Northern Leaders Debate a Go for Liberals
THUNDER BAY – The debate is on. Kathleen Wynne has stepped up and honoured her challenge to Tim Hudak and Andrea Horwath on a Northern Leader’s Debate.
Ontario Liberal leader Kathleen Wynne has confirmed her participation in the Northern Leaders’ Debate on Monday, May 26th. The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) will host the debate in Thunder Bay.
“I am pleased to hear that there will be a leader’s debate in Thunder Bay. This reaffirms the Liberal party’s commitment to Northern Ontario. We have a strong plan for the North and I am confident that this forum will clearly demonstrate our commitment and highlight what matters most to Northerners,” added Bill Mauro Liberal candidate Thunder Bay – Atikokan.
Wynne was first to call for a debate specifically focused on Northern issues and put forward a direct challenge to the PC and NDP leaders while attending NOMA’s annual conference in Fort Frances on April 24th, 2014.
“Challenge Made Me Giggle” – Horwath
“I’ve been clear from the start of this campaign that the people of Ontario deserve a real debate between party leaders about their plans for Ontario families – especially in the North. In the last campaign the Liberals refused to join the debate and defend their record on Northern issues. If they’re now willing to debate Northern issues, I look forward to the debate.”
The news made NDP leader Andrea Howath “Giggle” when she heard the challenge.
In the 2014 Liberal budget, Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals committed to:
- A $1 billion investment to build vital transportation infrastructure for the Ring of Fire
- A new $2.5 billion Jobs and Prosperity Fund to attract new investment and create jobs
$29 billion in dedicated funds to build new roads, bridges and transit - $500 million to support the Northern Highways Program and continued 4-laning of our highways
- $100 million to support the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund and continued job creation
The Liberals say, in a statement, “Andrea Horwath’s NDP put Ontario’s economic recovery at risk when they chose not to support a budget that would have made important investments in Northern Ontario”.
“The Hudak PC proposal to slash 100,000 jobs would put Ontario’s economy at risk and plunge the province back into recession. Fewer people at work means less money invested back into the economy, leading to thousands of layoffs,” according to the Liberals.
Michael Gravelle Liberal candidate Thunder Bay – Superior North concludes, “Kathleen Wynne has shown great leadership in her commitment to Northern Ontario. She held her first cabinet meeting in the North and has kept Northern issues front and centre ever since. The best way to continue this work is by talking about what matters most in Northern communities – the Northern debate is a great way to have that discussion. We have a strong plan for creating jobs and growing the Northern economy and we look forward to putting that up against the other two leaders.”
Depending on the polls, the Liberals are either leading the election, at least according to the latest Ekos Poll, or way behind as the Ipso Reid Poll has it. The only poll that really matters will be on election day.
LIVE STREAM Coverage
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