THUNDER BAY – Charmaine McCraw says she’s always been told it’s best to be the change you want to be.
So, after years of watching what she believed to be a lot of missteps made at city hall, the 35-year-old project manager and Indigenous recruiter decided it was time to get in the game. McCraw, who has never before held elected office, jumped headstrong into a crowded at-large race, one of 26 candidates seeking one of five spots around the council table.
“I hope to join the council and bring a new perspective, an Indigenous perspective,” McCraw said. “I would also like to see a younger generation involved in politics, especially municipal politics, and lastly … I would like to see more women running and participating in council and politics.”
McCraw, whose background includes economic development, said one area where she feels council hasn’t done a fantastic job at his transparency.
There are too many decisions being made behind closed doors and not enough answering to the public on matters both big and small.
If elected on Oct. 22, McCraw said that’s one of the things she plans to attempt to change.
“Right now I think there are a lot of decisions made at the administration level and voters and citizens aren’t feeling they have the ability to contribute in that decision-making process,” she said. “And I don’t feel like there is enough communication about what has been achieved during those processes.”
Listing rising taxes as one of her top issues, the political hopeful said she also plans to help tackle the racism problem that has plagued Thunder Bay for decades.
Proud of both her Aboriginal and Irish heritage, McCraw said she’s been bridging perspectives all of her life.
“I think that’s one of the biggest skills I can bring to the table” she said.
Economically speaking, McCraw is a backer of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce’s opportunity platform, which endorses cutting red tape for businesses, the formation of an economic long-term plan, fiscal transparency and a costing analysis of city services.
“I think we’re missing out on a lot of opportunity because of bureaucratic red tape,” she said.
