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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2015-04-29, Page 5Wednesday, April 29, 2015 • News Record 5 Former journalist looks to win Huron -Bruce Marco Vigliotti Postmedia Network Allan Thompson has swapped the newsroom for the campaign trail, with the former Toronto Star reporter set to stand as the Liberal can- didate for Huron -Bruce in this October's federal election. The Glammis Ont. native, who covered Parliament in the 1990s and early 2000s, claims to have already accrued more than 70,000 kilometres on his van the past year campaigning and meeting voters across the sprawling rural riding, cur- rently represented by Con- servative Ben Lobb. Thompson, 51, said he believes his extensive experi- ence as a print reporter and university journalism profes- sor will allow him to become an effective representative for his home region. "I'm a career journalist and a teacher, so I think that skill - set will also be useful. I'm even finding I use it when I'm campaigning -in a way I'm kind of interviewing people," he said of his outreach work so far, which has included multiple meet -and -greet ses- sions and door -knocking in the many communities included in Huron -Bruce. According to Thompson, voters in the riding have told him that they want an inde- pendent -minded MP who can effectively represent them in Ottawa - an admit- tedly tough environment to trumpet rural views. If elected, he said he would look to stand up for residents in the nation's capital rather than serve as some sort of party spokesman. "People in a riding like Huron -Bruce deserve a pro- active, effective Member of Parliament, who can be their voice in Ottawa, not Ottawa's voice in Huron -Bruce," Thompson said. He also said he detected a "very, very strong senti- ment" from voters "that is time for a change." "People are genuinely tired of Stephen Harper's style of governing," Thomp- son noted. Raised on his family's farm near Tiverton, the veteran journalist has maintained deep roots in the region throughout his illustrious career, which included mul- tiple visits to sub-Saharan African to report on the Rwandan Genocide and child soldiers, among other geo-political issues. In a campaign press release, Thompson said he remained engaged with the community through his fam- ily ties, involvement with a number of local organizations and as a member of the con- gregation at St. Paul's Presby- terian Church in Glammis He also cited his time play- ing broomball with the Glam- mis Flyers, compiling a history of the early years of Glammis and duties as a guest speaker for groups such as the Sau- geen chapter of the Canadian Federation of University Women and the Bruce County Historical Society. Thompson credits his upbringing and knowledge of the region for allowing him to bring a "rural lens" that is oft absent from national political discus- sions, with party leaders focusing instead on voter - heavy urban concentrations. A graduate of Bruce Town- ship Central Public in Under- wood and Walkerton District Secondary School, Thomp- son began his journalism career as a reporter with the Kincardine Independent and Teeswater News. From there, it was off to the bustling newsroom of the Star before eventually landing a teaching position with Carleton University's journalism school. The decision to enter parti- san politics and effectively end - at least temporarily - his reporting career was prompted by the elevation of Justin Trudeau to the helm of the Liberal Party, Thompson said. He credits Trudeau's opti- mistic style of leadership for prompting him to become a member of the party for the first time in his life so he could vote for the Papineau MP in the 2013 leadership election. As for himself, Thompson won the Grit nomination for the riding last October. Huron -Bruce, however, still doesn't appear to be fer- tile ground for the federal Liberals, regardless of the party's resurgence in the polls nationwide. Contributed photo Former Toronto Star journalist Allan Thompson is looking to become the first Liberal MP for Huron - Bruce since 2008. The Glammis native won the nomination for the party late last year. The vast and lanky riding contains a hefty section of Lake Huron's scenic shore- line, enveloping an array of locales, including Kincar- dine, Goderich, Walkerton, Exeter, Clinton and Seaforth. Thompson calls it one of the most rural ridings in the country, as none of its many communities boast a core population of 10,000 or more. In 2011, Lobb was re- elected here with about 55 per cent of the vote. Though that maybe enough for prognosticators to give the advantage to the incumbent, Liberal MP Paul Steckle had previously represented the rid- ing from 1993 to 2008. Commonly regarded as a maverick for a propensity to buck the party line, Steckle was a staunch opponent of same-sex marriage and the long -gun registry who served as a backbencher in successive Liberal govern- ments that introduced both. Although careful not to indicate support for Steckle's social conservative leanings, Thompson suggested that voters here wanted someone from that similar mould who wasn't afraid to strike an independent course. "I think people should expect that their MP is going to represent them, be their voice in Ottawa," he said. "I do hear that from people (who say) please make sure you're the kind of person that's going to listen...and that you stand up for your riding." As well, Thompson claimed that a Trudeau-led govern- mentwould afford MPs greater freedom to speak out than Ste- phen Harper's regime. "There is no tolerance for any other view (in Stephen Harper's government)," he said, adding that he is encour- aged by "Trudeau's commit- ment to reinvigorating the House of Commons and the role for an ordinary MP" 'Cash mob' descends on the restaurants of Clinton Laura Broadley Clinton News Record A "cash mob" came to the restaurants of Clinton last Wednesday. Libro Credit Union surprised students and other restaurant goers at Sub- way, Stella's, Godfathers and Bartliff's with $5 coupons. The stunt was done to pro- mote The Prosperity Project which is the credit union's plan to put money back into communities, said Debb Finch of Libro. The project has four pillars; community engagement, financial ser- vices, coaching and conver- sation & collaboration. The cash mob specifically targeted students in the area because Libro also has an award for people age 17-25 attending or planning to attend post -secondary school. There are 10 awards of $3000 for eligible students. The application can be found on Libro's website until the May 8 deadline. Libro recently launched a granting program called the Prosperity Fund, which has three focus areas; regional economic development, increased financial knowl- edge and assets and youth development. The fund is meant to support local not- for-profit organizations, com- munity groups, registered charities and co-ops. The organizations must generate benefits to southwestern Ontario, demonstrate fiscal responsibility, commit a con- tribution of its human or financial resources, and address one of Libro's focus areas to be considered for the grant. Libro has committed to contribute a total of $500,000 annually at the corporate and branch levels. The deadline for applications is June 15. As a demonstration of its commitment to the commu- nity Libro is offering to reim- burse new customers who spend $25 at local businesses. More information on The Prosperity Project and the awards can be found online at www.libro.ca. Laura Broadley Clinton News Record Lindsay from Libro, Sydney Ryan and Kacy Viau show off Libro's $5 coupon at Subway last Wednesday during the "cash mob".