Sydney Garrioch, former grand chief of the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) and current Liberal candidate in Churchill riding to contest the next federal election says he is very pleased that federal Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff took time to visit Thompson recently.
Ignatieff traveled to Thompson to talk to University College of the North (UCN) students on Nov. 19. He listened to students' concerns and committed to lobbying the federal government to remove the cap on investment in aboriginal education that the Liberal party introduced in 1996. He also said he wants to focus on the preservation of aboriginal languages and culture and ensure that the North forges ahead into a future that isn't solely reliant on natural resources like mining.
Garrioch, who was selected as the Liberal candidate by the Churchill federal Liberal Riding Association on July 18 in Cross Lake, will run against Conservative Wally Daudrich, owner of Lazy Bear Lodge in Churchill, and incumbent New Democrat Niki Ashton in the next federal election. A Liberal hasn't held office in the Churchill riding since former TV star Tina Keeper, a Cree woman from Norway House, served a single term from 2006 to 2008 before being ousted by Ashton.
Garrioch says he was happy to see Ignatieff visit Thompson and get on the same level as students and youth.
"I was really satisfied that he did take the time to visit Thompson, knowing that he is a very busy leader visiting different parts of the country with different issues to deal with as well," he explains.
Garrioch echoes many of Ignatieff's sentiments during his visit, stating that the Northern issues he'd focus on if elected as MP would include UCN, CN Railroad and the overall economy in the North with regards to trading and mining. He says he'd also work to improve communication via telephone and Internet in the North. He says he'd attempt to ensure not to lose sight of the smaller issues by looking at the big picture - something he says Ashton has done in the past.
Now that he is no longer MKO grand chief, Garrioch is living in Cross Lake and operating the Mistasaneek Gas Station that he owns in the community. He is also a champion level sled dog racer.
