Most of the federal candidates in northwestern Ontario have responded to questions from the area’s groups representing the region’s 2SLGBTQIA+ people.
Borderland Pride, Rainbow Collective of Thunder Bay, and Rainbow Alliance Dryden asking for the candidates’ position on a number of issues impacting the queer and trans community.
Borderland Pride’s Doug Judson says the results were not all that surprising.
“I don’t think so. What we’ve seen in the survey questionnaire and the responses we received from candidates across the region is a real openness, I think, to the concerns that impact equity, seeking people and LGBTQ2 people,” says Judson.
Only the Conservative candidate for the Thunder Bay-Rainy River riding did not respond.
Judson says it was disappointing.
“I think it’s important for all candidates to be able to take a position and share with the community what their views are on these important issues. But so far, we’ve been unable to get any indication from the candidate,” says Judson.
People Party of Canada candidates were not asked for their opinions
The groups make no endorsement out of the responses.
“You know, simply because there’s a diversity of views around the table, and we would like whoever is successful in an election to have a positive relationship with our organizations,” says Judson.
The groups do draw attention to Kenora Liberal candidate David Bruno, they say maybe the first member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to run for Parliament in the region.
