THUNDER BAY – If political experience matters in federal elections, Linda Rydholm should probably take Thunder Bay-Rainy River running away.
Rydholm spent 18 years representing Neebing ward on Thunder Bay city council, and also spent a number of years as a Lakehead Public Schools board trustee.
Add in 12 years on the board of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Conservative says she’s the easy choice to take over the Thunder Bay-Rainy River riding after Oct. 21.
“It puts me in a unique position to understand how things are going on and happening or not happening in Ottawa, and also how the policies and finances affect us throughout our communities and as individuals,” Rydholm said.
“I have that background and I will put it to good use as a Member of Parliament.”
Rydholm, who was defeated a year ago in the municipal election, said she received a phone call this past January by the Conservative party asking her to consider running.
It didn’t take her long to say yes.
“I am genuinely concerned about our country. The country’s finance, the country’s ethics, the presentation out in the world and our social well-being,” Rydholm said.
“We need to make a change.”
Affordability is a big issue she’s hearing on the campaign trail, something Rydholm says only the Conservatives can truly tackle over the next four years.
Concerns over health care, the environment and immigration are also issues the voting public wants handled better than the current Liberal government is managing, she said.
“Overall, they want to ensure a good lifestyle for themselves, but also for their children and their grandchildren,” said Rydholm, who was born in Fort Frances, raised in Atikokan and has spent time as a chiropractor, dairy farmer and community activist.
She’s convinced she’s the best candidate to help make it happen.
“I’m at a time in my life where I have the time to do the job well,” Rydholm said. “Anyone who knows me, knows when I take on any project, I work very hard, so people can count on four years of hard work from me.
“I also have the ability and the experience. I’ve been in Ottawa for the past 12 years on behalf of the national board for city councils. I know my way around. I will get things done, not only for our communities here in Northwestern Ontario, but for our country.”
Now is the time to make the change to the Conservative way of life, Rydholm added, knowing the party has not elected a Member of Parliament in either Thunder Bay riding in decades.
“It is 2019. If people vote Liberal, we’ll have the same things happening, which is not a lot in Thunder Bay-Rainy River. We haven’t seen a lot in the last four years. We haven’t had great representation,” she said.
“If people choose to vote for a member from the other socialist parties, they have already said they will probably prop up the current prime minister. If you vote red, orange, green, you have what we’ve got right now.”
TBNewswatch.com has profiled all 11 candidates running in Thunder Bay-Rainy River and Thunder Bay-Superior North and will be rolling them out over the course of the next two days. They can be found in our news section, as well as our special Federal Election page, Canada Votes.
