Kathleen Wynne, premier of Ontario, was greeted by about a dozen protesters when her car pulled into the parking lot of the Finnish Resthome during a campaign event this morning.
Many of the protesters were carrying Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) flags and ‘keep hydro public’ signs as Wynne stepped out of the car to shake hands and listen to their concerns.
Yesterday, Ontario’s minister of Energy announced the sale of $3.2 billion worth of shares of Hydro One, about a 60 per cent stake in the electricity transmission utility.
Speaking to reporters at a non-campaign event at the Civic Centre earlier this morning, Wynne said the decision to broaden the ownership of Hydro One was difficult, but the Ontario government is leveraging existing assets in order to build new ones.
“We said we were going to make the largest infrastructure investment in the province that has ever been made — we’re doing that. We’re building roads, bridges, transit all over the province,” said Wynne.
Debbie Amaroso, the Liberal candidate for the upcoming Sault Ste. Marie byelection, did not attend the morning meeting at the Civic Centre, but met Wynne at the Finnish Resthome to shake hands and speak with the residents.
Wynne spoke about Amaroso’s candidacy during the media availability at the Civic Centre.
“Debbie Amaroso is the strongest candidate and she will be a terrific representative for Sault Ste. Marie at Queen’s Park,” said Wynne.
Although Andrea Horwath and Patrick Brown — leaders of the NDP and Ontario PC parties, respectively — have said publicly they are interested in attending a leader’s debate in the Sault, Wynne said she will take a wait-and-see approach.
A northern Ontario leader’s debate was held in Thunder Bay during the last election, said Wynne, and Amaroso has proposed a series of 10 debates for the local candidates.
Wynne said she debates the other party leaders regularly at Queen's Park.
“This is a local campaign. Let’s see the 10 debates roll out and then we will have the conversation, okay?” said Wynne.
The Ontario PC leader at the time, Tim Hudak, did not participate in the 2014 northern Ontario leader's debate.
“I have every confidence in our candidate, Debbie Amaroso, to be an absolutely strong voice for our Liberal platform,” added Wynne.
Mayor Christian Provenzano met with Wynne at the Civic Centre early this morning and the pair held a media availability immediately after.
“I raised again the challenges we are having with our primary employer, Essar Steel. I also reiterated the importance of Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation to the community and those jobs,” said Provenzano.
The premier said she would not make any predictions on the outcome of the byelection, scheduled for June 1.
“I think byelections are always very tough for government. Obviously the people of Sault Ste. Marie will decide,” said Wynne.
