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By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

RED DEER-LACOMBE

Meet the candidate: Lauren Pezzella, New Democratic Party

Oct 17, 2019 | 8:01 PM

The 24-year-old woman running for the NDP in Red Deer-Lacombe this federal election says her youth shouldn’t fool you.

Lauren Pezzella is adamant she can make a difference for her community if given a shot as a Member of Parliament.

“Some may call me young and naïve, but I’m inspired and I’m hopeful that we can make a better future for Alberta, for Canada, and in everyday Canadians’ lives,” she says. “Too many of us are struggling with the increasing costs of living in our own society and our government can do something to help with that.”

In line with what leader Jagmeet Singh has been preaching, Pezzella says one of her biggest desires is to see a universal pharmacare program.

“A really good friend of mine is a diabetic. He couldn’t afford to take his insulin, so he took a shorter dose, and ended up in the hospital in a coma, which is insane in our society,” she says.

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Pezzella has ideas on oil and gas as well.

“What will help our current economic problems are making sure our workers are trained for new energy jobs that aren’t tied to an endless boom and bust cycle,” she says. “This leads to families constantly losing their jobs just as they picked another one out.”

At the end of the day, she admits she’s no career politician.

“My main goal in this election is to speak out for people like myself who have a distant dream of owning a home, and for families currently spending almost an entire parent’s wage on childcare alone,” she says.

“What I want to do to be successful is be as honest as I can.”