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Meet the Candidates: Andrew Foulds, NDP

Andrew Foulds is driven by fairness. "I have had huge opportunities. I've had opportunities for good schooling, good health care, good recreation," said the 41-year-old married father of three.
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Andrew Foulds, NDP (Jodi Lundmark, tbnewswatch.com)

Andrew Foulds is driven by fairness.

"I have had huge opportunities. I've had opportunities for good schooling, good health care, good recreation," said the 41-year-old married father of three.

For the last eight years, Foulds has sat as the city councillor for the Current River ward and throughout his life has met many people without the same opportunities he has had.

That's why he's running as the NDP candidate in Thunder Bay-Superior North.

"It makes up my core that I think in this country, in this province more people should be happy," he said.

High post-secondary tuition, inaccessible health care in the north and people working multiple minimum-wage jobs to provide for their families are some of the issues Foulds sees plaguing the people in his riding.

"I see how tough it is out there and I want to be their champion," he said, adding his experience as a teacher and councillor have prepared him to be a provincial representative.

"I've got the fire to fight for them," he said.

The top issue Foulds has heard while canvassing is a loss of trust with elected officials over the eHealth, Ornge and gas plant scandals.

"People are angry and frustrated," he said. "I want to give people hope and faith."

People have also lost faith in the Ring of Fire and it's $2 billion of potential revenue.

Foulds does support developing the area, but only if revenue sharing with First Nations is ensured as well as making sure the benefits don't come at the expense of the environment.

"I have children. I'm hopeful at some point I'll have grandchildren. I'm not interested in poisoning the land, the air or the water," he said.

The opportunity with the Ring of Fire is huge and Foulds said the consultation and revenue sharing negotiations should have happened years ago.

The north-side candidate is also supportive of the concept of the proposed event centre, but it needs to be a partnership between all levels of government.

"This legacy project costs a lot of dollars and will benefit this entire region. The city, the province and the country need to see that benefit and they need to invest," Foulds said.

The NDP platform includes 50 24-hour health clinics and the hiring of nurse practitioners to cut emergency wait times in half and Foulds said increased support for nutrition programs, physical and health education and dental health will make health care more efficient and cheaper in the long-run.

 




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