THUNDER BAY -- Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Don Rusnak has been touring his new riding since his election in October and on Tuesday, he laid down roots in a local constituency office.
The first-time Liberal MP will be based at the former site of the Sylvan Learning Centre at 905 Victoria Ave. His office on Parliament Hill is ready for the House of Commons to resume on Jan. 25 and he plans to establish offices in Atikokan and Fort Frances by the end of the month.
“Our office in Ottawa took a little of time to get set up. It was a little bit easier because government services is there. Doing it over the phone is a little bit more difficult,” Rusnak said amid partisans and well-wishers at his local office grand opening.
“As you can see today, we don’t have our computers, we don’t have phones yet but we’re hoping to have that set up in the next couple of days.”
Rusnak spent ample time in his new riding outside of Thunder Bay, performing forest surveys and fishing in the Atikokan area. Since his election, he spent a week touring the communities along Highway 11 West, including 70 per cent of the First Nations in his riding.
Along with Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Patty Hajdu, Rusnak has held some discussions with City Council’s Inter-governmental Affairs Committee on Thunder Bay’s spending priorities and will be holding formal pre-budget consultations through February.
The MPs work is at a formative stage. Rusnak emphasized the potential he sees to foster cooperation in the city and help to treat some of its historical cleavages.
“There still is in the history of the two ridings and the two cities, a little bit of the differences are still there,” he said.
“Mine and Patty’s goal is to make sure we advocate for the best for all of Thunder Bay, that we don’t nee this divide anymore between the two parts of the city and we have to work together to make this city stronger and a healthier place.”
