NDP leader: Amaroso 'very strong woman'

Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath was in the Sault yesterday.

While here, Horwath had a sit-down heart-to-heart chat with several of the Sault's female leaders and potential leaders.

She also had a chat with barracudas of the local press at Frank's Foods on Queen Street.

"I don't think I need to give her any advice," Horwath said when asked what she told Sault Mayor-elect Debbie Amaroso.

"I met with her last night. She seems to be a very strong woman," said Horwath. "She's very excited about her position and she loves this community. That came out in spades."

Horwath called it a get-to-know-each-other meeting that offered an opportunity to start to form a relationship and explore areas in which they could work together.

The NDP leader said they left the meeting with the knowledge that, if there's anything either of them needs to know about or wants to talk about, just pick up the phone.

"That's way easier to do once you've met each other in person," said Horwath.

She also talked about the qualities and qualifications women leaders in general bring to the political table.

"Women leaders bring a different perspective and a different voice to the issues," she said. "We're very practical people. We're often the ones that are making ends meet in the family scenario, so when we are talking about our communities, our province, we are talking about the people. It's about real people."

Horwath said that women in politics general try to define, brainstorm and solve problems rather than slinging mud or work in an adversarial context.

She said there are exceptions to that, but for the most part, women tend to work toward solving problems more than securing power and control.

This was also a key message she brought to the group of women she met with over breakfast yesterday.

"Having women at the table in leadership positions could bring the practical realities of what families and neighbourhoods and communities experience," she said, adding that women bring unique talents and life experiences to the table whereever they are.