Timmins-James Bay candidates vie for federal seat
With an area spanning more than 250,000 kilometres, from Kirkland Lake to Timmins and north to the James Bay Coast, four candidates are vying to serve the Timmins-James Bay riding in the fast-approaching federal election.
The incumbent, Charlie Angus, is coming off of a 17-year streak as MP for the New Democrats.
He said the party has a strong track recording of supporting the area's constituents through important issues and people can continue to rely on that.
"The issue of the opioid crisis is a very emotional issue in the area and people really want to know that something's going to be done on it," Angus said, of one of the key challenges that he promises to help overcome.
"We have many other issues that are hitting our region, certainly, the housing issues. We've had the Liberals talk about a national housing strategy forever -- we're not seeing the benefits of that.
"In the far north, we're still seeing in many communities where there's problems of clean water, poverty."
Conservative candidate Morgan Ellerton agreed these are some of the most pressing issues in the area, in addition to economic recovery from the pandemic.
However, he said the riding needs a change in representation to a party with a stronger presence in Parliament that can have more bargaining power.
"Especially the mental health, the homelessness, the addiction crisis in the area," said Ellerton, a registered nurse working at the Timmins and District Hospital who said the Conservatives offered the best platform for action.
"I've been struggling to get resources for many of my own patients and clients and this all just came together and said hey, this absolutely makes sense.
"Many of our resources and some of the investments that could be happening in our communities are simply falling to the side."
Former mayor in the race
Liberal candidate and former Timmins Mayor Steve Black said the riding has spent too long appealing to the ruling government for support.
He said with Justin Trudeau aiming for a majority in this election, voting Liberal is Timmins-James Bay's chance to make sure it is properly represented.
"When you look at Indigenous communities, when you look at mental health and addictions, when you look at housing, when you look at affordability for seniors and pensions for seniors, these are all issues that the Liberal party wants to continue to work on and address," said Black, who previously ran for the Conservatives.
"They've been key parts of their platforms over the years and I think (between) the two parties that are competing to form government right now — and it does look like it's a two-party race — the Liberal party is by far the better party to address those issues here, locally."
Also on the ballot is People's Party of Canada candidate Stephen MacLeod, who is running on the promise of ending COVID lockdowns and vaccine passports, boosting the regional economy and lowering federal taxes.
The Green Party is not fielding a candidate in this riding.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.