Jessica George
Cruises to win
over Boshcoff
THUNDER BAY—Facing three elections in four-and-a-half years may have resulted in voter fatigue, but John Rafferty is anything but weary.
After losing to Liberal Ken Boshcoff in both 2004 and 2006, the NDP candidate finally turned the tide—cruising to victory in Thunder Bay-Rainy River in yesterday’s federal election.
“It’s been a long time coming,” he admitted during his victory party last night in Thunder Bay.
“Trust me, I know the disappointment of losing an election. I know it all too well,” he remarked, chuckling at his close showings over the past few years, including a razor-thin loss in Thunder Bay-Atikokan in last year’s provincial election.
But then, from the crowd, these words were shouted out: “Yeah, but practice makes perfect.”
Many nodded in agreement, and this set the tone for Rafferty’s gracious acceptance.
“Tonight is the night to celebrate, but tomorrow is the time to roll up my sleeves and dig in,” Rafferty pledged.
Unofficial results had Rafferty garnering 14,473 votes, or 40.31 percent of the total cast. Boshcoff was a distant second with 11,589 (32.28 percent), followed by Conservative candidate Richard Neumann with 8,466 (23.58 percent).
Green Party candidate Russ Aegard was fourth with 1,377 votes (3.84 percent).
Rafferty told the Times he intends to meet very shortly with all of the other NDP MPs in Northern Ontario so they can begin to discuss their priorities., which he said will mirror those of working families across the region.
With the exception of Kenora riding (Conservative) and Nipissing-Temiskaming (Liberal), Northern Ontario voted NDP across the board yesterday.
To Rafferty, this means that regardless of the fact that Conservatives won another minority government, Northern Ontario, at any given time, will have seven NDP members standing up for them in Parliament.
He believes this means Northern Ontario will have a voice and surely will be heard.
But with the election won, Rafferty insists the work has just begun, noting he will be “hitting the ground running” starting Wednesday.
