I’m doing a school project on your independent party. I looked at your website. Would you mind telling me about your platform, what you plan on doing if elected? Is there a quote you can give me would be great. Any more information about your campaign would be greatly appreciated.
Hi ***,
It’s so great of you to reach out to me for your school project. Thanks for taking the time!
I’ve travelled around the sun about 56 times (that means I’m 56 years old). You haven’t had that many trips yet—but I hope you enjoy 120+ healthy ones ahead! 
In short, young people like you are the future. You have the right to challenge the rules and explore new ideas—that’s what progress is about! As someone who’s been around a bit longer, I try to protect the good things we’ve built—for the sake of stability. I believe the best approach is to meet in the middle. That’s why I say: Let’s vote smart.
My Top Priority:
Protecting Canada—from threats outside our borders and within.
I believe that charity begins at home, and so does meaningful change.
Let me explain using a story.
Imagine Canada is my house. It’s big enough to host a BBQ for 10 guests. Now, imagine my wife calls and says, “Val, I’ve invited 10 coworkers to our BBQ this weekend.” But then she accidentally sends the invite to 100 people—and they all show up!
What happens? That party would be a mess. My family would be overwhelmed, and even the 10 invited guests wouldn’t enjoy themselves.
This is what I think is happening in Canada. We’re trying to welcome new people—which is great when done properly—but we only have space, resources, and jobs for about 300,000 newcomers a year. Unfortunately, 4.5 million were invited without planning. That’s like my BBQ story, just way bigger.
Some of the newcomers have important skills—like doctors, nurses, or tradespeople who can build houses. Others are just here to find any work, like pouring coffee. But we don’t have enough homes, doctors, roads, or schools for everyone. Every person we invite needs 1 unit of housing, 1 unit of healthcare, 1 unit of everything.
So, wouldn’t it be better if those limited resources went to people who can give back the most—like a nurse who helps many others?
A Bit About Me:
I’m an immigrant myself. I came to Canada from Persia (iRan) as a kid. People at school used to call me “Prince of Persia” after the video game. 
But now, Canada is my home. I love this country, and I feel it’s my duty to protect it—especially for future generations like you.
I can’t fix the whole world—Canada’s not big enough to solve global problems alone. My responsibility is to young Canadians first.
Why Smart Leadership Matters:
You’ve probably heard: “If you build it, they will come.”
Well, our government invited everyone to Canada first, and only after that did they start trying to build homes. That’s backwards!
Steve Jobs once said that he ran Apple by hiring A players—the best of the best. And A players hire other smart people, not ones they’re scared of. If we do the same with our government—pick the best person for each job, not just vote by party—we’ll end up with strong leaders. That’s why I’m running as an independent.
A Little History:
Did you know most Prime Ministers step down or get voted out after about 10 years?
People don’t always vote others in—they vote them out when they’re tired or frustrated. I think it’s time we learn from that.
If I’m elected, I’ll only serve two terms—then I’ll make room for younger voices. I’ll be around 64 by then, and I’ll be ready to pass the torch. You, Shelby, can email me in 7 years to remind me of this promise. I mean it.
My Beliefs:
- I believe in freedom of speech.
- I believe in honest, efficient government—one that doesn’t waste your future money.
- I believe in using AI and technology to make systems like immigration smarter and faster—without wasting millions on bad apps.
- I believe that taking the high road is better, even if it’s harder.
I’ve got the experience to help this tech-savvy region of Waterloo thrive—and I’ve got real ideas to make things better.
Final Thoughts:
Whether I win or not, I want to say thank you for reaching out. If I do get elected and you’re ever in Ottawa, let me know—I’ll give you a personal tour of Parliament!
If I don’t win, that’s okay. You hold onto this message. Stay positive. Stay involved. Help others. And never stop caring about your country.
I’m just one person who’s crazy enough to believe I can make a difference. And I’m crazy about Canada enough to try.
Good luck on your project!
Say hello to all your classmates for me—they are also my future.
Warmest regards,
Val Neekman
Independent Candidate for Waterloo
A video message for the youth of Waterloo.
An ineffective MP is like a rocking chair—lots of motion, zero progress! 🙂