THUNDER BAY – Voters will head to the polls on Sept. 20 for a late summer election, and local candidates are already putting on their political gloves and ready for battle.
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, seeking a third term as prime minister, pulled the trigger on Sunday, standing on his COVID-19 response in his initial appeal to the electorate.
“When Canadians needed our support during the global COVID-19 pandemic, we had their backs. We ensured they could continue to pay their bills, keep food on the table, and stay on their company’s payroll,” Trudeau said in a release issued shortly after the vote was called.
“Now it’s time to hear their voices. Because the decisions that the government makes right now will define the future our kids grow up in – and Canadians deserve to have their say in shaping it. Together, we need to choose how we finish the fight against COVID-19, get the job done on vaccines, and build back a better tomorrow. That’s why we need this election.”
Local candidates were quick to fire back on Sunday, beginning their quests to wrest Thunder Bay’s two seats out of the hands of the governing Liberals.
The NDP’s Chantelle Bryson, seeking to oust Health Minister Patty Hajdu, called it an election of unprecedented consequences, saying voters have the choice of sticking with the status quo and protecting big business and Canada’s ultra-rich or providing security for youth and struggling families and workers hit hard by the pandemic.
“Families, workers and small businesses need continued supports and fair taxation while they adjust to limited re-opening of schools and activities, employment opportunities and business operating capacity, in face of ongoing COVID risks,” Bryson said in a release. “Our plan will invest heavily in public and green infrastructure, workers and communities transitioning to the green economy, and Canadian manufacturing and sourced materials, creating good full-time jobs with benefits and secured pensions.”
The Green Party’s Amanda Moddejonge, also seeking a seat in Thunder Bay-Superior North, criticized Trudeau for Canada’s response to the situation in Afghanistan, where the American withdrawal of troops has allowed the Taliban to quickly regain control of much of the war-torn country.
Effectively what has happened is the prime minister has left Canada's allies behind during the takeover of this country by the Taliban. They have been left behind while the government is promising to Canadians that he will help these same people,” Moddejonge said in a release.
“Yesterday they were in a position to help them. Today it is far more difficult to provide any aid in any capacity. He knows this. I believe that his intent with these promises is to give the illusion that he intends to do the right thing while not really expecting to ever have to fulfil his promises. And because these promises most affect people that are a world away his words will long be forgotten by the next election.
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole took to Twitter in response to the election call.
"I am ready to get our economy surging in the right direction for all Canadians."
In addition to Bryson, Moddejonge and Hadju, voters in Thunder Bay-Superior North will have Conservative Joshua Taylor and The People’s Party of Canada’s Richard Daines to choose from.
In Thunder Bay-Rainy River, incumbent Marcus Powlowski will look to defend his seat, running against the NDP’s Yuk-Sem Won, who finished third in 2019, Conservative Adelina Pecchia, the Green Party’s Tracey MacKinnon and Alan Aubut, running under the PPC banner.
In Kenora, Conservative incumbent Eric Melillo is in the hunt again, going up against the Liberal’s David Bruno, the NDP’s Janine Seymour and Remi Rheault of the Green Party.
