MARATHON — After decades as a leading figure in his town’s local government, Rick Dumas has jumped into provincial politics as the Progressive Conservative candidate for Thunder Bay–Superior North.
So, what made him take the big leap?
“Over the years I’ve been asked to run various different times provincially and federally, and I just didn’t feel that it was my time,” Dumas told Newswatch as the Ontario election campaign began.
“Not only that, I still was committed to my community.
“This time around,” he continued, “when I was asked, I thought, ‘you know, honestly, I think I’m ready and I’ve done a lot for my community,’ so I said yes.”
Campaigning for a seat in the legislature means “a lot of travel, a lot of work,” he said. “I know that, but I have a good team behind me.”
The Marathon native was a town councillor from 1991 to 1997 and 2000 to 2006. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 1997.
He was elected mayor in 2006 and acclaimed to new terms in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.
Last June he received a Legacy Award from the Marathon & District Chamber of Commerce.
“As a vice-president of NOMA (the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association) and as president of Thunder Bay Municipal League, I’ve been working on regional issues for two decades or better for both those organizations,” he told Newswatch.
“So always being there for representation or support not only for my community of Marathon, but for the region. I’m thinking (running for MPP) is my natural progression.
“Like I said, those other times when I was asked, I just said no, I wasn’t ready. This time I’m ready, and I believe that.”
The Ontario PC website says Dumas “is passionate about making Northern Ontario a great place to live, work and raise a family.”
Dumas said if elected on Feb. 27, “my voice is going to be like (Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP) Kevin Holland’s voice at Queen’s Park, understanding the North and our uniqueness.”
Tariffs being threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump “could potentially have devastating effects on specifically Northwestern Ontario with the mining and forestry sector,” he said.
Tariffs would hamper or even crush “huge amounts of economic opportunities for our riding as well as the province – and, for that matter, Canada,” Dumas said.
“Premier Ford is saying the right thing and saying, ‘listen, we’ve got to protect the 500,000-plus potential jobs, our economy.’ And I believe when he called the election based on the mandate needed from the people, that it was the right thing to do.”
