By Andrew Hopkins
Green Party candidate Kris Rivard is running to represent the riding of Timiskaming-Cochrane in the upcoming provincial election. This marks his second campaign for the position of Timiskaming-Cochrane MPP, while also serving as the Northern Ontario Representative for the Green Party of Ontario since 2023.
Rivard was inspired to run for office because of the increasing divisiveness in politics.
“I believe that although every party wants what’s best for the people of Ontario, they have different ways of setting and achieving their goals,” Rivard explained. “I would love to give people hope that elected officials can work across party lines, putting their constituents’ needs first while doing what’s best for everyone in the province, no matter which party you align with.”
He strongly believes that the Green Party has the best plan for Ontario and provides him with the best opportunity to represent Timiskaming-Cochrane and fight for what Northern Ontario needs.
“I will be a voice for the people of Timiskaming-Cochrane, putting people before party politics,” Rivard expressed.
Going into the election, Rivard said the priorities should focus on properly funded healthcare, support for northern communities, increased safety on northern roads, fixing the housing crisis, and caring for the people of Northern Ontario. However, his top three priorities are:
- Properly funding healthcare
- Improving safety on Northern highways
- Caring for the people of Ontario
Rivard stated that the people of Timiskaming-Cochrane need access to quality, primary healthcare, no matter where they are in the riding.
“We can do this by developing a strategy to attract doctors, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals to our northern communities,” Rivard explained.
He also pointed out that the cost of providing emergency care is much greater than the cost of providing primary care.
“And with more access to primary care, our emergency rooms will see shorter wait times while remaining available for true emergencies,” Rivard added. “We need our provincial government to step in and help Northern communities compete with the rest of Ontario by providing our healthcare system with increased funding and incentives.”
On the topic of safety on Northern highways, Rivard emphasized the need for people to feel safe while traveling.
“Whether it’s accessing healthcare, going to school, visiting loved ones, or getting to your next hockey game, I will fight for the design and planning of a divided Highway 11 to be completed within the next couple of years, allowing work to begin and portions of the improved highway to be finished within the next decade,” Rivard expressed. “This can be funded by redirecting funds from other projects. Funding helps with economic growth in the North.”
His third priority involves caring for the people of Ontario. The Green Party of Ontario is determined to put people before politics and start caring for the people of Ontario again.
“Instead of spending billions on a Highway 401 tunnel in Toronto, a private spa at Ontario Place, an early election, or election gimmicks like the $200 cheque with a total price tag of over 100 BILLION dollars,” Rivard said, “We can properly fund healthcare, improve our northern highways, fix the housing crisis, and support our northern communities.”
Rivard emphasized that everyone deserves a safe place to call home, whether to raise a family or age comfortably. He pointed out that over 90% of provincially funded affordable housing projects were completed before 1997, showing that the government has not kept up with the demand and contributed to the current housing crisis.
“The Greens believe it’s time for the province to get back into the business of providing geared-to-income, affordable housing options to the people of Ontario who need it,” Rivard expressed. “We also plan to remove the capital gains tax for first-time homebuyers, making the dream of owning a home more of a reality.”
When asked what sets him apart from his opponents, Rivard said being fluently bilingual in French and English is a great asset for him to represent everyone in the riding in the language of their choice.
“When knocking on doors, I’ve heard from many people how excited they are to see a French-speaking candidate,” Rivard noted.
At 32 years old, Rivard believes he can bring a fresh perspective to the riding and provincial government.
“As the youngest municipal councillor in the history of West Nipissing, I’ve already received great feedback about my fresh outlook and efforts to engage the younger population in the community,” Rivard expressed.
He plans on staying connected with the community.
“I will always respond to questions, comments, or concerns from the residents of Timiskaming-Cochrane in an open and transparent manner,” Rivard said.
One way he will remain transparent is by ensuring that people are aware of how public funds are being spent.
“I don’t believe many people know that our current government has spent $2.2 billion to turn Ontario Place into a private spa, or $3 billion for $200 cheques at election time, or invested over $100 billion on a tunnel under Highway 401,” Rivard explained. “I will be honest with residents and advocate against wasteful expenditures like these. Instead, we can allocate this $105 billion into properly funded healthcare, affordable housing, highway improvements in Northern Ontario, and more.”
Rivard admitted he wasn’t initially sure about running.
“One tough decision I had to make recently, when I put my name forward for this snap election, was that my wife and I have a son just under two years old, and we’re expecting our second baby boy in March,” Rivard explained. “When we heard this election could happen anytime between January 2025 and June 2026, we had to sit down, discuss our options, our future, and our goals. After careful consideration, we decided that I would put my name forward and make a real push to be the MPP for Timiskaming-Cochrane.”
He said he’s ready for the job.
“I believe all decisions, whether big or small, need to be taken with certainty and careful consideration,” Rivard added. “I take my job seriously, and I understand that when elected, people are putting their trust in you to work hard for everyone.”
Rivard believes that being a municipal councillor in West Nipissing has helped him develop the skills required to work with everyone, regardless of differing views.
“Everyone wants what’s best, but we all have different ways of going about it,” Rivard said. “I’m a strong believer in bringing my opinion to the table while remaining open to changing my mind if a more realistic or logical option is presented.”
Rivard’s plan to improve the lives of all residents in Timiskaming-Cochrane is simple:
“Work hard, listen to the residents, and always be involved and available to everyone in our large riding,” Rivard expressed. “I will work hard to ensure Northerners have access to well-funded healthcare, well-funded education, safe highways, and support for the communities we live in and love. Municipalities in the North are facing infrastructure deficits, and we require our provincial government to step in to help, keeping tax rates down while maintaining the level of services we’ve come to enjoy and expect in Northern Ontario.”
Rivard sees Timiskaming-Cochrane as a vital player in the future of Ontario, especially in Northern Ontario.
“Once our area has a divided highway, tourism and business investments can become more reliable, providing our communities with new opportunities,” Rivard explained. “I would love for all our communities to be ready to seize these opportunities, such as the Ring of Fire development. Timiskaming-Cochrane will be well situated for any added value industries tied to the potential of the Ring of Fire.”
He’s hopeful for a more caring Ontario where nobody is left behind, and no one falls through the cracks.
“Everyone should have access to a family doctor, a safe place to call home, a good job, and the ability to raise a family or age comfortably in the town they know and love,” Rivard expressed.
The election takes place on February 27th, and Rivard hopes for a strong voter turnout.
“I want as many people in Timiskaming-Cochrane to head to the polls as possible. We need to increase voter turnout. Vote for who you believe can represent you best in Timiskaming-Cochrane, not the party itself,” he said.
Rivard said he will be a strong, independent voice in the Ontario Legislature.
“The Green Party of Ontario’s leader, Mike Schreiner, will not force me to vote a certain way. You will. The people of Timiskaming-Cochrane. That’s something special that the Ontario Greens bring to the table,” Rivard said. “Let’s become the first riding in Northern Ontario to go Green and bring a new, realistic, and honest way of doing politics. The Green Party of Ontario puts people ahead of politics.”