Hampton offers NDP solutions to Ontario’s problems

Dear Editor,
This election is about your right to choose the best future for you, your family and the future of Northern Ontario.
Northerners – and that includes First Nations communities – understand it takes government leadership and the power of people like you to build strong communities and create jobs in Northern Ontario. I call that publicpower.
But the Conservatives don’t get it. They believe privatizing vital public services solves everything and that government has no role to play when it comes to building strong communities. But the Conservatives’ one-dimensional policies have been a disaster for the North: Job losses. Plant closures. Job-killing, sky-high hydro bills. Doctor and nurse shortages. Schools shut down. Communities struggling to survive.
Something is terribly wrong when Census figures show record numbers of young Northerners migrating south because they don’t enjoy the same opportunities their hard-working parents enjoyed just a generation before. That’s unacceptable.
During this election, Northerners have a choice between two ideas:
Will you maintain the Conservative all-points-south status quo” Or do you want to put the North back on the political compass with a new deal that rebuilds our economy, revitalizes our communities and offers our young people real opportunity and hope?
New Democrats have practical solutions for the North.
• hydroNorth: We’ll stop hydro privatization and deregulation, move forward with public power, keep North business and industry running and people working.
• jobsNorth: Our comprehensive Northern Economic Development strategy will retain and attract business activity and good jobs.
• healthNorth: We’ll make quality public health care available all day every day.
• schoolsNorth: We’ll make every school an excellent school and give more Northerners the chance to go to college and university or learn a trade.
• housingNorth: We’ll ensure decent, affordable places to live.
• saferoadsNorth: Our plan will mean better and safer roads and highways.
• environmentNorth: Our plan will mean safe drinking water for you and your family. And it will keep Toronto’s garbage problems out of our backyard.
• firstnationsNorth: Our plan will mean jobs and justice for First Nations.
publicpower – Practical Solutions for Northern Ontario - sets our a made-in the North plan for a future that belongs to all Northerners. Join us. Let’s take back our future.
Yours sincerely,
Howard Hampton
leader, Ontario NDP
MPP, Kenora-Rainy River