Recently there was a call for a Northern Ontario debate between the three major provincial party leaders.
It’s unlikely to happen, as Conservative Leader Tim Hudak and Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty both believe they have nothing to gain by agreeing to the specialized debate.
But Northern Ontarians have felt marginalized for decades, and answers to pressing questions of inherent interest to them would be nice.
Sure, we’ll get them in snippets, as leaders make their cursary treks through Thunder?Bay during the month-long campaign.
We want to know just what each party intends to do to ensure Ring of Fire jobs stay in Northern Ontario, in particular Northwestern Ontario.
First Nations and mining companies want clarification of the Far North Act, which Hudak has promised to repeal. McGuinty staunchly defends it.
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath has promised to claw back the provincial portion of the HST on heating and hydro, a move seconded by Hudak. How does McGuinty defend the need to keep it?
What will the parties do to help revitalize the forest industry. Can regional electricity pricing be introduced to make it more viable?
These are questions voters have a right to have answers to, and many won’t be forthcoming in the provincial debate.
It’s unlikely to happen, as Conservative Leader Tim Hudak and Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty both believe they have nothing to gain by agreeing to the specialized debate.
But Northern Ontarians have felt marginalized for decades, and answers to pressing questions of inherent interest to them would be nice.
Sure, we’ll get them in snippets, as leaders make their cursary treks through Thunder?Bay during the month-long campaign.
We want to know just what each party intends to do to ensure Ring of Fire jobs stay in Northern Ontario, in particular Northwestern Ontario.
First Nations and mining companies want clarification of the Far North Act, which Hudak has promised to repeal. McGuinty staunchly defends it.
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath has promised to claw back the provincial portion of the HST on heating and hydro, a move seconded by Hudak. How does McGuinty defend the need to keep it?
What will the parties do to help revitalize the forest industry. Can regional electricity pricing be introduced to make it more viable?
These are questions voters have a right to have answers to, and many won’t be forthcoming in the provincial debate.
