THUNDER BAY - The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario has selected a familiar face to vie for the Thunder Bay-Superior North riding that it has been unable to win for the last 40 years.
Derek Parks was acclaimed as the PC candidate on Friday to run in the Thunder Bay-Superior North riding in next year’s provincial election.
“The time is right for change,” Parks said following his nomination. “We have a provincial leader who does care about the north and we have a lot of time to see that commitment as we move forward to that election.”
Parks came in third when he ran for the PC party in 2014 and drew criticism for not actually living in the riding. Originally from Nolalu, Parks and his family have moved back to the region and bought a house in Shuniah.
“We do think it is time for a change in the province of Ontario and I think there is some time for change here in Thunder Bay-Superior North,” said Rick Dykstra, president of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. “I know that Derek is an outstanding candidate, he understands the political process, he sits on our party’s executive, he has a strong history in terms of understanding how to run.”
Following his nomination, Parks became emotional as he spoke about his commitment to the North, as well as party leader, Patrick Brown's commitment to the region.
“He wanted change,” Parks said. “The reality is we lost three provincial elections and basically shot ourselves in the foot. What I appreciate about Patrick is when he talked, he brought it more into my belief systems. Patrick was the first progressive conservative leader to march in the Gay Pride Parade. These issues have sailed and are no longer relevant in today's Canadian or provincial politics.”
Leading up to the next year’s election, Parks said issues like hydro rates and MPAC assessments going up are making it more difficult for people on fixed incomes to afford to live in Northern Ontario.
“When you look at hydro which is almost an essential service, you feel you are being taken advantage of with the hydro rates,” he said. “It’s one of the common things I hear when I talked to people, is hydro. With hydro going up, it’s like death by a thousand cuts and people are looking to stop the bleeding.”
The Progressive Conservatives have not won a seat in the riding since 1963, but both Parks and Dykstra believe the people in Northern Ontario want to see change.
“The north is part what builds our party,” Dykstra said. “We believe there is a great opportunity for us to send a good contingent of northerners representing this community on the government side. We believe in the north and that the north has a lot to say.”
Parks will be running against Liberal incumbent, Michael Gravelle, and an NDP candidate that will be selected during a nomination meeting on Sunday.
