Ontario PC Leadership candidate Christine Elliott held a campaign event in Sudbury today at the Apollo Restaurant, with the intent of gathering a Northern push from local members of the provincial Conservative Party before they vote on March 9.
Leaning on her experience as a lawyer, auditor and Patient Ombudsman of Ontario, the third time provincial leadership candidate is confident that, if voted in as leader, she would be fit for task of taking down Premier Wynne in the upcoming June election.
Letting her final comment fall on that she said, "I think we all have to recognize that she is a tough debater, she's knowledgeable, she's a good communicator and we need somebody that's going to be able to go head-to-head, toe-to-toe to debate her. I've done that on many occasions at Queen's Park and I would certainly relish the opportunity to do it again as leader of the party and to bring us to victory on June 7 with a majority for the Progressive Conservatives."
Elliott understands that issues in the North differ from those in Toronto. She said that she's committed to travelling in order to hear from residents and municipalities themselves, what is needed in cities like Sudbury.
She said that she has heard from many Northern communities that there is need for help with infrastructure costs. "Everywhere I'm being told that they're not able to keep up with fixing roads, building roads, building bridges and so on. If you want businesses to locate in Northern Ontario in particular, you need to keep up that infrastructure."
Elliott's platform includes a promise to double the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund from $100 million to $200 million. She disparages what she perceives as waste within the program. In particular, she would like to see $25 million allocated to socioeconomic assistance.
Her campaign continues onward to Sault Ste. Marie after today's stop in Sudbury, where she will be met with MPP Ross Romano, who was also at today's campaign event. Romano is endorsing Elliott after having previously endorsing Patrick Brown, who is no longer in the race.
