
I stand before you as your Green Party candidate but, also as someone who has faced these things head on. My face is one of the many faces that the government chooses to turn away from. My voice is one of the many voices that the government chooses to silence and ignore. I have stood before our Prime Minister at the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Woman and Girls Inquiry as a survivor and he didn’t dare look me in the eye.
I challenge the constituents of Simcoe North to look me in the eye. Be brave, be bold like our Prime Minister couldn’t. Look me in the eye and see all the faces I represent. I, and those I represent shouldn’t be the ones to make you uncomfortable. You should be uncomfortable by the fact that we are governed by a Prime Minister that, not only has proven unable and unwilling to act on behalf of societies most vulnerable, as well as the middle class citizens but, also by the fact that he seems to shy away from difficulty.
The climate emergency is difficult to address but, we need strong climate action to face this issue head on. The housing crisis and homelessness are difficult issues but, we need viable solutions to make housing more adequate and affordable. The war on drugs is difficult but, we need appropriate and effective measures put in place to prevent our loved ones from leaving us too soon. Truth and Reconciliation is difficult but, we need to move forward and the reluctance to create a safe place for Indigenous people has been so neglected as Justin Trudeau continues to ignore Indigenous people and even spends millions of dollars fighting residential school survivors in court. So many important, ongoing and worsening issues here in Canada are difficult.
The Prime Minister made many promises. I have kept him to each of those words and I find myself feeling like many Canadians; angry and ready for a change in representation. Personally, I do not want a Prime Minister in office who can’t keep his word to Canadians. I want a Prime Minister who has the respect and nerve to look an Indigenous person in the eye when their government has wronged them and their people and allow that space for positive change. Canadians and Indigenous people are no longer accepting lip service. We want action.
Here in Simcoe North, we have been blessed with a wonderful representative. Bruce Stanton is not seeking re-election and he is leaving behind a set of very big shoes to fill. I am uniquely situated to fill the gap he is leaving behind. If elected, I will represent the constituents of Simcoe North with the same level of pride and love I give to those I am surrounded by. I will represent you, the people of Simcoe North first and foremost, my party second.
I am, what many would call, a system failure. In reality, I am a system failure succeeding in challenging the very system that has failed me and my family and continues to fail countless others each and everyday. I will continue to challenge these systems no matter who is elected. This election is offering five very diverse candidates, all ready and willing to fight for you. My hope in this election is that voters vote for change and consider voting for someone who represents the damage a cracked system can create when a reluctance for change is allowed to manifest. Make space for change in this upcoming election. I will fight for you and with you. I have been given an opportunity to be a voice for many who are voiceless right now and I fully intend to use my voice to ensure yours is being heard as well. My name will be on the ballot but, make no mistake, you aren’t voting for me. You are voting for countless others who need to be heard right now. Vote for them and vote for change.