The Conservatives have tapped entrepreneur Tamara Johnson to take on a pair of political heavyweights in the next provincial election.
Johnson, a single mother of one who runs a gift shop inside the Landmark Inn, on Saturday at the Italian Cultural Centre was acclaimed as the Tory candidate for Thunder Bay-Superior North, a riding held by Liberal Minister of Northern Development and Mines Michael Gravelle.
Long-time Current River Coun. Andrew Foulds is the NDP candidate in what is largely seen as a two-horse race.
Johnson begs to differ, promising to put people and employment first over special interest groups.
“If I get a chance to vote in the legislature and the choice is between (saving) a bug and your job, I’ll vote for your job every time,” Johnson said at her nomination meeting, attended by about 20 people.
She promised to speak loudly while on the campaign trail.
“Many of you may not like what I have to say, but I’m going to say it anyway,” the Geraldton-born Johnson said.
It’s time for change in Ontario’s North, she said, and that change will only come by electing Conservatives to Queen’s Park.
The Liberals and NDP have been bought off by special interest groups, she added, calling Gravelle a professional politician and Foulds a wannabe professional politician.
“Are you better off than you were 20 years ago,” she asked, questioning Gravelle’s effectiveness. “The NDP? No damn progress.”
Party spokesman Ken Audziss, who grew up in Thunder Bay, said Johnson was approached by party leader Tim Hudak a few weeks ago to see if she might be interested in running. A long-time party supporter who was on the riding association board in 1999, Johnson is just the kind of candidate the PC’s need, he said.
It won’t be easy, he added.
“Thunder Bay-Superior North is a tough riding. It’s not blue by nature. We’re going to have to work hard to turn it blue.”
The minority Liberal government is expected to table its budget on Thursday, with both the Conservatives and NDP threatening to take down Premier Kathleeen Wynne’s government if concessions aren’t made.
