Rookie MPP Sarah Campbell says she can’t wait to roll up her sleeves and get to work for Kenora – Rainy River.
The NDP candidate won her first election earlier in the month with 10,752 votes, keeping the NDP-friendly riding orange for a fourth consecutive term. Progressive Conservative candidate Rod McKay finished as the runner up with 8,314. Campbell paid a quick visit to Thunder Bay on her way back to Kenora from Toronto and she said she’s ready to get to work.
“I feel excited and I think I’m hitting the ground running with the experience that I’ve had prior to the election and I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and get into the legislature,” Campbell said. “I’m going to fight for a fair deal. It is just getting more and more expensive living in the northwest. Hydro bills, healthcare, jobs. These are all things we need some movement on.”
Before Campbell’s win, the riding belonged to long-time popular MPP and former Ontario NDP leader Howard Hampton. Hampton had won the riding three times in landslide victories over distant second-place Liberal candidates.
Campbell said she often turns to Hampton whenever she has questions and for guidance on how to run the riding. It helps having those years of experience to know the issues better, she said.
“So far I’m still in my comfort zone,” she said. “Right now it is mostly riding work but when we get back to (Queens Park) it will definitely be different going into the legislature and seeing a bit of the theatrics. That will be a bit of a learning curve.”
During the election, the Liberal party was one seat shy of another majority government. Now that the liberals have a minority they will need to work with the other parties more and that means a completely new ball game for the NDP, she said.
“You can’t underestimate the power of any MPP,” she said.
