Candidates chosen

The second time’s the charm learned Richard Harvey, as the local Tory faithful gave him their nod to represent the party in Thunder Bay-Superior North when the next federal election rolls around.

Harvey last year lost a coin toss to Michael Auld when the two finished tied in the original riding nomination. Auld later stepped down, citing health reasons for his decision. On Tuesday night, with media kept at bay, the Nipigon mayor defeated challenger Richard Longtin to earn the victory at the Port Arthur Prosvita.

Final results, as is customary in party nominations, were not publicly revealed, though it was noted that more than 200 card-carrying Tories cast ballots.

Harvey said they had to follow the policy, which is why, unlike last year, the media were not allowed to witness the proceedings.

He said he was excited to be nominated, but more impressed by the number of people who turned out. Only 170 attended the most recent candidate nomination, in a riding that hasn't gone blue in decades, other than when longtime Liberal MP Joe Comuzzi switched sides when he refused to vote against a Conservative budget he said contained good things for Northwestern Ontario.
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"We’re coming out of this with the party stronger than ever," Harvey said. "We’re coming out of this and moving the party into high gear. Our intention is to win this riding for the first time in 80 years for a Conservative government. We’re excited about the possibilities that are there."

Born in Thunder Bay, Harvey was elected mayor of Nipigon four years ago. After his win, he said he plans to focus his campaign efforts primarily on the economy as well as making sure traditional industries like mining and forestry  became more efficient and play a more important role internationally.

A federal election isn’t scheduled until 2012 -- though the Conservative minority could fall at virtually any time the House is sitting -- and Harvey said he plans to remain as Nipigon's top elected official until an election is called, adding his time as mayor gives him the necessary skills to deal with any big issue.

"Nipigon went through a dramatic economic crisis with the mill in Red Rock and the fire where we lost the plywood mill," he said. "It really taught me how to deal with crisis, deal with difficult times, how to advocate to other people and effectively work with the higher levels of government."

The Conservatives weren't the only regional riding association Tuesday with an eye on the next election. The Green Party went to the world of academia to find their candidate in Thunder Bay-Rainy River.

Ed Shields said currently there are no scientist MPs on Parliament Hill, and he's aiming to reverse that trend.  

A retired McGill University professor, with PhDs in human genetics and dentistry, Shields said it's dangerous that politicians are getting their information from lobbyists and special-interest groups when it comes to important scientific issues, rather than understanding the problems for themselves. Presently Parliament has 10 MPs with doctorates, but none of them are held in sciences he added.

"We have, if you can believe it no scientists in the legislature at this time," he said. "We have all these issues dealing with science on a daily basis and has been growing over the past 20 years and there’s no one who can really appreciate the nuance and the jargon who have spent a time thinking in great detail about scientific issues."

Shields said he can also help usher in a new bio-tech economy for the region because he understands the needs and concerns of entrepreneurs looking to set up high-tech shop in Thunder Bay.

"If we can get these high tech and biotech industries into this area you don’t need to be in downtown Toronto to run these businesses it can be done right here," he said.

While he hopes to win the riding, Shields said he understands it will be an uphill and difficult battle. Because other mainstream parties have much larger war chests to draw from, Shields said getting voters to see the Green Party as more than a "one-issue" party will come down to votes.

"We just don’t have enough funds, enough money to really compete effectively. If we can get more votes out in the future then we can do a better job of getting our message out," he said.

Shields said although he’s spent time working all over the world from New Guinea to Europe, he’s been in his "little log cabin" in Neebing for three years and plans to spend the rest of his life there. Shields said he is committed to the environment and people in the region.

"I’m not just a passenger I am someone who is here to stay with I think an interesting background that can help the community," he said. Click here to submit a letter to the editor.