Is the NDP Still for Working People? Valerie Kennedy Has Something to Say

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 impressions13:40 – Valerie Kennedy interview begins14:04 – Railway worker, union leader, and what pushed her into politics16:40 – Community reactions on the campaign trail18:10 – Healthcare, housing, and taxing the rich20:00 – Disability support, unions, and working-class values24:00 – Pipelines vs. railways: rethinking infrastructure30:00 – Reaching voters face-to-face in modern campaigns33:00 – Indigenous advocacy, civic education & what’s missing from policy38:00 – Northern Ontario, rail connections & forgotten communities45:30 – Early voting, grassroots campaigns, and how to get involved48:30 – Why Valerie Kennedy is running—and who she’s standing with