Soon-to-be Ontario NDP leader Marit Styles visits Timmins
Just a week away from the confirmation vote that will officially make her the leader of the Ontario NDP, Marit Stiles visited Timmins Saturday to speak with media and supporters about her plans to support northern communities at Queens Park.
Joined by Mushkegowuk-James Bay New Democrat MPP Guy Bourgouin and retired former Timmins NDP MPP Gilles Bisson, Stiles told reporters that the Ontario Government is wrong to fight public sector wage increases and to lean towards private-sector-based healthcare.
“We’ve got everybody in this province competing for very few healthcare workers,” Stiles said in an interview.
“Everybody from doctors, to nurses, to PSWs. The last thing we need is a private, for-profit system that can pay more to suck more of those people out of our communities and into private clinics."
Stiles went on to say she worries that more healthcare funding will go to shareholder profits.
Visiting a historically NDP riding that’s now Progressive Conservative one, she said her party will still support northern communities.
Stiles told CTV News one of her goals is to win this riding back in the next election.
“[People are] struggling here, they’re struggling all over the province and we need to make sure that this government doesn’t ignore them,” she said.
“I want to make sure that the people of Timmins won’t get left behind, that this government doesn’t take people here for granted.”
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Family doctor and nurse practitioner recruitment are also top of mind for the New Democrats, as well as better winter road maintenance than the recently updated 12-hour bare pavement standard on highways 11 and 17.
Bourgouin said he’s going to continue pushing to get those highways ‘Class 1’ designations, which Carrie’s higher maintenance standards.
For Bisson, he said though Timmins voted PC after over 30 years, he said the he and the NDP had always supported them and helped get funding for major projects in the city; citing his help in funding the construction of the Timmins and District Hospital in 1993, under the Bob Rae NDP government and the building of the Cochrane Temiskaming Children’s Treatment Centre’s permanent location in 1998, under the Mike Harris Conservatives.
Bisson said Timmins had as much opportunity for funding as an NDP riding as it has now under its PC MPP George Pirie – but that a New Democrat will make a larger effort to help organizations apply for the funding they need.
He said he feels Stiles and her future candidate for Timmins will see that return.
“She’s a positive individual who proposes ideas, not just opposes, and I think she’s going to do very well for the party,” said Bisson.
“You’ve got people like Guy and a very strong caucus that will do well. I think this riding is going to go back to the NDP.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israel attacks Iran, Reuters sources say; drones reported over Isfahan
Iran fired air defence batteries early Friday morning as explosions could be heard near a major air base near Isfahan, raising fears of a possible Israeli strike following Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.