THUNDER BAY – As a marathon federal election campaign marred by animosity and overwhelmingly negative rhetoric from all three major parties winds down, local candidates are optimistic they can bury the hatchets and work together with any other party with a minority government appearing to be a likely outcome.
In their campaign trail quests to oust incumbent Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper while ascending to the leadership, both Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Tom Mulcair have been careful to avoid any allegations the two might be working together to form the next government.
Trudeau went as far to say he would be willing to work with the NDP but only if Mulcair was not the party’s leader.
Thunder Bay-Rainy River NDP candidate John Rafferty doesn’t buy it.
“I think there absolutely would be a partnership, regardless of what Mr. Trudeau says,” he said. “Tom has been very clear, I’ve been very clear and the NDP has been very clear that we’ll work with whoever we need to work with to make sure there is a progressive platform pursued in this country for all Canadians.”
Thunder Bay-Superior North Liberal candidate Patty Hajdu said while an official coalition government isn’t likely to be on the table, that doesn’t mean working together should be ruled out.
“You don’t have to have a coalition to work together,” she said. “When we talk about coalition we need to be careful not to conflate that with collaboration because they are two very different things.”
Where Trudeau and Mulcair have agreed is in their determination to remove Harper from the Prime Minister’s Office. Mulcair went as far as to say his top priority in this election is to take down Harper, seemingly shutting the door on any kind of working relationship.
Thunder Bay-Superior North Conservative candidate Richard Harvey believes his party will remain in power and is not opposed to reaching out to the Opposition.
“We have to always regardless work with everyone who is in Ottawa and work with every party. That’s what Canadians want to hear – that we’ll work together. Canadians are not interested in the idea that I’ll, under no circumstances, ever work with other elected officials.”
Thunder Bay-Superior North Green Party candidate Bruce Hyer said he prefers working in a minority government and is willing to work together with the Liberals and NDP.
The same doesn’t go for the Conservatives.
“I think Mr. Harper has shown he can’t work with anybody. That’s the real problem,” Hyer said. “In the very unlikely event it’s a Harper minority government it’s going to be a very short government. Unfortunately that might mean we have to go back to the polls.”
However, each candidate listed a number of issues where they believe bridges can be built.
Rafferty identified retirement security as one area the NDP and Liberals can come together, Hajdu believes all three parties can find some common ground on improving the nation’s infrastructure and Harvey thinks there is enough commonality within all three parties’ economic platforms that there is room for cooperation.
