THUNDER BAY – Judith Monteith-Farrell describes herself as Judy the Justice Warrior.
As the newly nominated NDP candidate in Thunder Bay-Atikokan, she’ll be turning her attention to a different target for the next two-and-a-half months, taking on longtime Liberal MPP and cabinet minister Bill Mauro in the upcoming provincial election.
Monteith-Farrell promised to be a champion of the downtrodden, adding if she’s elected she’ll spend her time in office fighting for better health care, something she said the Liberal government has abandoned over 15 years holding the reins of power.
“I think people are suffering and are not able to access the health care they need,” she said on Tuesday night, accepting the nomination in front of a couple dozen party faithful at the West Thunder Community Centre.
“I think there’s also the challenge of the lack of opportunity for our young people and we need to ensure that there’s jobs for them so they can stay in Thunder Bay. And we need to develop the wonderful, but sustainable environment up here.”
With Premier Kathleen Wynne stealing pages out of the typical NDP playbook and offering up free daycare and a pharmacare program, Monteith-Farrell said it’s ironic the platform the Liberals plan to run on, seeking a fifth term at the helm on June 7.
“Really, the only things popular about the Wynne government are the things that she stole from the NDP platform, but watered down,” Monteith-Farrell said. “And the Conservatives, they’re not offering (anything). What they’re offering are cuts. They’re offering negative messaging. They’re not offering hope, they’re not offering good will toward the people of Ontario.”
Monteith-Farrell, a long-time union worker, said she wants to be the voice of change in Thunder Bay-Atikokan, adding the same-old, same-old isn’t working any longer.
It’s something she believes she was born to do.
“I have the long experience representing people of all kinds and all different jobs and nature and (working on) different campaigns,” she said.
“And I think I can speak to people about their lives. I’ve lived here my whole life and I’ve got that experience. I think that’s important. And I think people are ready for change and are disappointed by some of the things that the Liberal government did. I believe I’m that person.”
Monteith-Farrell also stressed during her remarks that she’d be a champion for the region’s Indigenous people, promising the province would take on its fair share of responsibility toward its Aboriginal population and not simply pass the buck to Ottawa.
“I think I have a real understanding of First Nations issues. I’ve worked with Indigenous people throughout my career and I think I’m able to listen and be a respectful partner in living in Ontario,” she said, adding she’ll push for more Northern Ontario voices at the table.
Monteith-Farrell is the second NDP candidate nominated in the riding. Former MP John Rafferty was initially handed the task, but bowed out because of health concerns. In addition to the Liberal’s Mauro, the PC’s have two candidates, Moe Comuzzi and Brandon Postuma, seeking the nomination in Thunder Bay-Atikokan.
