THUNDER BAY — Thunder Bay--Superior North Conservative candidate Bob Herman said he's running because life has become challenging for the average Canadian over the last 10 years.
“I just decided to do something about it. I don't think anybody elected a Liberal government with a mandate to double our debt, to increase their cost of living, to let crime get out of control, and to make it so our economy is not booming,” Herman told Newswatch.
He says his experience dealing “with government at all levels” sets him apart from his opponents.
For 32 years, Herman served with Thunder Bay Police. He was chief of police from 2000 to 2011.
He then served as an interim deputy police chief and interim chief with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, leaving that organization in 2013.
“I've sat face to face with ministers bringing issues to the table, so I do understand how government works,” says Herman.
He says he’ll bring “a fresh look” in the riding after 10 years of Liberal "folly."
Herman says his key priority is economic development for the Thunder Bay--Superior North riding.
The riding is one of the most mineral-rich areas of the country, and the conservative plan is to capitalize on it by accelerating development for the Ring of Fire and Generation Mine in Marathon.
“Our party plans to fast-track the approval permits at the federal level and work with the provinces has already indicated that they want to develop Ring of Fire,” says Herman.
Secondly, the party plans to commit $1 billion over three years to build all-season roads up to the communities around the Ring of Fire.
“I've worked up there. People don't understand how an all-season road will change the lives of the people that live in those communities, so that's extremely important.”
He also wants to allow for tax-revenue sharing with those First Nation communities, saying, “it will give those communities more autonomy to do what they need to do for the communities to improve their quality of life.”
Herman says the cost of living is “out of control.”
"People in their 20s and 30s can't afford to buy a house because the ability to do so is just impossible right now,” said Herman.
If elected, his party has pledged to cut the GST on all new homes up to $1.3 million.
Herman says removing the GST would incentivize municipalities to free up land to build homes.
Herman touched upon the trade war and threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Herman says, “Canada is never going to be annexed.”
As for the trade war, he said Canada should go “tariff for tariffs” with the U.S. and use the tax money to help the workers that would be most impacted.
He also says Canada needs to negotiate a new Canada-U.S.-Mexico free trade agreement and diversify our economy so “we're not dependent on one nation like the United States.”
