KENORA – The election campaign is on in Kenora. The incumbent MP is Conservative Greg Rickford, who holds the cabinet position of Minister of Natural Resources in the government. Rickford is facing off against a pair of seasoned political veterans. Former MP Liberal Bob Nault is seeking a return to Ottawa. Howard Hampton, the former New Democrat provincial leader and MPP for the riding is seeking to move up to the federal arena.
The campaign is underway with first out of the gate being Liberal Bob Nault.
“There is no question that the top issue both locally and nationally will be the state of our economy. In the North, we are falling further and further behind. With unemployment in the region at close to 13% and the rest of Canada following the North into a recession, the Conservatives must answer for how they have mismanaged our economy,” said Nault.
“When the Conservative government took power in 2006, they inherited 9 straight years of balanced budgets and a $14 billion surplus from the Liberals. Since then, they have added over $150 billion to the national debt, which is close to 26% of all national debts accumulated since Confederation. They have the worst record for job growth since the 1930’s. As a result, Canada is the only G7 country in a recession.”
Nault started his campaign by visiting Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (Big Trout) and Wapekeka First Nations this week. He will be meeting with newly elected K.I. Chief James Cutfeet, Wapekeka Deputy Chief Ananias Winter and their respective councils on issues of education, health care, infrastructure and building a First Nations economy.
Nault stresses that First Nations and Métis People will have a big role in deciding whom the next MP will be for the Kenora riding.
“First Nations People face very unique challenges in our region. Many communities lack basic infrastructure such as sewage, water, all weather roads, and grids. For our region to be successful in the future we must ensure that First Nations People play a larger role in our economy. But first we have a responsibility to ensure that these communities do not fall further and further behind.”
Nault is confident that the Liberals have put forward the best plan to help all Northerners.
“It’s clear that the Conservative plan for the North has failed and the NDP has no plan to improve our economy. Only the Liberal plan will help all Northerners return to prosperity.”
