THUNDER BAY – Michael Gravelle wants to add to his unbeaten streak in Thunder Bay-Superior North.
Gravelle, who was first elected to Queen’s Park in 1995, on Monday officially secured the Liberal nomination in the Northwestern Ontario riding in his bid to earn his seventh term in the provincial legislature. The nomination was unopposed.
The 69-year-old first represented the former Port Arthur riding and has five subsequent victories in Thunder Bay-Superior North since the electoral districts were redefined before the 1999 election.
The job isn’t done, Gravelle said.
“Certainly in a number of the First Nations communities some good things are happening and some great projects are going forward. In all of the communities I represent – from the small ones to Thunder Bay itself – there are some great economic development opportunities,” Gravelle said.
“I want to see the completion of the four-laning of the highway between Thunder Bay and Nipigon. That’s hugely important for me. I’m excited about our commitment to bring cardiovascular surgery to Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences for all of Northwestern Ontario.”
Gravelle, who had also battled cancer earlier this decade, took a months-long leave of absence last year after publicly announcing he was suffering from depression.
That break allowed him to reflect both on life and his political career.
“I’m feeling what a great opportunity it is to be the MPP to work to represent all my constituents as best I can,” Gravelle said.
“It’s a huge riding. It’s one of the bigger ridings in the province and there’s no question to have the honour of representing them for a seventh time would be very special. I think my time away allowed me think how important it was to me and hopefully I’ll get an opportunity to carry on that job.”
Gravelle, a senior member of Premier Kathleen Wynne’s cabinet as the current minister of northern development and mines, said the selection of Doug Ford as the new Progressive Conservative leader has sparked concerns that a PC government could undo much of what the Liberals achieved during their 15 years in power.
“I really do fear this will result in significant cuts to public services and that’s something we just can’t afford. We need to invest more in public services and there’s no doubt about that,” Gravelle said.
“We need to be very clear about the fact there’s a real contrast between the parties. The stakes are high. It’s very significant what’s going on and this campaign will show that as well.”
Gravelle, who won 56 per cent of the vote during his most recent win, will take on second-time Progressive Conservative challenger Derek Parks, who had seven per cent in 2014, and NDP first-time contestant Lise Vaugeois in the provincial election on June 7.
