THUNDER BAY – POLITICS – The New Democrats in Thunder Bay Superior North will hold their nomination meeting on November 19 at 7:00 p.m., Castlegreen Community Centre.
Here is a statement issued by Lise Vaugeois who has declared her candidacy for the nomination:
Vaugeois believes that we are in a critical time in the province with the ongoing strike at Ontario’s colleges serving as an example of the Liberal government’s mismanagement and disastrous priorities. Precarious labour conditions are the result of policies intended to break unions and make low paid, precarious jobs the norm. Telling young people that education will lead to a bright future is surely an illusion if more and more of their highly qualified instructors are limited to unstable, low-waged, short-term contracts.
Between the underfunding of health and education and the sell-off of public assets, including seniors’ homes, blood services, winter road maintenance and, most recently, shares in Hydro One, consecutive liberal and conservative governments have undermined the capacity of the public sector to provide essential services – services needed to secure a healthy quality of life for everyone. Vaugeois believes that the privatization of public assets is against the public interest and must be stopped.
Lise Vaugeois moved to Thunder Bay in 1991 to take up a position with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra – a position she gave up in 2006 in order to complete a Doctorate – and is currently an Adjunct Professor at Lakehead University, director of a men’s chorus, and a small business owner. A long-time member of the NDP, Vaugeois has been engaged with Indigenous, women’s, anti-racist and anti-poverty movements for over 35 years.
Our region has many creative people—young and graciously aging—engaged in local clubs, churches, on the reserves, in artist circles and in activist groups—who have the skills, energy, passion and commitment to develop sustainable economies with fairness, respect, an equitable distribution of resources, and strong community connections as their goals. My hope is to win the NDP nomination and the upcoming provincial election so that I can bring these values to Queens Park and strengthen the quality of life available to everyone who lives in this beautiful region.
