Why a former Local 2251 member is running for Ernie Eves

For a former member of Local 2251 of the United Steelworkers of America, for a former student at the prestigious but then-very-left-leaning London School of Economics, Bruce Willson is a long way from his ideological roots.

On Wednesday night, about 45 people turned up at the Marconi Club as Willson, now a local trial lawyer, received the nod of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party Riding Association to run against Tony Martin in the next provincial election.

"I toyed with socialism," Willson told SooToday.com after last night's meeting.

"I still think that there's an attractiveness to socialism. But I don't think it can create wealth and prosperity like a free market system can."

Photos - faces in the crowd

Bruce Willson nomination meeting #1 Bruce Willson nomination meeting #2 Bruce Willson nomination meeting #3

Bawating boy

Born here in the Sault, Willson attended Bawating Collegiate and Vocational Institute, proceeding to the University of Toronto for a BA in history, political philosophy and economics.

He then studied law at the University of Western Ontario.

During the Canadian phase of his higher education, Willson spent his summers toiling at Algoma Steel, where his father worked in the finance department.

Dad was in management, but in those days young Bruce was rank-and-file in USWA Local 2251. He also belonged to the Young Progressive Conservative Association.

After finishing his law degree at Western, Willson decided to undertake graduate studies at the London (England) School of Economics.

Hotbed of socialism

In those days of the mid-seventies, the school was considered a hotbed of socialism.

Willson acknowledges breathing deeply in this political environment, but there was also a neo-conservative movement starting to stir.

Gradually, the decidedly left-leaning grad student started to shift to the right of the political continuum.

"There was no epiphany," Willson tells SooToday News.

But there was an influential instructor in corporate law and a couple of visiting politicians who played a role in shepherding him back into the Tory fold.

Leslie McNichol

By 1978, Willson had also found his way back the Sault, where he married Leslie McNichol and started the practise of law.

25 years later, he's ready to start a new career in provincial politics.

Speaking Wednesday night in a basement meeting room at the Marconi, Willson's remarks would undoubtedly raise eyebrows among his former socialist sidekicks in England.

Economic straightjacket

"It will be the risk-takers, the entrepreneurs, the ones with imagination and drive and love of this great City that will lead us out of the economic straightjacket we are in," he told the local PC faithful.

"And there is a role, in all of this, that elected representatives have to fill - they must be the communicators, the articulate providers of information and organization between the visionaries and the entrepreneurs and government resources.

"In short, they have to speak the same economic language that the new leaders of growth in this City speak.

Can't speak the language only of labour

"They can't speak the language only of labour or unions, important as they may be, they must also speak the language of business and opportunity, the language of the arts and recreation and charitable organizations, health services and so on."

The following is the full text of Bruce Willson's first speech as Progressive Conservative candidate for Sault Ste. Marie.

***************************************************************** Nomination speech

We are here this evening to begin a very serious business.

We are here, first and foremost because we are citizens of this great City and this magnificent province.

But we are here, more particularly, because we want change and more opportunity for the residents of Sault Ste. Marie.

Outside these walls in this City, tonight, people are going about their lives, they may be watching a hockey game, cleaning their homes, attending a meeting, tidying their yards or at their jobs - but they all have a few things in common.

You see, there comes a time when most people get fed-up reading about how other communities are growing while theirs is stagnating.

There comes a time when most people get tired of seeing their property values drop and their property taxes rise;

And there comes a time when employers and employees get fed up with the constant fear, year after year, of losing everything they have worked for:

And there comes a time when the youth of our City get tired of hearing their parents and grandparents telling them to go south and find work:

And there comes a time when we as a community, will tell the NDP Party and Mr. Martin that their tight-fisted grip on the throat of this City is coming to an end.

There comes a time - and that time has come.

The time has come to tell him and his party that 18 long years of their politics has sown only distrust and bitterness;

And the time has come to show him and his party that we are tired of waiting and wishing for a future that seems so far away;

We are here tonight to begin a serious business. We are here to construct a new and better future for ALL of the residents of Sault Ste. Marie.

The time has come to cast away the past and begin again.

No person alone, can do all the work that is required to lead this community into the 21st Century.

Right now, many hard-working individuals and groups and committees across this City are trying as best they can to fit the pieces of the new economic puzzle together - and they are doing good work.

But one message from all of these visionaries is clear - it will be the risk-takers, the entrepreneurs, the ones with imagination and drive and love of this great City that will lead us out of the economic straight-jacket we are in.

And there is a role, in all of this, that elected representatives have to fill - they must be the communicators, the articulate providers of information and organization between the visionaries and the entrepreneurs and government resources.

In short, they have to speak the same economic language that the new leaders of growth in this City speak.

They can't speak the language only of labour or unions, important as they may be, they must also speak the language of business and opportunity, the language of the arts and recreation and charitable organizations, health services and so on.

In short, elected representatives have to be prepared to represent everyone and every group.

This I believe has been forgotten over the last 18 years.

To read the conclusion of Willson's speech, please click here.