DRYDEN – POLITICS – “Members of Toronto-based special interest groups who deal with the occasional raccoon rummaging through their green bin really don’t have the experience necessary to comment on a bear in the backyard. We will give northerners more control over how their land is used and developed. Real decision making in the north is the key to the region’s future prosperity. That means more decisions in the north, for the north and by the north.” states Randy Nickle, the Progressive Conservative candidate in Kenora-Rainy-River Riding.
The PC Party states, “Local communities will have more input into the laws that affect their way of life. For example, the northern point of view should be given significant weight when it comes to issues that have direct local impact – like wildlife management, land-use planning and crown land development”.
During the 2014 election campaign, Tim Hudak the PC Party Leader declined to participate in the Northern Leaders’ Debate and has not published any plans to visit the North.
“If I am honoured with the responsibility of representing the Kenora-Rainy River riding in Queen’s Park on June 12 I can assure you that I will be the voice for proper wildlife management – the voice for change. We need solid local input on issues like equitable distribution of moose tags, deer management, and a sensible return of a Spring bear hunt, not knee jerk reactions and endless committees with zero results. In order to properly manage wildlife – it must be taken seriously – it deserves nothing less.” continued Nickle
The Northern Vision plan and Ontario PC Platform whose key points were announced May 14 includes:
- Providing local governments with a share of the royalties and taxes that now flow only to the Provincial Government;
- Affordable energy that gets people back to work in the North;
- Giving Northerner’s more control over how their land is used and developed;
- Returning Ontario again to the best jurisdiction in the world for mining and forestry;
- Eliminate unneeded government regulations.