A former police officer who lost his leg after being struck by a vehicle at Victoria害羞草研究所檚 Ogden Point is running for the People害羞草研究所檚 Party of Canada in the Saanich-Gulf Islands riding.

害羞草研究所淚 decided to run in this year害羞草研究所檚 federal election simply because I cannot vote for the other options available,害羞草研究所� said Ron Broda on Facebook announcing his candidacy. Since 害羞草研究所榥one of the above害羞草研究所� was an option, Broda said he decided to offer himself as a 害羞草研究所渧iable alternative害羞草研究所� for voters, who 害羞草研究所渓ike me, don害羞草研究所檛 like the other choices.害羞草研究所�

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Broda said in a later interview that he used to be a Progressive Conservative, before becoming disillusioned with the party in eventually joined the People害羞草研究所檚 Party of Canada under Maxime Bernier, who founded the party after losing the leadership contest for the Conservative Party of Canada. 害羞草研究所淗is values and vision resonated with me,害羞草研究所� he said.

Broda said he is running with the goal to restore trust between the political class and the public. He also expressed frustration with the current political culture. 害羞草研究所淧eople seem to take offence at the slightest things,害羞草研究所� he said, adding that he would like to see an 害羞草研究所渙pen and honest害羞草研究所� discussion about the issues without the risk of being mis-labelled.

But he declined to give a specific example of a statement that politicians would not be allowed to air in the public.

He also defended Bernier害羞草研究所檚 criticism of multi-culturalism. 害羞草研究所淲e are all Canadians regardless of ethnic and religious backgrounds,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 a Canadian first and we should all be Canadians first,害羞草研究所� he said.

Broda is running against incumbent and federal Green Party leader Elizabeth May. 害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 think she has considered all the evidence related to climate change,害羞草研究所� he said, pointing to what he calls a 害羞草研究所渟ignificant害羞草研究所� amount of evidence that contradicts prevailing scientific views on the subject. 害羞草研究所淐limate change is real,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭here is no question about it.害羞草研究所� But if humans are having a effect, it is not clear if they bear full responsibility for it or if they are just one factor among many, he said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 matter of degree.害羞草研究所�

Broda lost his leg in July 2013 after an SUV struck him while he was riding his motorcycle. Broda, who said he has no memory of the crash, later sued the driver of the SUV, claiming he had been deliberately struck. The driver received 60 days in jail and a driving prohibition of five years in October 2016, after being found guilty of dangerous driving causing bodily harm. In September 2017, a court upheld this sentence.

But that害羞草研究所檚 not the only crash Broda has been involved in that has made headlines. In 2006, while driving an 18-wheeler, Broda struck a six-year-old walking on Blanshard Street. The collision left the boy with crushed legs and other injuries. Broda has publicly acknowledged the pain he has caused because of this incident.

According to his professional online profile, Broda currently works as a teacher and speaker, offering workshops, seminars, and other personal growth services.

Before this current career, Broda spent 14 years with the Vancouver Police Department, 14 years with the Saanich Police Department and seven years with the Canada Border Services Agency.

The events of 2013 loom large in Broda害羞草研究所檚 profile.

害羞草研究所淭hat experience drove home to me how precious and uncertain that life can be. I have a much greater appreciation for living each day to the fullest. I have a greater sense of urgency to accomplish what I am meant to with my life,害羞草研究所� he writes.

Also running in Saanich害羞草研究所揋ulf Islands are Liberal Ryan Windsor, Conservative David Bush, and New Democrat Sabina Singh.

wolfgang.depner@peninsulanewsreview.com

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