SARAH CAMPBELL

Eliminating government waste, and redistributing that money into “frontline programs” such as education, health care, and infrastructure, should be a government priority, said local NDP candidate Sarah Campbell.
Campbell is aiming to follow in the footsteps of longtime MPP Howard Hampton and keep Kenora-Rainy River orange in the Oct. 6 election.
Originally hailing from Atikokan but currently residing in Oxdrift, Campbell has been Hampton’s constituency assistant and outreach co-ordinator. She also represents Oxdrift on the Kenora District Services Board, as well as sits on the Kenora Unincorporated Ratepayers Association.
When it comes to Northwestern Ontario’s economy, Campbell said the most “pressing problem” is hydro rates.
“In Northwestern Ontario, we produce some of the cleanest and cheapest energy in North America, yet our rates are among the highest.
“It doesn’t make sense,” she said, arguing the north is subsidizing southern Ontario consumers, and the costs on bills have more to do with subsidies for southern producers and paying for bureaucracy created to “privatize our system.”
Campbell emphasized the need to fix the hydro system to make the north more affordable for business, including value-added forestry and mining.
Processing the natural resources found in the north also is important to the local economy, she noted, pointing to the NDP’s platform of requiring natural resources extracted in the north to be processed in the north to create value-added jobs.
As well, Campbell said the NDP would amend wood tenure law, tying the allocations to communities.
“The current system of tying wood allocation to a mill or company simply doesn’t work,” she argued. “If the company closes an operation, it continues to retain the timber rights and is fully within its rights to ship the product elsewhere.”
Campbell cited how a value-added producer was ready to set up in Dryden, but ultimately didn’t because it was unable to negotiate timber rights.
The NDP also is “committed to helping relieve municipalities struggling with financial challenges” through uploading land ambulance, Ontario Works, social housing, and child care, added Campbell while pointing to the need for a long-term, province-wide infrastructure plan.
“This is an absolute necessity to ensure that infrastructure isn’t left to crumble before there is money available,” she stressed, pointing to the NDP platform which offers short-term funding for municipalities with plans to expand the program once the province is in a better fiscal situation.
Meanwhile, the biggest reason for out-migration is a lack of jobs, said Campbell—with people needing to be assured they can afford to live and prosper here.
“Right now that is not the situation,” she charged, pointing to the need for a strong economic plan for jobs, lowering the cost of living through fair hydro prices, and not taxing essential goods through the HST.
As well, supportive housing is needed to help with the issue of an aging population.
“The simple fact is many of the people who are in long-term care facilities should be in supportive housing facilities, where meals are prepared and they have someone to look in on them occasionally,” she remarked, noting that savings from not having people in full-service, 24-hour care can be used to create more supportive housing spaces for those who need them.
Campbell also pointed to the need for a not-for-profit home care model like that of Manitoba, compared to a private provider which is maximizing their profit.
Finally, Campbell affirmed that if a situation arose where the wishes of her constituents didn’t line up with the NDP’s party line, she would vote to reflect the view of constituents—pointing to the NDP’s longstanding history of allowing MPs and MPPs to vote to reflect their constituents’ wishes rather than being whipped by their party.
There is no easy answer to declining voter turnout, but part of the solution is restoring faith in government, Campbell added.
“People are looking for a change from the same old politics of the Liberals and Conservatives,” she reasoned.
“I’m proud that my party has developed a real plan that puts families first and gives us a real option for positive change in our communities.”