Skaf's owner runs for MP on incorporating the nation

THUNDER BAY -- If Robert Skaf was the Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay-Superior North, he would advocate the country becoming Canada Inc.

The Current River grocer joined the federal race as an independent candidate on Friday. 

"I'm not affiliated with anybody and I don't hear anyone advocating Canada becoming a huge corporation," he said.

"That's where my views are different than anybody else and my views aren't that drastic. We do have public corporations here in Thunder Bay -- Tbaytel and Thunder Bay Hydro. They make great profit and they contribute to the economy at the same time.

"We can do it, it's already done but we have to go and invest in new materials and new, innovative ideas."
Developing revolutionary wood and agriculture products on a massive scale are among Skaf's ideas.

He would like to see a "huge expanse of land" transformed into a free range farm where animals would graze free of antibiotics, pesticides and hormones. The size would keep costs down and exports up while the quality of the meat could demand a premium price in international markets.

He also called for research and development funding be committed to earthquake-resistant wood for global housing and amphibious technology to navigate swamp land throughout Northwestern Ontario.

"In essence, we have to be more enterprising, more creative and more willing to invest in the future and specifically in innovation that is going to be generating revenue, whereas taxing and spending has not worked in the past," he said.

"I chose to run because I'm worried about the state of the economy. For the last 50 years, there hasn't been any improvement in the North. In fact, we've been losing jobs and people and industry and I feel like with innovative ideas and solutions, we might be able to do a better job."