The 2025 federal candidates in brief: Thunder Bay—Rainy River riding

Thunder Bay—Rainy River is commonly referred to as the "south side riding" within Thunder Bay as it includes the part of the city south of Highway 11/17 and the Harbour Expressway but it also stretches west to Lake of the Woods, and north to Brightsand River provincial park covering an area of about 30,000 square kilometres and a population of over 80,000.

It also includes Atikokan, Fort Frances, Rainy River, Neebing, Oliver Paipoonge, Alberton, Chapple, Conmee, Dawson, Emo, Gillies, La Vallee, Lake of the Woods, Morley, O'Connor and the Unorganized Area of Rainy River.

Several First Nations fall within Thunder Bay—Rainy River, including Fort William First Nation, Big Grassy River, Couchiching, Lac des Mille Lacs No. 22A1, and Seine River No. 23A. 

• Thunder Bay's federal election candidates share top issues they're hearing about on campaign trail

CBC reached out to all the federal candidates to request summaries of key election issues as identified by northwestern Ontario voters. The candidates and their responses are listed in alphabetical order by surname are as follows:

Eric Arner, Green

Healthcare, including but not limited to primary care, mental health and addictions:

• "Ontario is suffering from intentional underfunding by the Ford government in an effort to push private care. Green party would enforce the Canada Health Act to ensure federal funds are spent only on public care." 

Cost of living, including but not limited to housing affordability and taxes:

• "Dramatic income tax reduction for those earning less than $100 000."
• "National minimum wage index calculated regionally based on essential expenses."

Housing and Homelessness:

• "Crown Corporation dedicated to building affordable housing."
• "Housing-first strategy provides housing with wraparound services to help people transition from temporary to permanently housed." 

First Nations issues, including but not limited to infrastructure and mental health:

•  "Implement all 94 Calls to Action from Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission."

US-Canada relations, including but not limited to tariffs:  

•  Did not provide a response

Brendan Hyatt, Conservative

Healthcare, including but not limited to primary care, mental health and addictions:

• "Introduce the Blue Seal Program to fast-track foreign-trained doctors and nurses."

Cost of living, including but not limited to housing affordability and taxes:

• "Axe the carbon tax."
• "Cut the lowest income tax bracket to 12.5%."

Housing and Homelessness:

• "Remove HST on new homes up to $1.3 million."
• "Sell off 6000 federal buildings to build new homes."

First Nations issues, including but not limited to infrastructure and mental health:

• "Establish the Canadian Indigenous Opportunities Corporation, led by Indigenous people to offer loan guarantees for Indigenous communities."

US-Canada relations, including but not limited to tariffs:  

• "Removing interprovincial trade barriers."
• "Strengthen infrastructure and energy security with the Canada First Energy Corridor."

LISTEN | Sarah Law: Thunder Bay-Superior North and Thunder Bay-Rainy River Candidates 

Superior Morning5:56Sarah Law: Thunder Bay-Superior North and Thunder Bay-Rainy River Candidates

With less than a week to go in the campaign, federal candidates running in both the Thunder Bay-Superior North and Thunder Bay-Rainy River ridings make their pitch to voters at a public meet and greet.

Marcus Powlowski, Liberal

Healthcare, including but not limited to primary care, mental health and addictions:

• "Recruiting more doctors, cancer care funding, improving support for mental health and addictions."
• "Protecting healthcare from cuts."

Cost of living, including but not limited to housing affordability and taxes:

• "Lowering living costs through tax cuts, childcare, affordable housing."

Housing and Homelessness:

• "Doubling housing construction, building co-op housing, investing in transitional housing."

First Nations issues, including but not limited to infrastructure and mental health:

• "Backing Indigenous self-determination."
• "Access to clean water, healthcare."

US-Canada relations, including but not limited to tariffs:  

• "Fighting tariffs and reinvesting tariff revenue in Canadian workers."

Sabrina Ree, PPC

Healthcare, including but not limited to primary care, mental health and addictions:

• "[Prioritizing] patient-centered healthcare, fiscal responsibility and innovation."

Cost of living, including but not limited to housing affordability and taxes:

• "[Cutting] carbon and federal taxes, saving farmers $150,000 yearly, and deregulate zoning for affordable housing."

Housing and Homelessness:

• "Pause immigration, remove GST on construction, and streamline land use approvals."

First Nations issues, including but not limited to infrastructure and mental health:

• "Support First Nations infrastructure through private investment, market-driven mental health solutions, and self-governance."

US-Canada relations, including but not limited to tariffs:  

• "[Opposing] U.S. tariffs, champions free speech, removes trade barriers and ensures pipeline access."

Yuk-Sem Won, NDP

Healthcare, including but not limited to primary care, mental health and addictions:

• "Continue to expand universal care—Dentalcare and pharmacare; imagine getting mental healthcare with your health card not a credit card!"
• "To ensure proper funding and staffing for hospitals, long term care and paramedic."

Cost of living, including but not limited to housing affordability and taxes:

• "Affordable: cap rent, grocery hikes, and make the rich pay their share."

Housing and Homelessness:

• "Housing is a right—build non-profit, sustainable, affordable homes."

First Nations issues, including but not limited to infrastructure and mental health:

• "Reconciliation—real funding, real consent, real partnerships."

US-Canada relations, including but not limited to tariffs: 

• "Defend jobs, fix EI, and build a resilient, made-in-Canada economy."

CBC News has compiled a list of election promises made by Canada's major parties. More information about local candidates in northwestern Ontario can be found here.