Bruce Hyer hoped for competition for the federal NDP nomination in Thunder Bay-Superior North.
Instead the first-term MP went unopposed and on Wednesday night was acclaimed as the candidate for the next time the country heads to the polls, which could come as soon as this fall.
Hyer said he’d just as soon have to go through the process again at a much later date, preferring to work with the ruling Conservatives rather than seeing the government brought down in a vote of non-confidence.
"I hope I don’t have to use my re-anointed status. I really don’t want an election and it’s quite clear that my constituents don’t want an election, Canadians don’t want an election. Nobody but (Liberal Leader) Michael Ignatieff and perhaps (Prime Minister) Stephen Harper seem to want an election," Hyer said via phone from his Ottawa office.
He added he’s not convinced a vote will be triggered when the House of Commons reconvenes, despite Ignatieff’s assertion that he won’t support the minority Conservatives on confidence matters and Harper appears to have rejected NDP Leader Jack Layton’s offer to work with the government in return for certain concessions.
"I don’t think it’s a fait accomplis yet. I just don’t. Why would (Bloc Quebecois Leader) Gilles Duceppe want an election where he might give up seats to the Liberals and have absolutely nothing to gain?" Hyer said.
"I know that Jack Layton and all of our caucus, although we’re not really fond of Harper and his party’s policies to date, we remain hopeful that Harper will choose to work collaboratively with the other parties better than he’s done in the past and back away from this precipice."
Hyer, who will be going up against Liberal Andre Fricot and Conservative Michael Auld – the Green Party has yet to name its candidate – said his biggest fear of an election is what it will do to legislation already in the works. He has three bills before the House of Commons dealing with climate change, the return of VIA Rail to the North Shore and made in Canada requirements for federal funding, that he doesn’t want to see die on the table.
"Those are three big reasons why personally and professionally I would not like to see an election at this time," he said.
Admittedly overwhelmed during his first few months in office, Hyer said he’s starting to learn the process and how to get things done in Ottawa.
"The House of Commons is a mess, it’s a big mess," he said. "Despite that I’m learning how to work around the system," he said, adding he plans to introduce new legislation that will reduce business taxes on small businesses and encourage company re-investment.