Dippers pick their candidate for Algoma-Manitoulin

NEWS RELEASE ALGOMA-MANITOULIN NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY RIDING ASSOCUATION

************************* Mantha chosen to carry NDP banner in Algoma-Manitoulin

At a packed nomination meeting, with about 70 people in attendance at the francophone seniors’ centre in Elliot Lake, on Sunday evening, July 10, Michael Mantha was declared the winner of the contest to be the candidate for the local New Democratic Party Riding Association in the forthcoming provincial election campaign.

Mantha, a resident of Elliot Lake, successfully beat out his opponent Howard Bowes of Bruce Mines in a weekend marathon of five meetings held in Wawa, Echo Bay, Bruce Mines, Little Current and culminating in Elliot Lake.

He said that he is looking forward to a good election campaign and to the opportunity to serve the people of Algoma-Manitoulin at Queen’s Park in Toronto.

Mantha thanked his supporters and his family and committed to hit the ground running. He is headed off to Manitoulin Island immediately to begin his campaign.

The successful candidate congratulated Bowes on a hard-fought and fair campaign and invited him to become part of his election team.

Bowes reciprocated by moving a motion to make the choice of Mantha unanimous.

Guest speaker, Gilles Bisson, NDP MPP for Timmins-James Bay, stated that it is time for the people of the Algoma-Manitoulin constituency to be represented in the provincial Legislature, rather than having an MPP who represents Dalton McGuinty to the people of his riding.

“When Liberal government policies threaten the livelihoods of forestry workers and their families and the very existence of forestry towns, the local MPP should be raising those concerns and issues in the Legislature on their behalf. Instead, Mike Brown defends these ill-advised government policies in those threatened communities in this constituency. He has become the spokesman for McGuinty’s office in Algoma-Manitoulin,” Bisson argued. “This riding needs an MPP who will be an effective spokesman for the people of Algoma-Manitoulin in Toronto.”

Bisson described the New Democrat election platform as practical and affordable; one that puts people first.

He pointed to commitments that Northerners should benefit from the development of the resources of the North.

“Our resources must not continue to be exported to generate jobs and other economic spin-offs outside of our region,” he said. Bisson advocated a Buy-Ontario policy. He emphasized that investments of Ontario taxpayers’ money must encourage economic benefits and create jobs here at home.

“NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is committed to making life for Ontario families more affordable by removing the McGuinty-Harper HST from electricity and home heating fuels,” Bisson added.

“The provincial New Democrats are also committed to improving health care in Ontario by cutting wait times and putting needed resources into expansion of community and home health care programs to enable seniors to live in dignity. This would save money and free up acute care beds in our hospitals,” he said. Recently re-elected MP for Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing Carol Hughes congratulated both Mantha and Bowes for putting their names forward.

She stated that she is looking forward to working with Mantha as the NDP MPP for Algoma-Manitoulin to ensure the people of this region have effective representation after October 6.

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