Derek Parks knows what it’s like to have to leave home to pursue an education and a career. He’s come back in hopes of a full-time transition to politics.
Parks will be putting his name on the ballot for the second time, returning as the Progressive Conservative candidate in Thunder Bay-Superior North after a third-place finish in 2014.
“Like a lot of people I had to move away for an education. One thing I do hear a lot at the doors is people telling me their kids have moved away because they weren’t able to find a job,” said Parks, who grew up in Nolalu and attended high school in Thunder Bay.
“That’s disheartening. We have to bring those opportunities back. We have great institutions with Lakehead University and Confederation College and they’re saying we have a retention problem. We’re training people with these great skill sets but they can’t use them here.
As an environmental scientist with a background in mining, Parks is particularly frustrated with his perceived lack of Ring of Fire development, eight years after Cliffs Natural Resources originally purchased a number of the mineral deposits.
Parks said he was told directly by party leader Doug Ford to work hard to get elected, because Ford could use somebody like him.
“When someone like that shows he will lean on you if you can get to the table, I’ll take that chance,” Parks said.
A father of two, Parks said his initial introduction to provincial politics showed him this was something he wanted to chase.
High costs, specifically hydro, are common themes he frequently hears on the campaign trail.
Financial stress from property value assessments have also been taking a toll across the region, he added.
“When you have a house along the north shore that was $250,000 and its now $500,000, they’re evaluating these properties like they’re in Muskoka,” Parks said.
“For me, that’s very tough when you have a very senior demographic and their pensions only go up one or two per cent, if at all, and their property taxes are going through the roof.”
