SUDBURY -- It was a packed event inside the Holiday Inn Sudbury on Thursday as northern Ontario Liberals got their chance to learn a little more about the six candidates vying for leadership of their party.
And for what was billed as a debate, there was very little arguing. Most took the opportunity to inform delegates why they are the best suited to represent northern issues.
"We are building a pile of momentum," said Ontario Liberal Party President Brian Johns. "The leadership race is going great. We’re doing different debates across the province."
Johns admits after being decimated in the last election, the party has a lot of work to do to show voters they are not the "Toronto Liberal Party," but rather the "Ontario Liberal Party."
"The voters are always right, and they put us in the penalty box and we spent a lot of time there, and it’s time to come out. Doug Ford’s policies have really galvanized people in coming out," said Johns.
Moderated by former Sudbury MPP Glenn Thibeault, he appeared to be impressed with what he heard from the six candidates.
"I think the importance of healthcare and the economy, which really stood out to me, in terms of the dialogue and the conversation and what people were talking about afterwards. We really were talking about five segments that are really instrumental to the entire province," said Thibeault. "You know, there was some big pictures, some big thinking. You know, we’ve got an opportunity to really get this province back on track with the right leader."
None of the six candidates are from northern Ontario, and it was something that didn’t escape each of the six when they made their pitch to delegates in the room.
Thibeault says this is an opportunity for the party to learn from its mistakes and is hopeful voters will give them another chance.
"Everybody fails. Everybody needs to learn from those mistakes and then move forward, and that’s what we’re doing as a party," said Thibeault. "They all had a specific story about northern Ontario, because they all recognize the north is important. From our mining sectors, from the natural resources, the forestry sector, that’s what builds Bay Street. So, unless you listen to what is happening in the north and making sure the north has a strong economy, the south won’t have a strong economy."
Former Sudbury city councillor Janet Gasparini is one of those party members who are hoping to be a delegate when they vote in March.
"Some of the candidates talked about, first off, acknowledging that they weren’t from the north. And knowing that people in the north had good solutions to the problems, and I would hope that would really be one of the messages that carry onto whoever is leader. That, you know, in my term in politics in Sudbury, you know you have to come to the people … where they live," said Gasparini.
There are three more debates left in the campaign, all of which will be in the Greater Toronto area.
Next weekend, almost 2,000 delegates will be chosen to represent candidates at future local meetings.
Those delegates will cast their ballot at the leadership convention in Mississauga on March 7.
The six Ontario Liberal leadership candidates are:
