John Vanthof, coasted to an easy third time win in Timiskaming-Cochrane as the New Democrat easily beat his contenders by thousands of vote.
Vanthof and the NDP, who will form the official opposition, will face a Doug Ford Progressive Conservative government.
In an interview with the Moose following his win, Vanthof said “I will push for the issues important to my riding and where I can, I will work with the government.”
“But where I have to oppose them, I will oppose them,” Vanthof said.
Vanthof says three issues are big ones in the riding that he will pursue in the new session of Parliament.
One is safer roads which means better winter and summer time road maintenance, equality with Southern Ontario on issues like health and education and third, a restoration of passenger rail service.
On the issue of passenger rail, Vanthof notes that just like the NDP, the Tories also promised to restore the Northlander.
Although Vanthof admits a new government needs time to get its feet wet once it’s sworn in, he and his caucus will push to bring back passenger rail to the northeast within a reasonable amount of time.
Vanthof also talked about the Ring of Fire, which the NDP agreed to get off the ground as did the Conservatives during the campaign.
With a majority, the ball is now in Ford’s court to get the huge chromite project going and Vanthof will want to ensure it’s done right.
“We want to make sure that Northerners, including First Nations, all get a fair deal out of the Ring of Fire,” Vanthof said.
“We don’t want to see jobs exported elsewhere and what we’re left with are just short term jobs. This once-in-a-lifetime project needs to be done right for everyone.”
(Written By: Rocco Frangione)
