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April 17, 2025 48 mins
In this episode of Echo Essentials, we sit down with Valerie Kennedy, the NDP candidate for Nipissing–Timiskaming, to talk about the cost of living, union support, pipelines, rail infrastructure, and her surprising entry into politics. From defending workers' rights to advocating for Indigenous communities and reshaping public services, Kennedy brings a deeply personal and unapologetically grassroots approach to the campaign trail.

We also break down the recent local debate between Keller (Conservative), Rochefort (Liberal), and Kennedy (NDP)—who stood out, what landed, and how strategy is shaping early voter momentum.

If you’ve ever asked, “What happened to working-class politics?”—this is the conversation for you. 

Timestamps:

00:00 – Local debate recap & early campaign impressions
13:40 – Valerie Kennedy interview begins
14:04 – Railway worker, union leader, and what pushed her into politics
16:40 – Community reactions on the campaign trail
18:10 – Healthcare, housing, and taxing the rich
20:00 – Disability support, unions, and working-class values
24:00 – Pipelines vs. railways: rethinking infrastructure
30:00 – Reaching voters face-to-face in modern campaigns
33:00 – Indigenous advocacy, civic education & what’s missing from policy
38:00 – Northern Ontario, rail connections & forgotten communities
45:30 – Early voting, grassroots campaigns, and how to get involved
48:30 – Why Valerie Kennedy is running—and who she’s standing with
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