It’s a first for the Ontario NDP Party in 22 years.
Lise Vaugeois avenges her 2018 defeat to Liberal incumbent Michael Gravelle and picks up the victory four years later in the riding of Thunder Bay-Superior North.
Vaugeois told Acadia News Thursday that the people behind the scenes helped make the victory possible.
“We had a phenomenal team and so many people who stepped up to help volunteer,” said Vaugeois. “Because of that we were able to reach many, many people, probably more than we were able to interact with four years ago, and I think that really made the difference.”
Vaugeois served as a professor with Lakehead University and also owns a small business.
Once sworn in at Queen’s Park, Vaugeois wants to tackle housing.
“There’s a housing crisis across the entire region,” Vaugeois stated. “That is all types and levels of housing that we need. (In Northwestern Ontario) there’s nowhere to put up extra health care staff when they come up here.”
She also says healthcare funding will be a priority.
“I will be fighting to get health care funded properly,” she said. “We need public health care. I think it is appalling that there are moves to privatize our health care and education, we need well funded and strong public health care.”
PC Party candidate Peng You finished second.
Fellow Thunder Bay councillor Shelby Ch’ng wound up in third, but learned a lot in the short campaign.
“I definitely would appreciate more time next time,” Ch’ng told Acadia News. “There are always things that you reflect on following a campaign that you would do differently. The big takeaway for me was seeing how unique and different each little town and municipality is, and hearing everyone’s voice and ideas of what makes their community great. They were so proud to show them off and it was a very nice Northern pride moment.”
Shelley Wark-Martin was the NDP Member of Provincial Parliament in the riding, last elected in 1990.
