Duane Hicks
Don Rusnak rode the red tide that swept the nation Monday to beat NDP incumbent MP John Rafferty.
The 40-year-old Thunder Bay lawyer and political newcomer earned a decisive win over Rafferty—garnering 44 percent of the votes (18,523) to Rafferty’s 30 percent (12,439) in becoming the new MP for Thunder Bay-Rainy River.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” Rusnak said in an interview yesterday morning after a celebration in Thunder Bay the previous night.
He noted it was an “extremely emotional day,” with him attending his uncle’s funeral earlier that day and then being elected MP that night.
Rusnak said the key to victory was simple: Justin Trudeau’s positive message—and the Liberal Party’s positive message—throughout the campaign won voters over.
“From the very beginning, the Liberal plan was the best plan,” he remarked. “And when people started paying attention to it in the past two weeks, that’s when we surged.
“The Liberal plan is a positive plan,” Rusnak added.
“We never had attack ads. We had a positive message and that resonated with the people here in Thunder Bay-Rainy River.”
Rusnak said he could sense support for both himself and the Liberal Party during the 78-day campaign.
“We had an extremely positive reaction from people at the doors,” he noted.
“They wanted Harper out of there and they wanted change.
“The NDP have been in power in this riding and I suppose we were the agents of change in this riding,” added Rusnak.
“We heard nothing but positive things.”
The Liberal campaign in Thunder Bay got a shot-in-the-arm Saturday when Trudeau made a brief stop in the city.
“He was just electric,” enthused Rusnak.
“He hit his stride at the right time, and people started looking at the platform and seeing it was the best for change now.
“The economy is the number-one priority,” Rusnak stressed. “We are willing spend money right now.
“The other two plans—the Conservatives and the NDP—were austerity plans and people realized that,” he noted.
“We need the help here in Northwestern Ontario now.
“We have the Fort Frances Resolute mill closed and we need good news for people in Fort Frances,” said Rusnak.
“Hopefully I can help and, with provincial minister [Bill] Mauro, find a solution there,” he pledged.
Rusnak’s victory helped solidify a unified Liberal front for Northwestern Ontario, with fellow candidates Bob Nault and Patty Hajdu winning in Kenora and Thunder Bay-Superior, respectively.
Rusnak said he was in touch with Nault and Hajdu during the campaign and they, too, felt the wind of change in the air in the region.
“Justin Trudeau resonated with the voters across the northwest,” he remarked.
“I don’t think any of us are surprised by the victory across the northwest.
“People here are intelligent—they were listening to the plan and saw it was the best one,” he reasoned.
Rusnak thanked all the people in Thunder Bay-Rainy River for giving him their confidence and support, as well as his campaign team for working incredibly hard over the last many months.
“I’m committed to working incredibly hard for our riding, along with the rest of our Northern Ontario caucus,” he vowed.
Rusnak will be visiting Fort Frances and the west end of the riding in next week.
