The Brian Mulroney Institute of Government and the StFX Students’ Union Present
Federal Election 2025: Candidates Forum
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Mulroney Hall 2070
The Brian Mulroney Institute of Government and the StFX Students’ Union will be hosting a forum for candidates running in the Cape Breton-Canso-Antigonish riding for the federal election on April 28, 2025. All students and members of the campus and Antigonish community are welcome to attend to learn more about the candidates’ platforms.
Candidates participating in the forum include those from the Conservative Party, Liberal Party, and New Democratic Party.
Questions will be fielded and selected prior to the forum. Please submit your questions to the Mulroney Institute (mulinst@stfx.ca) by noon on Friday, April 11.
All are welcome.
The event will be recorded.
Candidates
Jaime Battiste
Liberal Party
Jaime Battiste is a dedicated father, proud community member of Eskasoni First Nation, and a visionary Indigenous leader. Born into a strong Mi’kmaw family, he has devoted his life to fostering connections and creating opportunities for all Canadians. Jaime has been the Member of Parliament for Sydney—Victoria since 2019. Jaime was the first Mi'kmaq elected to the Canadian Parliament and was the Chair of the Liberal Indigenous Caucus.
Jaime was the founder of initiatives like Treaty Education in Nova Scotia, Jaime has worked tirelessly to bridge gaps in understanding Mi’kmaw treaties, laws, culture, and language. He is a passionate advocate for inclusion, innovation, and sustainability, guided by his deep commitment to family values and culture.
Jaime holds a Juris Doctor from the Schulich School of Law and a degree in Mi'kmaq Studies from Cape Breton University, he brings a rich background in law, education, and advocacy. Jaime is a fluent Mi’kmaw speaker and recording artist, and he has devoted his career to advancing Indigenous rights, youth advocacy, and community development.
He is the son of prominent Indigenous Scholars Dr. Marie Battiste and Indigenous Lawyer Sakej Henderson, both recognized for their contributions to Indigenous education and justice.
Joanna Clark
New Democratic Party
Joanna Clark is a 30-year-old mother, public school teacher and community activist. She lives in Port Hood, her family’s home for several generations and where she is now raising her two young daughters. Since earning her education degree, Joanna has taught for both the Strait Regional Centre for Education and le conseil scolaire acadien. She is now a high school teacher at Dalbrae Academy in Mabou. Joanna is an energetic advocate for mental health care, affordable child care, poverty reduction, and gender-based violence prevention policies, as well as for climate action and environmental stewardship.
Allan Macmaster
Conservative Party
Allan MacMaster earned the right to be the Conservative candidate for the riding of Cape Breton-Canso-Antigonish following a two-day nomination process last February.
Before his Federal run, MacMaster served as MLA for Inverness. He was first elected in a by-election in 2009 and re-elected in 2013, 2017, and 2021.
After the 2021 provincial election, he was appointed Nova Scotia’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance and Treasury Board, as well as Minister of Labour Relations, and Minister of Gaelic Affairs. As Minister of Finance and Treasury Board, he was also responsible for the Liquor Control Act and the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation, Part I of the Gaming Control Act, the Securities Act, the Utility and Review Board Act, the Chartered Professional Accountants Act, the Insurance Act, and was Deputy President of the Executive Council.
Following a cabinet shuffle in September of 2023, he added another ministerial appointment, that of Minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage.
As a Member of the Legislative Assembly, he served as critic for several key portfolios including Justice, Service Nova Scotia, Energy and Mines, and Finance and Treasury Board. He also served on the Public Accounts Committee for nine years, with five of those as Chair. In 2019, he was appointed Leader for the Official Opposition in the House of Assembly.
In 2014, MacMaster delivered a heartfelt speech about sexual abuse that received national attention, and worked with abuse survivors to change the statute of limitations legislation. He led the movement to change pension legislation for NewPage pensioners in 2012, and has been a vocal advocate for local healthcare services and infrastructure to optimize rural contributions to the broader economy.
Prior to elected office, he was an investment advisor with BMO Nesbitt Burns. Allan, his wife Lucie, and their five children live in Troy.
Ryan Smyth
People’s Party of Canada
Ryan Smyth is an entrepreneur and award-winning software author specializing in blockchain and IoT. A partner in the blockchain video game Soccerverse and the Xaya platform, he’s also a recipient of the Australian Governor-General Bravery Medal. Currently, he's working on designing and building IoT and medical devices to improve lives. Running as the PPC candidate in Cape Breton - Canso - Antigonish, Ryan aims to leverage his talent for finding innovative and novel solutions to problems in order to boost the economy, create jobs, and improve healthcare while reducing government barriers to prosperity.
Rebecca Wall
Independent
I stand before you as an independent candidate, deeply humbled and honored by the blessings and encouragement I have received from the Elders of the First Nation communities, where I have developed meaningful connections. As a non-native woman, I have been mentored by these Elders in Indigenous governance, enriching my understanding and commitment to serving Indigenous interests. My journey is further evidenced by my nominations as chief in three First Nation communities—the first woman in Canada to receive such nominations. This recognition is a testament to my dedication to fostering positive change and understanding the complexities of our communities.
Over the past five years, I have founded and formatted a political federal entity known as the Seventh Generation Government. Within just four days of launching online, we successfully gathered the required signatures to move forward, demonstrating our community's enthusiasm for this initiative. Our efforts have been submitted to Elections Canada, marking a significant step toward advocating for Indigenous voices at the federal level.
Currently, I am enrolled in law enforcement college, where I am gaining valuable insights into justice and community safety. My ambition was to possibly pursue a career in law as a defense attorney, which is why I took the LSATs, showcasing my dedication to advocacy and legal principles. Additionally, I hold a Class 1 driving certification, a diploma in reflexology, and have completed college NSCC C4 Skipper for operating a 250-ton vessel, further broadening my skill set. I am also enrolled at Saint Francis Xavier University in AI Fundamentals.
As a proud mother of five, I have lived a rich and diverse life, much of it in Western Canada and on Cape Breton Island. Recently, I managed a business in Antigonish, where I embraced the spirit of entrepreneurship. My journey in media has been transformative; after moving back to Nova Scotia, I combined my media channels to create Ripple FX TV Media Platform. This platform has achieved remarkable engagement, reaching over 1 million views every 28 days and over 70,000 engagements globally amplifying the voices of the East Coast and putting pressure on other parties to listen.
I have interviewed well over 6000 including those in parliament and topics that are uncomfortable.
I hosted the mayoral debates throughout the island in the last election to give a local loud voice to rural Nova Scotia.
My experience as president of several nonprofit entities has further solidified my commitment to supporting diverse and marginalized voices. I chose to run as an independent candidate because I believe that the current political landscape often silences the true voices of the people. My strongest skills lie in politics and universal communication, and I am dedicated to ensuring that underrepresented voices are heard.
I welcome constructive conversations about my qualifications and vision for Cape Breton/Canso/Antigonish. Together, we can work towards creating a brighter future for our communities. Thank you for your support.