Marcus Powlowski is preparing to campaign for his job this year.
The Thunder Bay-Rainy River Member of Parliament, who was first elected in 2019, will run again for his seat should the writ drop.
Powlowski, in an interview with Acadia News, is proud of a few accomplishments in his short time in the job including getting contracts for the local Alstom plant in Thunder Bay.
“That took a long time,” reflects Powlowski. “I remember going to Toronto caucus to talk about this and had some members say ‘Bombardier are you kidding? you know we had all of those problems with previous contracts’. My counter was that that was years ago and of late they’ve been great at meeting the deadlines and producing cars. By the time it came around to getting those contracts, caucus certainly knew, the government knew and Minister (Catherine) McKenna certainly knew that if those contracts didn’t come to Thunder Bay that Marcus would be really ticked.”
Two years ago Powlowski obtained 35.32 per cent of the vote to secure the seat in Ottawa, edging out Linda Rydholm of the Conservatives (29.33 per cent).
The Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP is also proud to have started the process on securing federal funding for the Fort William First Nations chronic care home.
Powlowski is proud to speak up on COVID-19 and Ontario issues.
“I haven’t wanted to second guess the public health authorities on things but occasionally, as people may know, I’m someone who isn’t totally afraid to open my mouth when I think it’s necessary,” stressed Powlowski.
Powlowski admits when he took the job he didn’t seek a lot of advice as to what he should do, instead choosing to focus on what he feels his constituents would want.
“As the elected representative, if there are issues that come before you when you’re interested in them, then it’s a matter of (figuring out) how can you promote them or if it’s something that affects the interests of your constituents, how can you (advocate) for them,” Powlowski noted.
The NDP have nominated Yuk-Sem Won to run against Powlowski.
On the Thunder Bay-Superior North ballot, incumbent and Minister of Health Patty Hajdu (Liberal) will be challenged by Joshua Taylor (Conservatives), Chantelle Bryson (NDP) and Amanda Moddejonge (Green Party).
