Sandra Pupatello would focus on jobs, the economy and party renewal if the Liberals choose her to lead.
One of seven candidates in the race for the Ontario Liberal’s top spot, Pupatello said job one is going to be reengaging party members across the North.
“The party members want to feel like they can reengage again,” she said Saturday afternoon at the Thunder Bay Museum where she met with members of both local riding associations.
Getting members engaged will be key to building an election platform that needs to be ready whenever an election is called she said. In the meantime if chosen as leader in January, she would work with other parties to talk jobs
“I’m going to work on a jobs agenda right away and invite the other two parties in to participate in that so we’re not going to wait and let any grass grow under our feet,” she said.
Pupatello admitted to the room that the Liberals are not very popular in Ontario right now. But gaining the public’s trust back is something she can do she said.
She would make the Northern Industrial Electricity Rate a long-term program so that industry would see that the government wants to be partners.
“We want them as partners to be developing because that means jobs for the local economy,” she said.
Originally elected in 1995, Pupatello left her Windsor seat in 2011 but saw great strides in Fist Nations consultation during her time as MPP.
“The First Nations communities have had more consultation with our government over the last nine years than they would have had cumulatively over the last two governments,” she said.
“We’re not just talking in sloganism like I used to hear when I was in opposition. There are real concrete opportunities to engage with these communities.”
Backed by both local MPPs Michael Gravelle and Bill Mauro, Pupatello said she has two of the best politicos at Queen’s Park in her corner.
“These are the kinds of guys that are going to help change the face of Ontario not just the Northwest,” she said.
