Voting in the Valley: As longtime MPP steps aside, rural residents seek a new advocate

Feb. 27 will see big changes in the Ottawa Valley.

Longtime MPP John Yakabuski, 67, announced months ago that he would not be running again. He's been busy clearing out his constituency office, boxing up photographs and mementos, and reminiscing about his 22 years in office.

Voters in Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke are now tasked with replacing the popular politician, and laying out a to-do list for his replacement.

Ice-fishing shacks dot a frozen Muskrat Lake, near Cobden. Two 23-year-olds are attempting to catch walleye while watching Yellowstone on a flat screen TV powered by a generator.  

Carpenter Joshua Smith shares a modest two-bedroom apartment.

"I don't even have a driveway to park my car, he said.

He'd love to own his own home like his parents did when they were his age.

"We can't really look forward to that," said Smith. "We're nowhere near."

His fishing partner Tanton Landriault works on a pavement crew and still lives at home.

"[I'm ] saving up to build my own house one day. But right now, I can't afford nothing," he said.

Twinning Highway 17

Darwin Peever wants progress on the twinning of Highway 17 between Arnrprior and Renfrew, and beyond.

"Doug Ford promised that six and a half years ago," said Peever. "It's not close to being done at all."

"There's been a lot of lives lost on that highway. By [twinning it] as far as they can go with it, it may save a lot more lives," said June McLaughlin. "My nephew was killed on that stretch of road. It's personal for me."

Landriault commutes to Ottawa and would also like to see Highway 17 twinned between Arnprior and Renfrew. Heading to work in the early morning it's not an issue, "but on the way home, between three and five o'clock, it's terrible. Terrible," he said.

Sabrina Guest, a short order cook at the Step'n Back diner in Renfrew, wants the new MPP to focus on affordable housing. But she also thinks about all the people in the riding who are without a family doctor. 

"I have a family doctor. I'm lucky," said Guest. "He delivered me. He's 83." 

Rural needs, urban problems

A few kilometres away in Horton Township, Larry Reid lives with his wife and teenage son. A former dairy farmer, Reid now grows and sells hay and raises a few beef cattle. 

"We've got beef here, but to find a place to kill them? That's a son of a gun," said Reid. He hopes the new MPP will help attract new abattoirs to the region so cattle farmers can butcher locally — and legally. 

Reid, who suffers from blood clots in his legs, has also been waiting seven years for a family doctor. 

"Health care? I think it sucks," Reid declared. "I threw my name in the hat there quite a while ago and still nothing."

In Pembroke, Jillian Melancon spends time at The Grind. It operates a social service hub, soup kitchen and shelter.

Melancon receives $733 a month from Ontario Works. She wants the next MPP to address the homelessness problem in Pembroke.

"We have a serious problem. We don't have enough money to afford a safe place for us to live," said Melancon, who is being housed temporarily in a motel.

"We lived in a tent all summer."

Strong advocate wanted

Market gardener and entrepreneur Brenna Jansen owns Hedgeview Farm in Laurentian Valley, outside Pembroke, and describes herself as a very proud rural Ontarian. She worries about the future of small town schools and rinks.

"When we start losing these types of amenities and services in our communities ... those communities begin to die," she said. "I'm looking for somebody who can really advocate for rural Ontario."

Jansen believes the outgoing MPP did a good job representing the area. 

"John Yakabuski had a very big voice. Those are big shoes to fill," she said.

For a list of the candidates running to fill those shoes in Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke, click here.