Mike Behan
The finish line finally is in sight.
With the 11-week campaign now down to its final few days, the three main candidates vying for Thunder Bay-Rainy River are making their final pitches to voters leading up to election day this Monday (Oct. 19).
Incumbent MP John Rafferty said the final message he wants to get across is that only the NDP can defeat Stephen Harper in this riding.
“If you want change, if you don’t want to wake up on Oct. 20 with Stephen Harper as prime minister, then in Thunder Bay-Rainy River the clear choice is the NDP,” Rafferty said in an e-mailed response to questions posed by the Times.
“I won this riding in the last election by 10,000 votes over the Conservatives,” he noted.
“The Liberals were a distant third.”
But local Liberal candidate Don Rusnak said Rafferty has been advertising outdated and misleading statistics from the 2011 election here.
He said according to “The Signal,” voter intentions locally as of Saturday (Oct. 10) indicate Rusnak was in the lead at 37.5 percent.
Rafferty was next at 36.7 percent, followed by Conservative candidate Moe Comuzzi with 23 percent.
Rusnak also cited polling information as of Friday (Oct. 9) within CBC’s “Eric Grenier’s Poll Tracker” that the Liberals are leading nationally with 33.6 percent of voter intentions.
The Conservatives were next at 31.8 percent, with the NDP third at 23.8 percent.
“People can follow these sites for up to date, unbiased information leading up to Election Day,” Rusnak noted.
“Instead of looking in the rear-view mirror with outdated stats like John Rafferty, current polling information shows that the difference between voting Liberal and NDP is that the Liberals have the potential to form a federal government in this election,” he reasoned.
“Locally, our riding would benefit if we could have an MP who is a member of the governing party,” Rusnak added.
Comuzzi, meanwhile, said it’s so important for voters to understand who they are supporting when they cast their ballot.
“They need to ask themselves if the party’s policies are in line with their own beliefs,” she remarked.
“By voting for [me] in this election, you are voting for a party that has proven leadership in tough economic times; programs to provide economic development and infrastructure spending without raising taxes,” Comuzzi noted.
“A party that has created 1.3 million new jobs, with a
promise to create another 1.3 million new jobs by 2020.”
She also said the Conservatives are committed to helping families and seniors while keeping Canadians safe both at home and abroad.
“In an era of economic uncertainty, only a vote for the Conservative Party can protect your wallet and your job,” Comuzzi stressed.
Comuzzi said the final days of her campaign will be spent reminding supporters to get out to vote, as well as meeting with those who are undecided.
“I’ll spend it the same way I started it,” noted Rafferty. “By knocking on doors, returning phone calls, attending events.”
“I will be asking people for their support.”
Rusnak also plans to pound the pavement and knock on doors.
“I want to hear from as many people in this riding as possible,” he stressed.
“I want to know what their concerns are, and what their vision is for the future of our riding.”
As for handling the 11-week-long campaign?
“I like to spend every summer getting out to meet people in the riding,” said Rafferty.
“I always attend the pow-wows, barbecues, and other special local events that take place here in Thunder Bay-Rainy River.
“In that sense, this election is a continuance of what I always do,” he reasoned.
“Elections are all about getting out and meeting voters.”
“Each day has been an opportunity to engage with voters in the Thunder Bay-Rainy River riding,” replied Comuzzi.
“With such a large geographic area to cover, the longer campaign has been helpful to meet with our voters.”
“It’s been a long campaign but I have a great team behind me,” Rusnak remarked.
“I have enjoyed meeting constituents and listening to their issues and ideas.
“And I feel energized by the enthusiasm for [Justin] Trudeau and our Liberal plan,” he added.
Rusnak said a key moment for him during the campaign was when people started to become engaged in the issues and understand the platforms.
“I like to encourage people to do their research,” he noted.
“I am confident that the Liberal platform has the best plan for Canadians.”
Rafferty said he’s been struck over and over by the level of engagement by aboriginal voters and by young people in this election.
“I think this will translate into a higher voter turnout on Oct. 19, which is a win for democracy,” he remarked.
“One key moment for me in this election is the increased and overwhelming support I have received in this election compared to when I ran in 2011,” replied Comuzzi.
“This has been an entirely different campaign and I am truly humbled by the resolve of voters to continue with the proven leadership under Prime Minister Stephen Harper.”
Editor’s note: Local Green Party candidate Christy Radbourne was provided the opportunity to answer the same e-mailed questions but did not do so by the deadline.
