KENORA – POLITICS – With the provincial election quickly approaching, it’s an important time for Ontarians to step up and have their voices heard. During my time in the riding these past few weeks, the upcoming Ontario election has been an ongoing topic of conversation. It’s important that we listen to what the candidates have to say to ensure that they have a strong and well thought out plan that best represents your beliefs.
We need to make certain that each candidate has a thorough understanding of our unique riding to ensure our continued growth and prosperity. It’s important to hear what they each have to say about how they plan to develop long-term strategies and go about implementing them. At the top of the list must be improvements to our infrastructure, healthcare system, connecting the North through safe roads and airports, including the twinning of the highway, and ensuring we have 21st-century services like high-speed Internet and reliable cell phone service.
These strategies are necessary in order to attract new business to the North. It should come as no surprise that the growth of small and medium-sized businesses are the key to our future prosperity. We need all levels of government working together, no matter which party is in power, to ensure that communities in Northwestern Ontario have a chance to grow and prosper.
I have been working hard with my fellow Northern rural caucus members to raise the important issues that affect us in Northwestern Ontario and throughout rural Canada. Just last month, FedNor released the Prosperity and Growth Strategy for Northern Ontario (PGSNO), which focuses on a regional approach to economic development, specific to Northwestern Ontario.
This strategy focuses on building collaborations between ongoing federal and provincial programs and stakeholders in order to respond to the distinct needs of those operating in the region. It will also help to identify opportunities for growth in sectors such as mining, forestry, steel, agriculture, and tourism in response to growing global demand while acknowledging the importance of the environment and green technology.
We’re all Northerners. My commitment is to work collaboratively with all branches of government, whether it is provincial, municipal, or First Nations because at the end of the day it’s about what is best for our riding. I will continue advocating for what we need to bring growth and prosperity to the North – that’s my job.
As we get closer to Election Day in Ontario, I encourage everyone to pay attention to what all of the candidates have to say then head to the polls and exercise your democratic right to vote.
Bob Nault MP
Kenora
