- Michael Den Tandt

Today I am announcing that I intend to seek the Liberal party nomination for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound in the 2019 federal election.

Here’s why.

Nearly thirty years ago, at the start of my career in newspapers, I decided that if ever I met a situation in which I’d much rather help than report, analyze or criticize, I’d leave journalism and pursue politics.

The moment came in early 2017, when I left my job as a columnist with the National Post, Owen Sound Sun Times and other Postmedia papers, to join the Prime Minister’s Office, as communications advisor for Canada-US relations.

I had come to believe that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland had the best approach, indeed the only responsible approach, to the uncertain times in which we now live.

That is to say: An approach that is constructive, principled, consistent and tough.

The risk of a U.S. withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement, and the possible loss of many thousands of Canadian jobs, was very real.

Two years later, with NAFTA re-negotiated and stabilized, I believe even more strongly that the approach our government took was right.

Given the opportunity, I joined the effort, and began making the trek back and forth from Owen Sound to Ottawa. I’m proud to have been part of the team that helped preserve NAFTA. Our negotiators hung tough at the table. The resulting deal is good for Canada.

At the same time, I'm very aware that, for many in Bruce and Grey, the benefits of global trade have been slow to come – if they’ve come at all.

While areas to the north, south, east and west of us have enjoyed steady development, Bruce and Grey have struggled.

Too many good manufacturing jobs have gone away (the most recent example being Tenneco, slated to close next year) and too many families have voted with their feet, moving to other communities with greater opportunities.

But this cycle isn’t set in stone. It can change. And so it should.

From 2006 to 2011 I was editor of the Owen Sound Sun Times. In 2007 I co-founded Fudoshin Dojo, a not-for-profit Karate school, where I continue to teach as a volunteer. A few years later I co-founded and co-developed the Owen Sound Hub (I divested my stake in the Hub in 2015.)

For my family, Owen Sound is home. It always will be.

And the question I have to ask is this: What could the federal government do better to help residents of Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound succeed?

Owen Sound Harbour hasn’t been dredged since the late 1980s, and is slowly silting in. Discussions about divestiture and cleanup have apparently stalled. Yet the federally-owned harbour is arguably the single most important piece of economic and social infrastructure for the city and surrounding area.

This has gone unresolved for years on end. And lake levels can’t be expected to stay high forever. Surely this problem should be tackled head-on, with all stakeholders – including every level of government and indigenous peoples – at the table.

Whose responsibility is it to lead this, if not the area’s Member of Parliament?

During my newspaper years I got along personally with Larry Miller, the incumbent MP for the past 14 years – including ten during which his party was in power in Ottawa. I even defended Larry now and then in my column.

With all due respect, I think it’s time for a fresh approach.

Preserving our environment must go hand in hand with jobs and economic growth. In the 21st Century you can’t do one without the other. That applies to fixing the harbour, as much as it does to building pipelines and fighting climate change.

In Bruce-Grey there’s a shortage of well-paying jobs. Yet just down the road in the GTA, and at Bruce Power, there’s a looming shortage of skilled labour. Surely there’s an opportunity to do more to connect A with B?

Immigration has been a major source of economic growth in Canada for the past 30 years. Surely we could do more, with federal cooperation, to draw enterprising new Canadians to Owen Sound and the surrounding area?

Tourism is a multi-billion-dollar business. We enjoy one of the most beautiful natural settings anywhere. How can the federal government better help area entrepreneurs capitalize on this opportunity?

My point is not to suggest meeting these challenges is easy - or that an MP can or should provide all the answers. Progress will require hard work and lots of community input.

What I am saying is that the status quo isn’t enough.

We can do better. Greater ambition, greater pragmatism, better teamwork, and a fresh perspective, are called for. That’s what the Trudeau Liberal government has brought nationally - and will build on if elected to a second term.

It is decidedly not what today’s Conservative party has on offer. Devoid of ideas, opposition leader Andrew Scheer seems intent only on turning back the clock to the Harper era. Lacking any coherent plan, Mr. Scheer peddles falsehoods and fear.

I know Bruce-Grey-Owen-Sound can do better.

If you’d like to contribute to positive change in Bruce and Grey, your ideas, input and efforts are very welcome. I would be grateful for your help. Please contact [email protected].