EAST HANTS: The former editor and journalist of East Hants’ community newspaper The Weekly Press is setting her sights on politics.
In an announcement on Dec. 10, the Nova Scotia NDP announced that Abby Cameron, who grew up in the Shubenacadie area, will be their candidate in Hants East for the next provincial election.
Cameron spoke to The Laker News about her motivation to go from newshound to being the one answering questions to reporters.
“Journalism and politics are said to be ‘first cousins’ and I believe that is true,” she said. “Having 15 years experience in community journalism, I’ve been exposed to politics on all level, not only from the standpoint of the government decisions, but the community fall out or reaction to said projects and programs, cuts and so on.”
The timing was right for her to get into politics, said Cameron.
“I foresaw politics later in life for me but 2020 had different plans so this is an adaptation to those changes,” said Cameron. “I know that I work hard, I know that I care about the communities in Hants East, and I know I have the potential and the experience to be a great MLA.”
She said she’s always had an interest in politics.
“When the Weekly Press and the Laker first shut down in January 2020, I had the time to do some serious soul searching and plan my next moves,” said Cameron. “It wasn’t long before I felt disconnected from the communities of Hants East and realized I wanted to do something to re-engage myself.
“When I made the decision to apply for school to retrain, there was always these thoughts in the back of my head about how many other people were in similar situations, how many other people are struggling? Who needed help navigating things?”
Cameron, who spent seven years as coach of the Hants East Rural High Tigers girls fast pitch team, said that’s when she began having conversation with her partner.
“I said maybe it’s my time to consider a political run,” she recalled. “Almost as if he knew, I got a phone call in late summer from NDP leader Gary Burrill asking if I had ever considered running. The ball got rolling from there.”
She said the next few months included a lot of conversations and thinking, thinking and more thinking before making her ultimate decision to seek the nomination.
“Because of my experience in journalism, I also got to see the behind the scenes of politics that people don’t often think about,” said Cameron. “I’m excited to be able to help the residents of Hants East, to help lead through what is certainly guaranteed to be tough times as we rebound and rebuild from the effects of COVID-19. I want to be able to invoke real change, to help everyone.”
Cameron, who has family all over Hants East, said there were a few things that attracted her to the NDP.
“Gary is a wonderful person, a great leader, and is one of the most caring people I have ever met,” she said. “I wouldn’t for an instant mistake his kindness for weakness however. I feel in a post-pandemic world, he is someone who I have real faith in rebuilding a Nova Scotia for the better.
“I don’t think you can sugar coat how difficult the road to recovery will be for not only Hants East, but the entire province. But, as someone who does try to think positively, the silver lining in all of this is we are going to be in a position where we are almost going to have to start over. I for one see it for the opportunity it is, to rebuild a future that works for everyone.”
She has covered Hants East for 13 of her 15 years as a community journalist, and that includes organizing several candidate debates at the provincial and federal level for the community.
Cameron feels she knows what the issues are facing Hants East residents.
“There are absolutely issues that will always be top of mind, education, health care, both in the case of primary doctors and long-term health care, help for our small businesses, affordable housing, agriculture, forestry and more,” she said. “I’m looking forward to getting out more in the communities to really hear what is on the minds of residents right now. I look forward to having safe conversations to learn more.”
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She said Burrill told her he was more of a team captain than a leader. Cameron said a more collaborative approach to the issues benefits all.
“He doesn’t push his own agenda, he really depends on his team to come together in unison on the issues,” she said. “I like and respect that type of politics and it’s the type of politics I plan to engage in.
“In today’s arena, the mudslinging and criticism has sometimes gotten out of hand. Sure, political beliefs do not always align, but I will work with representatives of all colours and stripes to do what’s best for the constituents in Hants East as well as the province.”
Cameron said she feels a huge responsibility to represent strong women well.
“The Municipality of East Hants recently elected their first female Warden in Eleanor Roulston. Margaret Miller has been a strong female representative over the past two terms of office,” she said when asked about being a woman running in politics. “HRM council has achieved gender parity for the first time ever, so I think women have done an excellent job at overcoming the frankly unfounded and outdated stigma attached to women in office.”
She wants to be part of the next generation of female leadership to push forward and remove the stigma of women in politics.
But Cameron said she’s not running on being a woman, but on her own history.
“I’m running on my community involvement, my knowledge of the local landscape, and because I know I would be a good representative,” she said. “I don’t think my gender-or anyone’s gender-defines how good of a job we would do.
Cameron, who admits to being soft-spoken, said people might not expect it but she can be like a dog with a bone at times.
“I can confidently say I will do everything in my power for the residents of Hants East,” she said.
