Economic focus

Stimulating the economy and creating jobs are the top priorities for three of Thunder Bay-Superior North’s candidates in the upcoming provincial election.

But the Liberals, NDP and Progressive Conservatives have different plans on how to achieve those goals.

With twinning the highway from Thunder Bay to Nipigon and supporting public transit, which helped the local Bombardier plant, incumbent Michael Gravelle said the Liberals have been doing their job in getting people back to work in the region.

"I’ve worked very, very hard to bring some significant infrastructure improvements to the riding which has resulted in a number of jobs," he said.

The Liberals have also transformed the forestry sector to get it going again as well, Gravelle added.

"We’re seeing some good news coming into communities as a result of that."

First-time Progressive Conservative candidate Anthony LeBlanc said that transformation hasn’t happened as well as it should have.

Ontario needs a wood allocation process that’s fair and transparent. With more than 26 million cubic metres available to be harvested, the fact that most of it isn’t being used is proof that the system is broken, he said.

"Currently a fraction of that amount is going out and we think that’s really hurting the industry," LeBlanc said.

The NDP’s Steve Mantis said corporate tax giveaways need to end with real job-creation incentives put in place.

"People are so frustrated by the big piles of money that go into some of the timbre barons and now they’ve shut down," Mantis said.

Both LeBlanc and Mantis agree that small business need help in the region and see it as a stimulus in the local economy.

"We really need to help out our small businesses and help them grow and prosper because they are the engine of growth that will keep the region booming and growing," LeBlanc said.

Health care is next on the list of important election issues for the candidates.

Again Mantis and LeBlanc agree that money needs to be taken from the top and put back on the frontline.

Salaries for administration seem to be growing while wait times in emergency rooms get longer. Executives are more political players and can lose sight of what’s important in health care, Mantis said.

"They’re not really the ones that are providing the service and we need to put those resources into frontline services," Mantis said.

LeBlanc said scrapping the Liberal’s Local Health Integration Networks is one way to put money back into healthcare. It is part of a PC plan to put $6.1 billion more into healthcare he said.

"If you feel that there’s no waste in government and that everything’s going the way it should then you should vote for another party (than PC)," LeBlanc said.

But Gravelle said the Liberals have been improving access to healthcare, especially in Northwestern Ontario, and will continue to do so.

"We need to preserve and to continue to improve access to our healthcare system across the north," he said.

Affordability is also key for people in the region, Mantis said. The NDP have committed to removing the HST from heating and hydro bills to help people who are struggling.

"People from all different walks of life are saying ‘we’re really having a hard time making ends meet anymore," The NDP candidate said. "We need change to put people first here."
LeBlanc agrees. His party would also remove the HST from heating and hydro, along with the debt retirement charge. While knocking on doors and canvassing by telephone, LeBlanc said he gets a sense that the election battle is between the NDP and PCs.

"It’s an election of change," LeBlanc said. "And the question is what party and what leader and then here in the riding what individual represents that change best."

But Gravelle said he’s been working hard for the riding and hopes to continue to do so.
"I’m committed to this job. I have been for the time that I’ve been in office I like to think that no one has worked harder than I have to represent my constituents," he said.

Green candidate Scot Kyle could not be reached for comment.