A Big Decision Looms Before MPP

Monday, 28 November 2022 06:47

By Linda Morgan

Wayne Gates has this week to decide if he'll run for NDP leadership

Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates is getting close to deciding if he'll consider running for leader of the Ontario NDP.

He says it's a big decision that would not only affect his family, but the community as well.

"If I ran for leadership, I wouldn't be in the riding, and I really do love my riding. It's a very tough decision, a very important decision for me personally with my family, but also for the community," he says.

The MPP notes some of his top concerns include the building of the South Niagara hospital and the Ford government's plan to build housing on parts of the Greenbelt.

Another top priority for Gates, who is the NDP's Long Term Care Critic, is repealing Bill 7, a law which he says allows discharged elderly hospital patients to be forced into long term care homes they didn't choose. "There is no way that patients that are in an alternate level of care, should be shipped as far away as 150 km/hr from their home. That senior, with their family not being able to get there and see them all the time, that senior will probably die a lot sooner than they have to."

Gates says the new party leader will have numerous challenges, and will have to work hard to connect with Ontarians.

"We've got to be a strong voice for communities, for families, for workers - union and non-union. I think there's an opportunity here. People are looking for a leader, and I'm hoping that whoever decides to run for the leadership of the NDP, that's their main focus, being a strong voice for everybody in the province of Ontario."

So far, the only candidate who has registered for party leadership is education critic Marit Stiles. Gates says there are many qualified people who could run.

The deadline to register is December 5th.

A Big Decision Looms Before MPP

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