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Decision 2022 – Thunder Bay-Superior Riding

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NDP Take Thunder Bay-Superior North

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It’s a first for the Ontario NDP Party in 22 years.

Lise Vaugeois avenges her 2018 defeat to Liberal incumbent Michael Gravelle and picks up the victory four years later in the riding of Thunder Bay-Superior North.

Vaugeois told Acadia News Thursday that the people behind the scenes helped make the victory possible.

“We had a phenomenal team and so many people who stepped up to help volunteer,” said Vaugeois. “Because of that we were able to reach many, many people, probably more than we were able to interact with four years ago, and I think that really made the difference.”

Vaugeois served as a professor with Lakehead University and also owns a small business.

Once sworn in at Queen’s Park, Vaugeois wants to tackle housing.

“There’s a housing crisis across the entire region,” Vaugeois stated. “That is all types and levels of housing that we need. (In Northwestern Ontario) there’s nowhere to put up extra health care staff when they come up here.”

She also says healthcare funding will be a priority.

“I will be fighting to get health care funded properly,” she said. “We need public health care. I think it is appalling that there are moves to privatize our health care and education, we need well funded and strong public health care.”

PC Party candidate Peng You finished second.

Fellow Thunder Bay councillor Shelby Ch’ng wound up in third, but learned a lot in the short campaign.

“I definitely would appreciate more time next time,” Ch’ng told Acadia News. “There are always things that you reflect on following a campaign that you would do differently. The big takeaway for me was seeing how unique and different each little town and municipality is, and hearing everyone’s voice and ideas of what makes their community great. They were so proud to show them off and it was a very nice Northern pride moment.”

Shelley Wark-Martin was the NDP Member of Provincial Parliament in the riding, last elected in 1990.

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Candidate Profile: Lise Vaugeois

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On June 2nd, Lise Vaugeois will make another attempt to become the Member of Provincial Parliament for Thunder Bay-Superior North.

She is running for the NDP after losing in the 2018 election to Liberal incumbent Michael Gravelle by just 813 votes.

“I have more experience this time around and I am more confident,” Vaugeois reflected, when asked what’s different this time. “I was ready the last time around, and we came very close to defeating Michael. People like Michael and I like him too. I feel like the NDP is really well positioned this time around. We have had 40 members in opposition that were not able to do nearly as much as they would like to do if they were working with a cooperative government.”

Vaugeois, who is a professor with Lakehead University and also a small business owner, was chosen as the candidate in February.

She feels she would be perfect for the role based on her ability to think on her feet and pivot quickly, which are skills that teachers have.

For the NDP, it’s about putting money back into areas like health care and education.

“We have as many as 45 students in some classes. I think the (PC government) let go between three and four thousand teachers before the (COVID-19) pandemic, and then we get into the pandemic and it has been disastrous for teachers, students and it doesn’t need to be,” Vaugeois added.

Election Day is Thursday, June 2nd

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Decision 2022: Thunder Bay-Superior North

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Three of the six declared candidates in the riding of Thunder Bay-Superior North met at Moose Hall.

This debate and the one on Thursday, May 12th at the DaVinci Centre (Thunder Bay-Atikokan) are being put on the Thunder Bay & District Injured Workers Support Group.

Treasurer Steve Mantis moderated the event Tuesday with Shelby Ch’ng of the Liberals, Lise Vaugeois of the NDP and Tracey MacKinnon of the Green Party taking questions from the podium and from those in attendance.

All three candidates said if given the opportunity, they would do away with Bill 124, which was introduced at Queen’s Park in June 2019 and received royal assent in November of that year.

When it comes to the topic of Long-Term Care, Ch’ng said for-profit care is the biggest mistake of the 20th century.

“We knew that for-profit care was terrible for seniors, but it took the (COVID-19) pandemic and (Premier) Doug Ford really messing it up,” Ch’ng added. “The military had to be sent in to change bandages that haven’t been changed for three days. Some patients were being overmedicated or undermedicated, while others were dying from dehydration because they can’t even get a sip of water. It’s absolutely crazy.”

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) was called by the provincial government in April of 2020 to help seven long-term care homes dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks.

Vaugeois pointed to the powers and jurisdiction of the Conservation Authority being changed through a Ministry Zoning Order.

“What it means is that a friend of (Premier) Doug Ford can come in and say ‘I want to build here’ while the Conservation Authority says ‘that’s a really bad idea because you are in a flood zone, and it’s going to create more problems for us’. They no longer have the ability to fulfill their mandate under the new rule that the Ford government brought it,” added Vaugeois.

In the 2021 report released by Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk, between March 2019 and March 2021 the government issued 44 Minister’s Zoning Orders.

Kathy Suutari of the New Blue Party and Peng You of the Ontario PC Party both had empty seats for Tuesday’s debate.

Mantis told Acadia News that Ontario PC candidate Kevin Holland will not take part in Thursday’s debate at 7:00 p.m.

You are encouraged to wear masks at the DaVinci Centre but it is not mandatory and there will be spacing to ensure social distancing.

Election Day will be Thursday, June 2nd

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Candidate Profile: Peng You

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Peng You is looking to do something no member of the Ontario PC Party has done in Thunder Bay-Superior North.

Since the riding was created in 1999 from Port Arthur and Lake Nipigon, Liberal Michael Gravelle has won every election with the Progressive Conservative candidate finishing no higher than third place.

The one-term councillor, who immigrated to Thunder Bay, wants to make history on June 2nd as an elected Member of Provincial Parliament.

While our interview request with You was declined, Alexandra Hilkene did provide some answers to an email sent by Acadia News late last week.

“By listening to constituents and being involved in the issues in our community, Peng understands the unique challenges that we face in the North and also understands what needs to get done to build Thunder Bay,” explained Hilkene, when asked about being an Art-Large councillor in Thunder Bay. “The people of Thunder Bay-Superior North need a plan to rebuild our economy, build infrastructure and keep costs down.”

You was first elected to Thunder Bay City Council in 2018.

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Ch’ng Running In Thunder Bay-Superior North

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Shelby Ch’ng will be making a run for a spot at Queen’s Park.

The current Northwood Councillor will take a leave of absence from her duties to join the provincial election race in Thunder Bay-Superior North.

Ch’ng was first elected in 2014 and won re-election in 2018.

“Thunder Bay is where I’ve lived, worked, and served my entire life,” said Ch’ng. “It’s a diverse, vibrant city with the brightest of futures. I want to continue playing a part in shaping the future of this city I love so much – and so I’m honoured to have this new opportunity to serve my community as their representative at Queen’s Park.”

Incumbent Michael Gravelle is undergoing treatment for cancer and is not running for re-election.

Lise Vaugeois will run for the NDP, current Thunder Bay At Large councillor Peng You is the Ontario PC candidate and Tracey MacKinnon is the Green Party candidate.

Section 259 of the Municipal Act allows for Members of Council to take a leave from their duties for up to 3 months with no penalty.

The election is set for Thursday, June 2nd.