City’s two MPs reflect on 2010

MP Bruce Hyer (NDP, Thunder Bay – Superior North) says his new year’s resolution is simple but not easy.

Hyer said he wants to help bring jobs and prosperity back to Northwestern Ontario. He also wants to make the region clean and green while seeing a renewed forestry and mining sector.

"Where nobody in our region or across Canada is left behind," Hyer said.
Hyer hopes along with forestry and mining that the region’s knowledge-based economy continues to grow.

"Those are my hopes that those things really take hold," he said.

Although he has mixed feelings about it, Hyer thinks an election in late winter or early spring is likely.

"Parliament has become very dysfunctional it’s really not produced what the average Canadian needs," he said. "I think it’s time for a new prime minister in the new year."

Hyer said 2010 highlights for him include the cell phone freedom act, which forced phone companies to unlock phones, has already seen results even though the act hasn’t gone through the Huose yet.  

While his climate bill passed third reading, it was squashed by the Senate making that the low point of 2010 for Hyer.

"This is a dubious honour for the first time in history the Canadian senate has defeated a bill passed in the House of Commons with no debate," he said.

Meanwhile, the MP representing Thunder Bay’s other federal seat says problem solving and pension reform were some 2010 highlights.

MP John Rafferty (NDP, Thunder Bay-Rainy River) said the year was one of excitement and frustration on the Hill. Work on his pension bill has kept him busy along with helping out constituents in the riding.

Rafferty said he’s starting to see optimism in Thunder Bay and throughout the area.

"The city is starting to feel like a real city," Rafferty said. "I get a real sense in the riding for a lot of people that’s the way it is."

But Rafferty is quick to point out that for a lot of people in the region, life is not affordable. Which is why for 2011, he wants to see all levels of government work together to realize how many people, such as seniors on fixed incomes, can’t make ends meet.

"A lot of people have been left behind as expenses increase," he said. "It’s getting increasingly tough."

Rafferty said although he wants to see a new government he also needs his pension bill to pass, which would be stopped if an election was called. As for a prediction, Rafferty said if an election doesn’t happen soon after parliament resumes, it probably won’t happen until next year.

"I’m going to have to give you a ‘maybe’ on that," Rafferty said.