If voters in the Flin Flon constituency crave change, can a party that has been in power since 1999 deliver it?
For Tom Lindsey, New Democratic MLA candidate, the answer is yes.
“The NDP is bringing in new people with new ideas,” he says. “And the message that has come out of their 16 years [in power] is steady economic growth, and it’s been good for the average working person. We need to keep going along that path.”
Different parts of the constituency have different needs, Lindsey says, but across the riding job creation is crucial “so that everyone has an opportunity to prosper.”
“Certainly jobs and the economy are major issues because if nobody’s working, if we don’t have jobs, all the rest of it starts to fall by the wayside,” he says. “So we need to be mindful of how to create jobs, and certainly the NDP government as a whole has been pretty steady in that.”
Beyond that, what does the community of Flin Flon need? Lindsey points to seniors’ housing, recreational options, and opportunities to ensure young people can be active and involved.
As for the future of mining in Flin Flon, he hopes another mine near the community will be discovered.
“Certainly some of the things…reported in The Reminder about other, smaller junior mining companies and some of their finds hold some hope for mining,” Lindsey says. “I would hope that right here in Flin Flon there’s another mine [but that] will depend on the economies of when, maybe, it gets announced or when it gets found.
“Manitoba as a whole is one of the better mining jurisdictions in the world…so certainly there should be opportunity there for exploration to find the next mine.”
Asked if there would be a role for him as MLA in assisting in that process, Lindsey answers in the affirmative.
“Whether it’s mining, forestry or any other industry, the MLA’s role should be to advocate for sustainable development throughout the region so that we have jobs, so that we have opportunity,” he says.
In terms of seniors’ housing, the NDP government has unveiled plans for a new 20-unit complex on Hemlock Drive. Lindsey says the need goes beyond those units.
“There’s different levels of care that come into play [and] it would be nice if it was possible for people to transition from their own homes into seniors’ apartments,” he says.
When it comes to seniors’ housing, Lindsey sees potential for cross-border cooperation.
“With Creighton, Denare Beach kind of right next door, maybe there’s some opportunity to do some cost-sharing,” he says. “Certainly Creighton has a need for seniors’ housing, as well as Flin Flon, so maybe we can combine resources and make an affordable option for residents of the area, not specifically to Flin Flon or Creighton. There’s probably some other opportunities to share resources with our Saskatchewan neighbours.”
Lindsey says he has had conversations with Cumberland MLA Doyle Vermette and that if both men are elected in April, they will further discuss how to work together for the benefit of the area.
First Nations communities in the Flin Flon constituency, Lindsey says, have more “basic needs,” including clean water and infrastructure.
There are also infrastructure challenges on non-First Nations, he says, citing
Snow Lake as an example.
“If Snow Lake is going to grow, then their infrastructure has to grow,” Lindsey says.
While the NDP has historically maintained a strong hold on the Flin Flon constituency, polls show that across the province the party could be in for its worst electoral defeat in 50-plus years.
Lindsey hopes the polls are wrong.
“If you look at what happened in Alberta with their [latest] provincial election, the polls certainly never predicted what took place there,” he says. “So I hope the same thing will hold true here, that when people really start listening to the message that the NDP is putting forward going into the next election, that they’ll realize that we are their best hope going forward, that what the Conservatives have done in the past and what they’ve done elsewhere – cutting services – is not the answer.”
A former health and safety rep for the Steelworkers union at Hudbay, Lindsey, a Flin Flon resident, says he brings experience in representing people.
“I’m not afraid to speak up,” he adds. “I’m not afraid to be controversial if it’s for the benefit of the people that we represent.”
