Jobs for youth key, Canfield
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Former Kenora mayor re-enters political ring to make a difference and improve local economy
Posted By Mike Aiken
Posted 1 month ago
In a bid for a fourth term in the mayor's chair, Dave Canfield has finally officially filed his papers for the fall campaign. Since he'd been talking about it for quite some time, his decision didn't come as a complete surprise, but the event did offer an opportunity to find out a bit more about the candidate's point of view.
During a short interview Monday, Canfield was passionate about past decisions, but he emphasized the need to provide opportunities for young people.
"I'm hearing it everyday. There's nothing here for my kids," he said.
As a way of explaining his desire to re-enter the fray, Canfield said he'd been asked almost on a daily basis to re-enter the political ring so he could make a difference and help improve the local economy.
As the province looks to pare back spending, Canfield said there was a limit to being politically correct, and he wondered if leaders in the area shouldn't be pushing a bit harder in their talks with Queen's Park.
In the same conversation, however, he acknowledged using the break to recharge his batteries after an exhausting battle to try and save the pulp mill. After the announcement, the former mayor became the centre of attention across Ontario, when he mused openly about the possibility of separating from Ontario and joining Manitoba.
With plants closed and jobs lost, he questioned the high cost of power in an area that produces a surplus, while companies in Manitoba pay a third of the cost.
"I think we should've been pushin' a bit harder," he said in retrospect.
As a former millworker himself, he's been one of the hundreds who've had to leave town and seek employment in other parts of the province, as well as other provinces.
"Northwestern Ontario has to reinvent itself, and we need a different relationship with Queen's Park," Canfield concluded.
He also commented on the current council's decision to pull out of both the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association and the Kenora District Municipal Association over the Common Voice initiative.
Canfield helped shape the original Common Ground agreement with former Treaty 3 grand chief Leon Jourdain in 2000. In his comments Monday, Canfield noted there was a clause in the decade-old document that allowed leaders on both sides to agree to disagree on a specific issue, without tearing up the whole process.
Kenora council's decision to march in solidarity with First Nation leaders came at a time when there were nation-wide demonstrations threatened, including disruptions to railroads and highways.
If re-elected, Canfield hoped to help keep iLevel going, as well as restart Kenora Forest Products. He also wanted to continue work on the prefabricated housing business at Wincrief, which he said was similar to the house-in-a-box concept he championed.
Andrew Poirier is the only other candidate who has filed his papers for the mayor's chair. Incumbent councillors Jim Parson, Dave McCann and Wendy Cuthbert have said they will seek re-election on council.
Chuck Cadger, who has served as union local president at the post office, is the only new name to date on the list for council.
The only name on the list for trustees for either school board is Cecile Marcino, who's the vice-chairman of the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board. The deadline for nominations is Sept. 10 for elections on Oct. 25.
