by Andrew Hopkins
New Blue candidate Stephen MacLeod is vying for your votes in the upcoming provincial election.
He has a passion for helping people and ran in the federal election back in 2021 with the idea that he could make a real difference and help the people of the riding.
“Since then, I’ve dug deeper, and what I’ve found is that MPs promise their ridings all this help, but very few actually do anything about it. What I’d like to believe is that the reason behind this is that they have all of Canada to try and help, not just their ridings,” MacLeod explained. “Looking at the MPPs here in Ontario and in other provinces, they seem to have the opportunity and ability to do more good for their respective ridings. So, I changed my focus from federal to provincial because I want to help the people of Timiskaming-Cochrane.”
His top three priorities, if elected, will focus on improving Northern Ontario highways and making them safer, addressing healthcare issues by bringing in more family physicians and specialists, and removing the PC government’s carbon tax. He also aims to find ways to eliminate the federal carbon tax and cut the HST from 13% down to 10%, with the ultimate goal of removing it completely.
MacLeod believes that the top issue right now for the riding is the safety of local roads.
“Mr. Vanthof has done well in shedding light on the many companies licensing drivers without proper training, but I want to take it further and focus more on the roads here,” MacLeod expressed. “The MTO sends out tenders for highway maintenance, and companies submit bids. Of course, the lowest cost is usually the winner. We all know what cheap service gets us, and our roads are no different.”
He added that driving down Hwy 11/17, it’s easy to tell where one patrol yard ends and another takes over, and sometimes the change is drastically different — a dangerous situation that could lead to an accident.
“As a trucker myself, driving our highways, I can attest to the major lack of rest stops for truckers, which means during a winter event, drivers are forced to drive for hours to find a proper place to safely pull off the road,” MacLeod explained. “This, coupled with drivers from other countries who haven’t had proper training or even seen snow, equals the potential for major accidents. These are the kinds of issues that need to be addressed, along with cracking down on fraudulent licensing companies.”
When asked what sets him apart from his fellow candidates, MacLeod said it’s his passion for people and his vision for the riding’s growth.
“I’m willing to work with other parties to achieve things like safer roads, promoting tourism, and economic development, as I believe we are elected to serve our constituents. If so, we need to do it with all the means available to us,” MacLeod explained.
MacLeod said his goal is to build a strong team with people from all over this large riding.
“These folks will be the main ears and boots on the ground, meeting with people, listening to their concerns, and bringing them to me when I can’t physically be there in person,” MacLeod added. “Given the size of this riding, it’s impossible to be in every town as well as down south, representing you to the best of my ability. This team is crucial. Beyond that, regular visits to each community and holding open sessions where people can connect will also be a priority.”
MacLeod noted that working with people who have opposing views is a normal way of life.
“If we all thought and acted the same, life would be boring. I live by the principle that I’m happy to listen to your views as long as you give me the same opportunity,” MacLeod expressed. “If you want to force your views on me or try to create an argument, the conversation is over. There are no good results from that. I’m more than willing to have a healthy debate, but when it turns ugly, it’s time to walk away.”
MacLeod emphasized that cutting the HST and eliminating the carbon tax are the best ways to initially improve the lives of residents.
Looking ahead, MacLeod said that in five years, he hopes to still be representing the riding.
“I hope to see our roads become safer, and I hope to see improved tourism and greater economic growth for our riding,” he added.
He believes this election is about change.
“My message would be that if you’re like me and tired of hearing the same speeches over and over with nothing done, then it’s time for a total change, and that change would be a vote for the New Blue Party of Ontario,” MacLeod expressed.