One of the two men vying for the Liberal nod in the new riding of Thunder Bay-Rainy River has launched an official appeal to the Liberal Party of Canada to have an addition polling station in either Atikokan or Fort Frances for the nomination meeting, which is scheduled for this Sunday (March 21) in Thunder Bay.
“I have made this appeal in order to ensure that members in the entire riding have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote,” Ken Boshcoff said.
“In a democratic process, it isn’t fair to ask members to make a five-hour trip to Thunder Bay in order to have their vote count,” he added.
Boshcoff said he met with senior Liberal party members in February to discuss the need for two polling stations in the new Thunder Bay-Rainy River riding, but added the request was turned down.
He has since sent a Notice of Appeal to Karl Littler, the Ontario campaign chair, and to Mike Crawley, president of the Liberal Party of Canada (Ontario).
“With the vast distance and unpredictable weather, it is important to have a polling station closer to the people in Atikokan, Fort Frances, and Rainy River region,” Boshcoff said.
Boshcoff, a former mayor of Thunder Bay, is vying against Thunder Bay businessman Don Paterson for the Liberal nomination.
In the new Kenora riding, meanwhile, candidate Beverly Wexler of Kenora successfully appealed to have a second nomination meeting held there this coming Saturday (March 20).
The party originally only scheduled one meeting for this past Saturday in Dryden.
Liberal riding association president Marilyn Burns said the ballot box from Saturday’s vote in Dryden will remain sealed until the poll closes in Kenora at 5 p.m.
Wexler is running against First Nations leader Charles Fox and former Dryden mayor Roger Valley.
The Conservatives of Thunder Bay-Rainy River already had scheduled two nominations—one in Emo on March 26 and a second in Thunder Bay on March 27.
David Leskowski, who ran for the Alliance in the 2000 election in former Thunder Bay-Atikokan riding, officially declared his intention to seek the nomination last week.
The local NDP riding association has yet to set a nomination date, but president Owen Lindsay has expressed strong support for at least two polling stations in the new riding.
Former Fort Frances councillor Larry Richardson has said he will seek the NDP nod in Thunder Bay-Rainy River, with a second candidate expected to announce his intentions tomorrow.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
