Nate is known as our principled voice, for standing up for constituents where it matters, and for highlighting the importance of thoughtful and respectful disagreement.

The Huffington Post referred to Nate as, “House of Common’s top rebel, having gone against his own government 37 times out of hundreds of votes in the last Parliament.” 

He voted against party lines when arguing for better assisted dying laws, declaring ISIS guilty of genocide, and ending public fossil fuel subsidies. Nate called for expungement of cannabis-related criminal records to help Canadians concerned about traveling abroad, and he voted against “National Seal Products Day.”

 In the podcast, Follow-up with Althia Raj, Nate explains his dissent as “principled” and reflective of “evidence and constituents and my own conscience.” 

He says, “I bought into the Liberal Party… I bought into it because Justin Trudeau and his leadership was talking about reasonable disagreement and empowering parliamentarians and free votes.” To listen to the podcast episode, please press here. 

After the 2019 Federal Election, Nate wrote an op-ed in the Beach Metro News. Making note that, “With the right approach, minority governments hold potential for greatness.” He highlights the importance of putting partisan interests aside and to work across the aisle to accomplish big ideas for our country like, climate change, the opioid crisis, stronger gun control, etc. 

Earlier in 2020, Nate made a speech in the House of Commons further reiterating this idea. 

He said, “If I heard anything from my constituents in the last election, it’s that they want us to work together to accomplish big ideas for our country, to be less partisan, and to make space for principled independence. Let’s seize the opportunity of this minority parliament.” 

Nate wrote in his dueling op-ed in the Toronto Star (vs. Hon. Sheila Copps), 

“No political party represents our views perfectly. We find the party that best represents our views and values, and we engage, debate and organize to bring both our party and country closer to those objectives. I am a Liberal MP and I continue to support our Liberal government. But that does not mean that I support every government action taken, or that I ought to refrain from public disagreement. In contrast to blind partisan loyalty, we promised to empower MPs and their communities through more free votes in the House of Commons.”