THUNDER BAY – A local lawyer has Health Minister Patty Hajdu in her sights, but plans to defeat her at the ballot box, not in a courtroom.
Chantelle Bryson on Monday announced she will be acclaimed on July 27 as the federal NDP candidate in Thunder Bay-Superior North, a riding Hajdu has held since 2015 and the past two elections.
Bryson was not available on Tuesday, but Thunder Bay-Superior North riding association president Charles Faust said there was an extensive vetting process, adding the party looked at as many as 30 different candidates.
“We just think she’s the right person at the right time and she’s ready,” Faust said of Bryson, who has worked extensively with the municipal sector, as well as with Indigenous families and communities. She’s also got a strong social justice portfolio.
The timing couldn’t be better.
There’s widespread speculation a federal election will be called later this year, perhaps as early as next month.
The party has to be prepared, Faust said.
“It’s not news that the Liberals want to try to get a majority while things are looking good in terms of the vaccine roll-out. I think it’s clear they would have liked to have gone earlier, even last spring, but we’re certainly expecting an August call, and we have to be ready,” he said.
“That’s the interesting thing about a minority government, is you don’t know when it’s coming and you have to be ready and we’re really excited to be in this position.”
Though Hajdu will be a tough opponent – she won in a 17.3-point landslide over Conservative Frank Pullia in the 2018 vote – Faust said the party believes Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has left himself open for defeat.
“I think the bloom is off the rose a little bit for Mr. Sunny Ways, Justin Trudeau. He’s been promising everything and giving us very little in terms of Indigenous Affairs, in terms of women’s rights, etc. We think he’s vulnerable. He speaks a good line, but his actions don’t back him up,” Faust said.
“That’s what we’re looking at.”
Anna-Betty Achneepineskum, a former Nishnawbe Aski Nation deputy chief, finished third for the NDP two years ago.
Neither the Conservatives nor the Green Party has yet to name a candidate in the riding.
