BY RICK PUSIAK
The Provincial Liberals in the Nickel Belt Riding are not waiting for Premier Ernie Eves to call an election.
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Over 100 party faithful filled the hall above the Tom Davies Arena in Lively Wednesday night and selected former Sudbury police chief Alex McCauley as their candidate in the next trip to the polls. He was unopposed.
The meeting was more like a celebration or party and came complete with a Master of Ceremonies, the always-witty former Sudbury television personality Peter Williams.
When it was his turn to speak, McCauley announced he is open for business now that heÂ?s been officially called into public office.
McCauley talked about his working manÂ?s roots growing up in Whitefish and how at a young age he went to what he called Â?I-N-C-O CollegeÂ? at Crane Hill and Creighton mines, taking all the tough jobs.
The former chief recalled he used to make only $3.52 an hour when he changed careers in 1969 and achieved his goal of becoming a police officer with the old Copper Cliff force.
He went to night school at Laurentian University while still a patrolman and earned a degree in 1988.
McCauley officially retired as SudburyÂ?s chief of police Tuesday. The reason heÂ?s getting into politics is not for another job, but because he fervently believes in Northern Ontario and its great potential, said McCauley.
Â?I know I can make a differenceÂ?public service is my life,Â? said McCauley, to an enthusiastic crowd that included many well-known community figures.
He said the Tories have not done Northern Ontario and the Sudbury area any favours during their time in office, alluding to the problems businesses will face because of open market hydro prices.
Â?Just think of the next hydro bill youÂ?ll be getting after the heat wave,Â? said McCauley.
Â?We deserve to be fairly treated in Northern OntarioÂ?it just bugs the hell out of me when I see (unfair decisions) happening and weÂ?re not included in (the input process).Â?
Nickel Belt Liberal MP Ray Bonin, Sudbury Liberal MPP Rick Bartolucci and Sudbury Liberal MP Diane Marleau were all at the meeting to lend their support.
Marleau noted she even lent her husband Paul to be McCauleyÂ?s campaign manager.
Â?You can keep Paul as long as you want, but win!,Â? said the Sudbury MP.
Â?Alex, this is your night, look at this room, itÂ?s full. You all know heÂ?s a great Canadian, he cares.Â?
Bonin noted thereÂ?s almost a full slate of Liberals at the provincial and federal levels in this part of the province, but thereÂ?s one seat left open at the card table, the riding currently held by New Democrat Shelley Martel.
Â?The people that support me are free to support whoever they want, but theyÂ?re all here,Â? said Bonin. Â?My friend, IÂ?ll be with you.Â?
Bartolucci joked that the current political spectrum has seen Eves trying to act like Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty and NDP leader Howard Hampton as a blatant attempt to hide his true personality and political ideals, as long as it will get him some votes.
Â?We are the party of the centre,Â? said Bartolucci. Â?We will never apologize for our centrist viewsÂ?tonight we renew our cause as Liberals by supporting Alex McCauley.Â?
McCauley said he is willing, ready and able to hit the campaign trail whenever the next provincial election is called.
