Howard Hampton Has Never Been Challenged In His Own Riding
Posted October 9, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
NDP leader Howard Hampton has represented the Kenora-Rainy River riding Ontario for 20 years, and many voters in that western Ontario riding, which is the size of PEI, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, don’t even know the names of those running against him.
Penny Lucas is the Progressive Conservative candidate, JoJo Holiday is running for the Green Party and Mike Wood, who says he has a shot at taking down Hampton, is representing the Liberals.
“People are a little tired of having the same thing year after year,” Wood said.
Kenora-Rainy River is the largest riding in Ontario, covering 300,000 square kilometres. The main industry is lumber and with some local mills closing, that’s becoming a major election issue of its own.
“Every job lost hurts the tax base, and there’s just not that much money to go around anymore,” said retired teacher Cecil O’Gean.
Health care is also playing a role in the race, with a major doctor shortage in that part of the province.
“There’s only one doctor for however many people come in,” said police officer Mark Breyere.
Meanwhile, Hampton wrapped up his campaigning in Toronto Tuesday, chastising Conservative leader John Tory for failing to touch on any of the big issues affecting people in his backyard.
“Mr. Tory went for a walk in right field at the beginning of the campaign and was lost out there for three and a half weeks,” he said.
In the last election, Hampton swept this riding with 60 per cent of the vote. The Liberals finished second with 25 per cent.
