THUNDER BAY — Thunder Bay-Rainy River Conservative candidate Brendan Hyatt says people in the riding are struggling with affordability.
Hyatt told Dougall Media he can be their voice in Ottawa.
“I'm connected across this riding. I think I'm in a unique place to actually support and help people,” he said.
Hyatt is deputy reeve of LaVallee township and a former director of education and superintendent with the Northwest Catholic District School Board.
He says his experience with budgets as a municipal leader and director of education has given him a lot of experience in balancing the “public purse.”
“I couldn't run deficits, so I had to learn how to stretch a dollar while still meeting the needs of the public, and I think that's important,” said Hyatt.
“It sets me apart because I've done that for more than 20 years of my life, and it gives me a unique opportunity to take those skill sets to Ottawa.”
Hyatt’s key priority, if elected, is to bring affordability to his riding.
“We shouldn't be struggling if we're actually out there helping our citizens. I think that's going to be our priority to help make people's lives better,” he said.
If elected, the Conservatives have promised to cut income tax by 15 per cent, dropping the tax rate on the lowest income tax bracket to 12.75 per cent.
The party also plans to cut the GST on all new homes up to $1.3 million.
“That'll help with the affordability issues that people are talking to me about when I'm knocking on doors and when I'm out on the street. I think right now that that's what people want to hear,” said Hyatt.
An issue in the riding is American anglers poaching in Canadian waters.
Hyatt says his party is “going to hire 2,000 customs and border service agents.”
“Where I live in the Rainy River area, I hear from the tourist operators, and I hear from the guides that are out on our waters, and they tell me that Canada is issuing permits to U.S. anglers and U.S. outfitters to come into our waters and use our resources,” said Hyatt.
“I think Canada needs to give opportunities to our citizens to utilize our own resources, not citizens of our neighbour.”
In response to continued annexation and economic threats from U.S. President Donald Trump, Hyatt said, “Canada will never be the 51st state.”
The Conservative party is going to focus its efforts on building Canada’s economy by breaking down interprovincial trade barriers, building pipelines and rail lines, and capitalizing on the energy sector.
“We're going to expedite the permitting and work on getting that out in six months and building critical infrastructure in the region, providing jobs to get that done and support Northern development for Northern people so that we are prosperous here in this riding,” said Hyatt.
