Michael Gravelle has many plans for what he’ll do as the newly appointed Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.
But with his government’s fall to minority status in the legislature, the Thunder Bay-Superior North MPP said he looks forward to working with opposition parties to make these plans a reality.
“I think this will be a government where we’ll be working with the opposition,” Gravelle said, speaking to Northern Life, Oct. 24, as he travelled to Toronto for a briefing on his new cabinet posting.
“The opposition members have some good ideas. Northern opposition members, in particular, are focusing on the same priorities as we are, and that’s creating economic opportunities in northern Ontario. I’m looking forward to having a chance to sit down with them.”
Gravelle and Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci were the only two northern MPPs appointed to the provincial cabinet last week.
Bartolucci was appointed Minister of Northern Development and Mines, a post he previously held from 2003-2007.
He was also appointed chair of cabinet, meaning he will chair cabinet meetings.
Gravelle was the most recent Northern Development minister, although he also looked after forestry under that portfolio.
He will still be looking after forestry as the Natural Resources minister, as the portfolio moved with him.
Gravelle said job creation and economic development are at the top of his priority list.
“The premier has made it clear, very publicly, that our focus as a government, in this term, will be jobs and the economy,” Gravelle said. “That certainly is a very important issue here in northern Ontario.”
The forestry industry, which has suffered in recent years, is on the rebound, and the government is looking to help with job creation in the sector, he said.
Bartolucci was unavailable for an interview by Northern Life’s press time about his cabinet post.
However, in an e-mail statement, he said he was “honoured” to be sworn in as the minister and the chair of cabinet and looks forward “to being briefed on issues that now fall under my purview. I will continue to work very hard for northern Ontario, with a focus on jobs.”
Nickel Belt New Democrat MPP France Gélinas said she will learn what role she’ll play in the NDP’s shadow cabinet Oct. 25.
In terms of Bartolucci and Gravelle’s appointments, Gélinas said she’s glad these two ministries are in the hands of northern MPPs.
Before it went to Gravelle, the Natural Resources portfolio was held by MPP Linda Jeffrey, who represents the southern Ontario riding of Brampton-Springdale.
“When was the last time we had a forest in Toronto?” Gélinas asked.
Before, when she went to speak to ministers about ideas she put forward, they didn’t have to listen to her, because the Liberals had a majority government, she said.
Now that the Liberals have a minority, Gélinas said there has been a power shift in the legislature.
“Let’s say I have an idea I want to move forward,” she said.
“The impetus to listen has changed a whole lot. If [the government says] no, the PC and NDP could move it forward against their vote because we hold more votes than they do.”
With the Liberals just one seat shy of a majority, Gélinas said she was approached the day after the election to cross the floor.
She was grocery shopping in Hanmer when a man stopped her, and asked if she’d be willing to join the Liberals.
“I looked at him and said ‘I’m a social democrat, and I have no intention of ever doing this,’” she said. “It felt really yucky that somebody would come up to me and ask me this.”
Posted by Jenny Jelen
