THUNDER BAY -- It's now a three-way race for the Liberal nomination in Thunder Bay-Rainy River.
Randy Boyd, currently minister at Trinity United Church, announced he's running Thursday morning. He looks at competition as a good thing, adding he started the ball rolling for his nomination well before Fort William First Nation Chief Georjann Morriseau and long-time Liberal supporter Vince Riccio tossed their hats into the riding ring.
"It's a good sign for the Liberal party that we have three excellent candidates that are vying for it. It shows that there's an interest. It shows that people want to see change and they're willing to put themselves out for it," Boyd said.
Boyd said he is dismayed by where Canada appears to be headed.
"I'm becoming increasingly dismayed by the direction the country is going in," Boyd said. "The bitter partisanship, the dirty tricks and the really unethical advertising, all that really is a discredit to politics and we really need a change."
He's certainly not comfortable with the way Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been running the show.
“Huge omnibus bills that don't allow for proper debate, the suppression of research and data collection, calling into question the integrity of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court ... are tearing at the very fabric of our democratic institutions and national character. We need change. We need a new approach to politics that listens to all Canadians, not just the Harper base," Boyd said in a release annoucing his candidacy.
The 59-year-old would head to Ottawa with a large list for the riding including securing federal funds for sewer work in Northwood and McKellar and use the federal government's authority to get CN to resolve its dispute with the city of Thunder Bay over the James Street swing bridge.
He'd also like to restore the CBC's local afternoon show and re-open Thunder Bay's Veterans Affairs office.
There's still no word on when the nomination meeting will be held. A riding association spokesman said he'd hoped to have a candidate in place by the time Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau arrives on Feb. 9, but suspects now it won't happen until after the pre-election visit.
The federal election is scheduled for Oct. 19, but there has been plenty of speculation across the board that Harper may pull the trigger early.
