Boshcoff tours riding to hear concerns

Ken Johnston
Editor

The new Member of Federal Parliament for Thunder Bay-Rainy River, Ken Boshcoff, did a tour of the area last week, stopping in Rainy River Tuesday.
Boshcoff, a former mayor of Thunder Bay and President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, said he believes in hearing all the concerns of his constituents.
In Rainy River town council told him that their biggest concern is getting infrastructure funding for upgrading the town’s ailing sewer system. He said his office would work hard to insure that Rainy River and other communities in the riding get their fair share of any government programs available for infrastructure needs.
Boshcoff also said that he has received many letters in support of broadband internet services in the area. “However I have not received anything from Rainy River. I urged them to get a letter in as soon as possible.” He said he understands that the community was completely engulfed in its centennial celebrations, but said the more letters of support he has, the better chances there will be something he can do about it.
He said that on Monday he met with Representatives from Big Island First Nation and the Morson Women’s Institute regarding a cell tower in that area. He started them in the right direction, urging them to get other groups like Sunset Country, the Northern Ontario Tourism Organization to endorse the proposal. He also noted that the cell tower and the move towards getting broadband internet for the entire area could be piggybacked.
Monday evening he met with the Rainy River Cattlemen’s Association. The number one priority they had was the need for an abattoir in the riding. They also asked for sustained operational dollars for the cattle inspection station at Rainy River. Boshcoff said as the M.P. for this riding he will work hard to make sure the abattoir stays on the radar and cut through the red tape as quickly as possible. “I believe very strongly in it and will support it whole heartedly.”
Since taking office, Boshcoff says he has been far busier than he ever expected. With that in mind he has established four offices. In this area concerns should be directed to Brian Kahler in the Fort Frances office. Other offices are located in Atikokan, Thunder Bay and Ottawa.
Boshcoff said being in a minority government increases the difficulty of his job. However he welcomes the pressure and said so far everyone has been pretty positive across the riding. “People seem genuinely interested and we are working hard to make ourselves available.”
He firmly believes in an organized approach to issues. “Let’s start at point A and get our ducks in a row before tackling them.”