THUNDER BAY — Patty Hajdu is more than willing to run on her record as a three-term MP for Thunder Bay-Superior North.
Hajdu, first elected in 2015 and subsequently re-upped in 2019 and 2021, has spent most of the last decade serving in cabinet, first under former prime minister Justin Trudeau and then under Mark Carney before the latest election was called.
The 58-year-old was named minister of the status of women in 2015, took over as minister of employment, workforce development and labour in 2017, switched to minister of health in 2019 and served through the pandemic, and most recently was named Minister of Indigenous Services, a post she took on in 2021. Hajdu said her time in cabinet has not impacted her work in the riding.
"I've managed to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars for our region to prosper," Hajdu said, money gone toward mining projects as well as investments in communities to make life better, including housing for Thunder Bay, the art gallery and most recently the announcement to support Science North.
Hajdu added she has also advocated for people who need extra support, including the Canada Dental Care Program and the Canada Child Benefit Program.
"Really important programs for our region that provide thousands of people with extra supports to raise healthy families, to get their dental care taken care of, and these are really important things to Canadians," said Hajdu.
When it comes to the current election, there’s a distinct choice voters are facing, between two very different party leaders, presenting two very different visions for Canadians.
"We have the new Liberal leader ... Mark Carney, who has a seasoned track record of leading governments, including ours, but also the U.K. through very difficult economic times," said Hajdu.
Carney has run complex organizations, had to make tough decisions and had to lead teams through very trying times.
"On the other hand, we have a career politician who's been for the last three years running down Canada, collaborating with the Republicans trying to divide Canadians and pit us against each other," said Hajdu.
She said the vision the Liberal Party and its leader are presenting is one Canadians naturally gravitate toward.
"We are Canadians. We stand up for each other. We take care of each other. Our country has a long history of ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to succeed and so this is a really pivotal election," said Hajdu.
Hajdu added it’s time for voters to stand up for Canadian values and sovereignty, at a time when both are being threatened.
"I think Canadians care about a whole bunch of things — a diversity of issues that communities are facing and desires and hopes," said Hajdu.
"But Canadians feel for the very first time threatened on their own soil by the United States, whether it's the threat of economic tariffs and what those tariffs are doing to a variety of different sectors and people's job security or the open musing of a president wondering about whether or not Canada is a sovereign nation."
According to Hajdu, Carney said the country won't negotiate with the United States while they're "attacking" Canada's sovereignty — it will stand strong together and diversify the economies.
"Of course, we need to work respectfully with the United States, but the United States needs to work respectfully with Canada as well," explained Hajdu.
She said when Canadians stand together, they stand up for Canada and each other in their communities and will be strong.
"We are Canada strong together and that's the difference I think that's really on display for this election," said Hajdu.
