Back to work

Last Thursday’s provincial election is but a distant memory here as district residents battle a major flood threat for the second time in 12 years.
But while people’s attention obviously is occupied by more pressing matters, incumbent MPP Sarah Campbell’s re-election by a wide margin warrants congratulations. She cruised to victory by capturing more than 55 percent of the popular vote—no small feat considering three other candidates were in the race.
The defeated candidates—Randy Nickle (PC), Anthony Leek (Liberal), and Tim McKillop (Green Party)—also deserve a salute and our thanks for putting their personal lives aside as they campaigned on their respective party platforms.
Democracy is the real winner when voters are presented with a wide variety of viewpoints and policies to ponder and ultimately pass judgement on.
Congratulations, as well, to Premier Kathleen Wynne, who proved most pundits wrong by leading her party to an unexpected majority government. But both opposition leaders also are deserving of kudos.
Tim Hudak, who resigned as PC leader following Thursday’s election loss, was extremely frank about the problems facing our province and what he believed was the only way to rectify them. As for NDP leader Andrea Horwath, who triggered the election in the first place, she stuck to her guns by refusing to support what she repeatedly had called an arrogant and scandal-plagued government.
Well, the people have spoken and now it’s back to work—with the Liberals promising to re-release their earlier budget as quickly as possible.
Hopefully, that includes promised money to demolish the old Rainy Lake Hotel here and for a district drainage project which has been in limbo since the election was called.