THUNDER BAY – Margaret Wanlin had a bird’s-eye view of politics at the federal level for seven years.
Her husband, Bruce Hyer, was the NDP and Green Party MP for Thunder Bay-Superior North from 2008 until 2015.
This time around, it’s Wanlin who is seeking political office, having thrown her name into the 26-candidate at-large race in a bid to become one of 13 members on Thunder Bay’s city council.
A consultant with background in community economic development, mediation and facilitations, the 62-year-old Wanlin says she decided to join the crowded race because she loves the city, but thinks council and the community could do better and be better.
She wants to be part of that change, starting on the business front.
“We need to develop our economy, because everybody knows a good job is a good foundation for a good life,” she said.
“We need to strengthen the economy in all of the various sectors. We’ve lost a lot of industrial jobs the past decade or two and we really need to work hard to try to grow those type of jobs, as well as jobs in the commercial sector and the government sector.”
To get there, Wanlin said the city can’t pretend it can return to the pre-forestry collapse days. But there are solutions.
“You hear about concerns about planning issues, so certainly we need to look into those. It’s not a free-for-all, but neither should it be too tied up in red tape. It’s finding the right balance between those two,” she said.
A long-term outlook on the future of the community is also needed, along with a plan to get there.
Community safety is another issue she’s hearing concerns about while on the campaign trail, and Wanlin says it’s clear the city needs to have safe neighbourhoods, that will lead to a Thunder Bay where everyone can become a success.
Further to that, Wanlin said it behooves the city to do a better job helping people coming to the city, particularly from the far north, make a seamless transition.
“I think it’s not just a city issue. For example, people moving from the far north – the communities are very different from Thunder Bay – need transitional help in a way that’s similar to what refugees coming from another country might need,” Wanlin said. “And I think Thunder Bay has to work with the federal and provincial governments on issues such as that to make those transitions successful.
The municipal election is on Oct. 22, with online and telephone voting starting on Oct. 9.
