In the second part of Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli’s discussion with TimminsToday, he discusses the Ontario PC party’s chances at gaining traction within the Timmins-James Bay riding, amongst other topics.
In early December of 2014, the Ontario Liberals made a proposal to crack down on SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) lawsuits.
The Liberals feel that this ensures Ontarians freedom of expression and the right to formal protests involving matters of public interest.
SLAPPs are meritless lawsuits that are designed to intimidate and silence critics by burdening them with legal costs.
This rising trend in Ontario has been recognised by the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, Gord Miller, as becoming a serious problem.
Fedeli believes the proposal has its weaknesses.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the full bill. I’m currently working with many groups, both in the North and the south, to provide amendments to the legislation that I think are going to enhance it. I’ll leave it at that,” he said.
Timmins-James Bay is a riding that has never elected an Ontario PC candidate.
The riding was formed in 1999, amalgamating the now defunct ridings of Cochrane North and Cochrane South.
NDP MPP Gilles Bisson has represented the riding since its inception, and has represented Timmins and area since 1990.
Alan Pope was the last PC candidate elected, way back in 1987.
In June, Steve Black ran for the MPP seat, representing the PC party in the 2014 Ontario General Election. He finished in third place.
Bisson was re-elected.
This swayed Black to run for the mayor’s seat in the fall, which he won with over 64 percent of the vote.
Fedeli believes there is potential for Timmins-James Bay to become a PC riding in the near future, and that the party’s poor results in the 2014 election were not entirely surprising.
“We went to the doors with a terrible message that people weren’t ready to hear. It was the wrong message. Mine is a message of, number one for our members, restoring pride in our Progressive Conservative party, and number two, I want to make Ontario first. We should aspire to be first in everything we do. We should be first in healthcare, first in education, first in youth employment, first in everything we do. I know that when I collect our members, our candidates, you’re going to see a PC party that is filled with businesspeople, labourers, francophones, First Nations, new canadians, because they are going to see themselves reflected in the party I want to build. Come 2018, people are going to want to be part of the Vic Fedeli Progressive Conservative team and make me premier,” he said.
Fedeli feels strongly that it is time that Ontario has a premier from the North.
“I bring a unique understanding of the North. I know that you can’t always have Toronto-generated solutions for Toronto-centric problems. What happens is they put in a law that covers all of Ontario, and it doesn’t make sense in a lot of jurisdictions. I have promised the north that any Progressive Conservative policy that affects the north, will be partially designed by northerners. They will be directly involved in the design,” he said.
The Ontario PC leadership election takes place on May 9.
Anyone interested in voting will need to have a party membership by February 28.
Anyone 14 and over can purchase a $10 membership at www.ontariofirst.ca
'Anti-business' policy to blame for mill closure: Fedeli
PHOTO: Progressive Conservative leadership candidate Vic Fedeli speaks during an appearance in Timmins last week. Andrew Autio for TimminsToday
