A Liberal MPP who spent the last two days in the Sault says the province should do more to help Algoma Steel.
MPP Rob Cerjanec said Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives could have provided more help to Sault Ste. Marie’s largest employer.
“It's surprising that the province only kicked in $100 million when the federal government kicked in $400 million . . . when Algoma’s bleeding hard with 50 per cent tariffs,” Cerjanec said today in a phone interview.
“We talk a lot about the province and the government needing to work together. I think that was an opportunity for the province to quite frankly step up a lot more for the Sault.”
The Sault needs “effective representation” at Queen’s Park, which is not what the riding is getting after Chris Scott was charged and subsequently removed from Ford’s caucus, Cerjanec said.
“You've got to be at Queen's Park and be able to engage . . . and sadly I don't think that's what we're seeing right now,” he said.
“So my take would be that if he's not able to effectively do the job as MPP, he should step aside.”
Scott is accused of assaulting his wife with a high chair on Sept. 19.
He was arrested on Sept. 21 and removed from caucus Sept. 22. He now sits as an independent.
Yesterday and today, Cerjanec toured Algoma University, met with Mayor Matthew Shoemaker, stopped by Tenaris, and spoke with the Sault Chamber of Commerce, among other groups.
Many of the people he met mentioned the current MPP and the issues he faces.
“I have heard that people haven't seen him around . . . that the first time folks saw him in a while was at the Remembrance Day ceremony.
“And overall, I would say folks are concerned that they're not getting effective representation at Queen’s Park.”
Cerjanec said he came to the Sault to “better understand the community to build relationships so that I can also be an advocate and voice for the community.”
In the last election, both Ford and Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles travelled to the Sault, but Bonnie Crombie, who was Liberal leader at the time, did not.
“I can’t really speak for the campaign,” he said.
Cerjanec, who represents Ajax, said he was focused on winning his riding, which he did by more than 300 votes.
“That was by talking about local issues and engaging and listening and showing that in Ajax, I could be a strong voice,” he said.
“I'm hearing obviously some concern around the steel and potential layoffs, but I'm also hearing about a lot of opportunities here that can happen in the future,” he said.
“In order to have those opportunities, we need to have a much stronger health-care system and students with special needs must get the support that they need.”
He couldn't say who the next Liberal leader will be.
"Your guess is as good as mine. That'll be up to the membership at the end of the day.
"I know some of my caucus colleagues including myself are thinking about it. I know folks from outside of caucus who aren't elected at all are thinking about it. And I know some federal MPs are thinking about it as well," he said.
Cerjanec – the Critic for Economic Development & Innovation, Tourism, Sport & Culture – said there needs to be more recreational opportunities in the Sault.
“I’m hearing the need for community recreation . . . there are employers, both domestic and international, that are interested in setting up in Sault Ste. Marie to take advantage of the skilled workforce.
“But you need to have the infrastructure in place and that's the social infrastructure, but then also the physical infrastructure,” he said.
The Sault is a short flight from Toronto, Cerjanec said, which is why he feels the Liberals should visit more often.
“We should be here in the Sault more because there's a lot of opportunity for the future, but we need to be able to engage and listen and advocate and pressure the provincial government to do more through the Sault and frankly all of Northern Ontario,” he said.
In Sault Ste. Marie, the Liberal candidate, Gurwinder Dusanjh, came in a distant third after only receiving 10 per cent of the vote.
Cerjanec said the Liberals were not really ready for the last election.
“Speaking to folks here, there are a lot of Liberals and provincial Liberals . . . but they haven't been engaged.
“For example, in the last election the candidate was nominated halfway through. You can't run an effective campaign if that happens.
“So as Ontario Liberals, should there be a byelection, we'll be ready."