- MacPolitics: New Halifax MP Shannon Miedema Does Not Live In The Riding
By Andrew Macdonald
Shannon Miedema, who took a historic 66 per cent of the vote in the federal riding of Halifax, actually does not live in the riding she is now representing for the Liberals.
And, during the campaign, The Macdonald Notebook asked if she plans to move to Halifax.
For the record, Miedema said she has no intention to uproot her family and move to Halifax.
She resides in Dartmouth.
During the campaign, The Macdonald Notebook asked if she would move to Halifax, upon a win in the Halifax riding?
Her reply: “Probably, not. Housing is a bit tricky right now, supply and cost. And I have three kids, and they are all in school here in Dartmouth. I have lived on both sides. I lived in Halifax as a student and as a new professional.
“But, no, that is not looking like anything imminent (to move to HFX). It is not a requirement,” she adds.
“I was open about the fact that I lived in Dartmouth from the start (during the nomination), because I wanted to make sure it was OK. And, it is. It really hasn’t been a sticking point at the doors or in conversation, I think, especially because I have worked for the whole community for so long.”
As she states, her civic address was not a campaign issue, and it certainly did not hurt her among Haligonian voters. She took the most ever popular vote in the riding – even doing better than Robert Stanfield, who represented Halifax from 1969-1979, for part of the time he was national Tory leader.
It’s not a big deal being from Dartmouth and representing Halifax, given HRM includes many ridings. It’s not exactly that Miedema was a parachute candidate.
She has worked previously for 15 years with the City of Halifax and HRM.
Her office with HRM was on the Dartmouth side. “But, I have spent a lot of time at City Hall, at Duke Tower and all over the place, the city has offices on both sides of the Harbour.”
Shannon Miedema, the Liberal MP for Halifax, speaks at Dalhousie University during the campaign. (The Notebook).
