PC leader eyes potential for added support in northern Ontario for 2018 election

The Ontario PC leader is doubling-down on his commitment to northern Ontario with the 2018 provincial election in his sights.

The party will be holding its annual caucus meeting Aug. 24 and 25 in Timmins, announced Patrick Brown, leader of the Ontario PCs, during a conference call with northern Ontario-based media outlets this morning.

In a step toward to getting out of what Brown called the 'Queen's Park bubble' the Ontario PC party has held its caucus retreat in northern Ontario for the third year in a row, something he promised to do when he became leader.

Last year’s retreat was held in Kenora and Sault Ste. Marie played host the year before that — Brown’s first as party leader.

Brown said, if elected as the next premier, he will make northern Ontario a priority.

“We are holding our retreat in the north because this region is important and because under Kathleen Wynne, the potential isn’t being realized. The next election is going to be about who will make it easier for families to make ends meet and get ahead,” said Brown.

The PCs, encouraged by Ross Romano’s recent byelection win in Sault Ste. Marie, are hoping to make additional gains in northern Ontario.

After his win, Romano joined the two existing PC MPPs who represent the 11 ridings in northern Ontario, Vic Fedeli in Nippising and Norm Miller in Parry Sound — Muskoka.

Recently, former NHL player Troy Crowder was acclaimed as the PC candidate for Sudbury in the upcoming election.

“What I think we saw in Sault Ste. Marie, frankly, we are going to see in Sudbury. I think Troy has an excellent chance,” said Brown.

Should he be elected as the next premier, Brown said his priorities would be to grow the economy and help businesses create well-paying jobs and to take action on the Ring of Fire — an estimated $60 billion in chromite deposits located about 400 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay that the PC leader calls a ‘generational opportunity’.

The Liberal government’s announcements of support on the Ring of Fire, as well as proposed plans to construct a transportation corridor, remind Brown of the movie Groundhog Day, in which Bill Murray’s character relives the same day over and over again in a seemingly endless loop.

“They have done it three times in five years and nothing has happened. I won’t be surprised if, before the election, they make the same announcement for a fourth time,” quipped Brown.

Romano, who was given the critic position for the Ring of Fire, said he has not yet had an opportunity to tour the area but plans to make the trip by mid-August.

Since being elected, the newly-elected MPP said he has met three times with NorOnt Resources Ltd., who plan to build a ferrochrome smelter in Northern Ontario.

“Right now we are addressing some challenges for Sault Ste. Marie’s bid process itself and we are working hard on trying to resolve those issues,” said Romano.

While speaking to various chambers of commerce around the north, Brown said he hears similar concerns over electricity prices and the impending increase in the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

A cost-benefit analysis should have been done prior to approving the minimum wage increase, he said.

“It has to be done at a slower pace to give notice to our job creators so they can adapt. If you do it overnight, there will be job losses,” said Brown.

Short on specifics, Brown said there will be a ‘significant reduction in hydro rates’ under a PC government.

He said executive salaries must also be reigned in.

“When you have the CEO of Hydro One making $4.5-million a year, signed off by Kathleen Wynne, that is the wrong signal. You have the CEO of Hydro Quebec making $400,000, why are we paying $4.5-million here in Ontario? It’s just not right,” said Brown.

“The Liberals have been in government for 14 years and what has that meant for families, workers and taxpayers? Put simply, after 14 years Ontario families, workers and taxpayers work harder, they pay more and get less and this must stop,” said Brown.

“I want to make sure a young person who grows up in northern Ontario can stay in northern Ontario,” added Brown.