THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay voters got their first chance to directly question the candidates on Tuesday night. The Moose Hall on Fort William Road was the scene for a townhall meeting.
There are several issues which have come forward during this campaign. The Event Centre has been front and centre in the online debate. Critics of the opportunity for Thunder Bay have said that the decision should be left to the people in a vote.
Councillor Aldo Ruberto stated, “Would you want people voting on a 104 million dollar project that have not attended meetings? Never read any reports? Had no factual information? Or did not even care whether we have built or not build an Event Center, voting on this issue?”
“The city conducted a survey on this issue, 10 % of the people surveyed, did not even know anything about an Events Center, never heard of it …do you want them voting on this important issue? The Waterfront might not have gone forward if we had a plebiscite because early in the process there was so much misinformation out there misleading people into believing we were doomed if we went forward with this project. The same thing was happening here with the events center. We also ran out of time in April to get the Events Center on the plebiscite ballot for October”.
The race for Mayor has been considered by many as a three horse race with Mayor Hobbs, Councillor Boshcoff and challenger Shane Judge as the main contenders. Doug McKay, Colin Burbridge and Henry Wojak are also challenging for the top seat at the Council Chambers at City Hall.
The battle for mayor has, in some cases appeared to become increasingly on the records of the Mayor and Ken Boshcoff. Mayor Hobbs and Councillor Boshcoff have been engaged in a battle that has appeared quite personal at times.
Hobbs states, “Ken Boshcoff has stated that I am personally attacking him. Let me be perfectly clear. I don’t engage in that behavior. I am pitting his record as Mayor against mine and his last four years on Council compared to mine.”
Boshcoff states, “It is regrettable that the campaign is being changed from citizen concerns to personal attacks on me.”
There has been an ongoing sign battle happening, the Hobbs campaign has stated that 200 of their election signs have gone missing.
Moving closer to the election date of October 27th, it is likely that the campaign issues will be raised, there will be a candidate’s debate featuring the candidates for Mayor. On Wednesday, October 15th at the Community Auditorium, Thunder Bay mayoral candidates will debate key issues facing Thunder Bay. The discussion will be moderated by Keith Jobbitt, retired lawyer and community volunteer.
Hear directly from mayoral candidates about their vision and action plan for our city.
Can’t make it to the event? Watch the webcast online
