Editorial: NDP has more bark, but less bite

The NDP made history on Monday night.

But what does the orange tide mean for Thunder Bay?

With the Conservatives easily capturing a majority, MPs Bruce Hyer and John Rafferty have lost most of their parliamentary teeth.

Yes, the NDP finished second, cracking the century mark in the number of seats won and set a party record in the process. But once the Tories passed the 155-seat mark – they finished with 167 – it meant co-operation with other parties went out the window.

For sure the gun registry is gone, which will make both Rafferty and Hyer happy. But the duo also campaigned on making FedNor a standalone agency with its own minister and a $100-million budget.

That’s not happening now.

Nor is it likely either representative will have much success having their private-member bills, like pension reform and climate change, make it past the introductory stage.

Try as they might, Harper’s will is what will guide the country for the next four years.

Hyer and Rafferty, creative as they may be, may be well advised to make friends with Kenora MP Greg Rickford, the Conservative representative who holds the true reins of power in Northwestern Ontario now.