Doug West doesn’t think the province’s Liberal government will be a minority for long.
The Lakehead University political science professor said the fact that the Liberals are only one seat away from another majority means there are probably already plans to convince an NDP or Progressive Conservative MPP to join the Liberal Party with the promise of a cabinet position.
“I have a funny feeling that someone is going to cross the floor just to make it a majority and I think they’re probably working on that now,” West said from his office at Lakehead’s Orillia campus.
On Thursday, Oct. 6 Ontario’s Liberal party won a third consecutive election.
Unlike the previous two wins, the party was unable to reach official majority status. Instead, the Liberals captured 53 seats to become the ruling party. A party needs at least 54 seats to rule as a majority government.
As for what a minority government means for the north, West said Michael Gravelle will most likely keep his cabinet post in Northern Development, Mines and Forestry.
“I don’t think it’s going to have a detrimental effect on the north at all,” West said.
West hopes that the minority means more dialogue with First Nations communities, especially on development issues related to the ring of fire. That would help Ontario’s economy and start to benefit everyone from the provincial government to northern communities.
Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce president Harold Wilson is hoping that the minority government will give the chamber a chance to reintroduce northern issues to the Liberals.
From the far north act to provincial debt, Wilson said there were plenty of issues brought up by the chamber in the last year that weren’t adequately addressed.
Wilson is hoping that the Liberals will have to be more mindful of opposition when introducing legislation that could stall development in the north.
“We were disappointed at times that the emphasis was more on regulatory side,” Wilson said.
Lakehead Labour Council’s Melanie Kelso said a minority is better for the north than a majority.
“We all have to work together in the same sandbox and share our toys.” Kelso said.
Majority government’s run the risk of making decisions that aren’t in everyone’s best interests. Kelso hopes that this government recognizes that the north has different needs.
