To the editor:
Since leaving Confederation College in 2015, I had the privilege of being the executive assistant to Bill Mauro. On a daily basis I witnessed how hard he worked and the results he was able to achieve. I had previously known Bill but working so closely with him, I was amazed at his intelligence, work ethic, professionalism, public speaking skills and his deep concern for his constituents.
Approximately 10 years ago, the world faced a major global economic downturn. Thunder Bay fared better than most Ontario cities despite some of the challenges we faced. It was Bill's vision for our economy in a few key emerging sectors that helped keep our economy healthy and growing. The City now has a growing biomedical sector. In the area of health care, as many as 100 new jobs will exist here as a direct result of Bill's efforts to bring angioplasty and vascular surgery here and the announced and soon to be completed cardio-vascular surgery program. There were countless other health care improvements that Bill fought for including a robust Nurse Practitioner program locally, and a 100 million dollar investment in our seniors after the City decided to close 300 long-term care beds. A few months ago Bill was able to announce that Thunder Bay is becoming the sole tissue processing site for the Province. That brings 30 new knowledge-based, recession-proof jobs to the city. These successes took place because of hard work and Bill's ability to present a sound case for why these Ontario government initiatives should be located in Thunder Bay. Bill played a key role in ensuring there is work for our Bombardier Plant. I have personally witnessed how strongly invested he was in ensuring the future of the plant and I am aware of his efforts many years ago to make sure that first contract with the Toronto Transit Commission, landed at our Bombardier plant, a story that to my knowledge has never been made public.
There are countless other successes like Confederation College's new REACH(Health) facility, ACE (Aviation) and new TEC (technology and manufacturing) Hub all were, or are, being built through Bill's efforts. Lakehead University now has a School of Law and while countless Ontario cities wanted that facility it was Bill and his colleague's efforts that made sure that facility came here. The amount of funding that arrived here because of Bill's efforts in my view is unprecedented in our history and it includes funding levels for the city that allowed many road and bridge projects to take place. There are many other programs, buildings and funding that have arrived due in large part to Bill's efforts and it would take a great deal of ink to cover them all.
But it is Bill's dedication to his job and his constituents that stands out even above all of this, including his time covering for Michael Gravelle during his absence. I saw first hand the 12 hour days that were routine, that were done without complaint and with the sole focus of bringing positive change to our region. His dedication while on City Council is equally as impressive having served for six years and only missing one meeting during those six years. To my knowledge, he was the first local politician to make health care a priority while on council by initiating a program to recruit doctors to our city, a program that still exists.
He rarely takes a holiday because he has always put the needs of those he represents above all else. Bill will represent our City with class and distinction and his contributions to our community are remarkable. That is who I am voting for and he will be a Mayor we can all be very proud of.
Jeff Howie,
Thunder Bay
