THUNDER BAY – Bill Mauro is seeking another term at Queen’s Park 15 years after he was first elected to provincial office.
The four-term MPP again secured the Liberal nomination to represent the party in the Thunder Bay-Atikokan riding in this June’s Ontario election when he was acclaimed on Monday night.
Mauro, who secured nearly 53 per cent of the vote when he retained his seat in 2014, said he believes the region has progressed since he was first elected in 2003 but was quick to add there is more work to be done.
“When the community is doing well, you feel good about the work you’re doing,” Mauro said. “Thunder Bay, by and large, is in a pretty good place. We feel like we moved the yardsticks forwards on a number of files – health care, infrastructure, highways.”
Mauro has served as the minister of municipal affairs since 2016 after previously holding the natural resources and forestry portfolio following the Liberal’s majority victory four years ago.
Sitting high on Mauro’s local agenda is bringing the comprehensive cardiovascular surgery program that was announced by former health minister Eric Hoskins last year across the finish line.
“That’s top of mind for me, building on the angioplasty that’s been so successful. Thousands of people have been treated here at home,” Mauro said. “The Thunder Bay Expressway is another one. From Arthur Street to Balsam, lots of work going on there.”
The province-wide race has come into clearer focus after the Progressive Conservatives selected populist favourite Doug Ford to lead their party into the election, pitting the former Toronto city councillor against Premier Kathleen Wynne and NDP leader Andrea Horwath in the contest to govern Ontario.
“There is a stark contrast between the candidates now and the parties now. It’s a very clear choice,” Mauro said. “It will be interesting to see where people land. From my perspective, my focus as an MPP has been on the riding.”
Polls released within the last couple of weeks show Wynne with the lowest approval rating of the three leaders with the Liberals trailing the Progressive Conservatives by a sizeable margin.
Mauro is optimistic public opinion will shift as the June 7 election date draws near.
“Between elections people tend to focus on the government. That’s expected and understandable,” Mauro said. “But I think as the election gets closer people, voters, potential voters tend to begin to focus on all the parties, including the opposition parties.”
Both the Progressive Conservatives and New Democrats have yet to name candidates in the riding. Both riding association president Brandon Postuma and former Thunder Bay-Rainy River federal Conservative challenger Moe Comuzzi have expressed their intent to seek the PC nomination while Judith Monteith-Farrell has stepped forward for the NDP after John Rafferty was forced to withdraw from the race citing health issues.
