THUNDER BAY – Wolfgang Schoor says things have changed in Thunder Bay, and not for the better.
Calling Thunder Bay politically burdened and a volatile place to work and live, the 71-year-old has thrown his name into the mayoral candidate ring, saying he wants to reduce lewd behaviour, create safer streets, improve transportation and review high water and tax rates.
“For the last 20 years, our fine city, I have seen it slipping and sliding from a vibrant city going into a politically burdened organization,” Schoor said.
“There are potholes where you can grow tomatoes in. We rate the third-highest in terms of crime rate in all of Canada on a per capita basis. I believe the murder rate is second-highest in Canada on a per capita basis. Aging people, such as myself, are frightened to go shopping because they get bummed all the time.”
This isn’t Schoor’s first kick at the political can.
Four years ago he inserted himself into the at-large race, finishing 18th of 19 candidates hunting for one of five seats.
He’d like to see a return to the values of yesteryear, not to mention the associated prosperity.
“Our children, including my own fine son, he left because there was very little opportunity in Thunder Bay as a construction worker ... The city itself is a great place, it’s got great people, but we can do a lot better than we have,” Schoor said.
“The current council doesn’t see that. We need change. And the big thing is, what we need to do as a people, is vote. That doesn’t mean you have to vote for me.”
Schoor said it’s a simple fix, pointing to the shift from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based one. Confederation College and Lakehead University are the keys to future success in the city.
“When we can encourage people to stay, then that becomes an economy in itself. It’s a technology transfer,” Schoor said.
The more people, the more jobs, he said, as industry realizes it has a workforce in place to take on the jobs.
“Based on the assumption you can reverse the trend of out-migration, create an industry, it doesn’t have to be building rockets. In Thunder Bay you have between 106,000 and 108,000 people immediately within the city itself. So 150,000 people would make this a shining diamond in the north.”
A certified master builder with a degree in applied ergonomics, Schoor said the entire municipal system must be re-evaluated, which is what led him to run for mayor, rather than joining the at-large race again.
“I looked at the mandate and what the duties are of the mayor and what the duties are of a councillor are in the ward or at-large, and I thought as mayor I can be the most value for the people of Thunder Bay,” Schoor said.
