Candidate: Scot Kyle

With nearly 50 per cent of eligible voters traditionally staying away from the ballot box on election day, Scot Kyle believes the “so-called apathetic vote” will mobilize on May 2.

”I’m getting the sense that people are ready for a new energy and a new party,” he said.

After knocking on doors throughout this federal election campaign, the Green Party of Canada candidate for Thunder Bay-Superior North said from what he’s heard people are not apathetic and are concerned about jobs, the economy and the environment.
 
If elected, Kyle said his focus will be on the urban environment of the city. He wants to “green it up, clean it up.” He also believes the strength of the economy is directly related to the health of the environment.
 
“Only by having a healthy ecology can we have a healthy economy,” he said. “I think those two things can go well together and I think increasing the awareness and education around those things are very important.”

Kyle, 53, was born and raised in Thunder Bay, growing up in Current River and attending Lakeview High School – now St. Ignatius High School. He received his BA at Lakehead University and then achieved his Honours BA at Queen’s University; he followed that up with his professional teaching year at Western University.
 
He returned to Thunder Bay and raised three children – now adults, each with a degree from Lakehead University – with his wife of 30 years. The couple now lives together in Hymers.
 
His history with the city is an asset he’s proud of and Kyle said he knows the people, the small businesses and their concerns.

“I know the boom and bust aspect of logging and mill towns. I know that there’s lots of work to do,” he said. “I’m prepared to do it … I’m active as a volunteer. I’m integrated into the community. I’m very accessible.”

An environmentalist since early childhood, Kyle said he’s passionate about Thunder Bay and the surrounding area and now that his children are grown and he has more space and time in his life, he’s realized the importance of politics and how they affect everyone.

“Instead of sitting around the coffee table complaining about things, I thought I’d jump into the fray, throw my hat into the ring and see if I couldn’t implement some positive change.”
 
Kyle is realistic about his chances of being elected, saying he knows the party is “fourth on the political totem pole.”

However, that won’t stop him from trying.

“I’m positive and I’m in the game, there are fellows well moneyed up ahead of me. We’re long-term people. We’re interested in tomorrow today and we’re not going to go away.”