Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development & Mines Enjoys His
Work!
by Scott A. Sumner
www.thunderbaybusiness.ca
When you sit down to talk to Michael Gravelle, our Minister of Northern Development & Mines the first thing you notice is his broad smile. The veteran politician is enjoying his new role as a Minister. “ This year as Minister has been the most satisfying. We all know of our economic challenges but I feel I can make some of the decisions to help turn things around. I like to think I was incredibly busy when I was a MPP, but as a minister you are also running a department like a CEO. You won’t ever hear me complaining because this has been the most fabulous year of my life, the most interesting at age 59. I just feel happier.”
Michael Gravelle has an 8 member personal staff in Toronto including a Chief of Staff, Communication Director, several policy people and people working on the Heritage Fund. There is also the Ministry itself with the Deputy Minister who runs the department on a
day to day basis. It is a full Ministry including Economic Development and Mines looking after the North which is 87% of land mass of Ontario from Parry Sound north.
Michael Gravelle's first priority is being the MPP for Thunder Bay Superior North which he has done since 1995. The riding includes Red Rock, Nipigon, Terrace Bay, Schreiber, Marathon, Geraldton, Longlac, Nakina and Thunder Bay. He spent 8 years in opposition
before the Liberal government was elected in 2003. Gravelle became Chair of Caucus for those four years and in 2007 was invited into the cabinet by Premier Dalton McGuinty.
“ I was thrilled to be asked to be the Minister. As a northerner it is one of the cabinet roles most important to us up here and I have been in the position for a year. It has been a tough year, a challenging year but some really good events have happened eg: the Northern Ontario Heritage which has allowed us to provide some tremendous support to help create jobs, give intern and co op students positions and help entrepreneurs.”
Michael Gravelle was born in Port Arthur January 23rd, 1949 and has just turned 60. He went to Corpus Christi school, PACI and on to LU but didn't graduate. “ I was in my second year in arts and came to a cross roads in my life where I had an opportunity to work for
Robert Andras, the former federal member who was a minister in the Trudeau government. I decided to go for one year but my career in politics has gone on a lot longer. Even as a young boy I was fascinated by politics and really believe in it. I was 11 years old when when JF Kennedy came with a new excitement in politics. Then for me the real revelation was when Pierre Trudeau came along with his concept of a just society and equality for all. It certainly made be believe politics is a noble profession, if it is practiced in a sincere, hardworking, compassionate way even through people are pretty critical.” Gravelle moved on to work in Queens Park as a communication officer for Stewart Smith, then leader of the Liberals.
He then decided to leave politics and went to work for CBC as publicist for network public affairs and sports.
“ In 1986 I had a moment. I Ioved the CBC but was very homesick and came back in 1987. I came to Thunder Bay and worked for the Ministry of Northern Development & Mines. The Minister then was Rene Fontaine and he was keen to move forward on Northern Development Councils, an advisory group. I was the coordinator of that program for the next 6 years. In 1993 I worked for Joe Comuzzi and in 1995 ran for the nomination in my current riding against 3 other people. Shelly Wark Martyn was the previous member. The election was called on April 28 and June 9th I won. For two terms I was in opposition.”
“ It has been wonderful to have the opportunity to be a Minister. I believe strongly in the constituency office as well. If you are invited to cabinet that is a honour. When you are in the walls of the cabinet room you are in a position to influence decisions by the government of the day in every regard, how it effects the people of Northern Ontario.”
Perhaps the most important work Michael Gravelle is currently doing is revamping the Ontario Mining act. “ We are trying to be sensitive on the consultation of the Mining Act changes. For two years before we brought it down there were many discussions and we
have extended the end dates to November 12th and now to January 15th. We feel we need an end point. The Mining industry did $10 billion in production in Ontario this past year with over $600 million spent in exploration, much in NW Ontario. The mining companies need clarity and certainly and we welcome the challenge in finding a balance.We have to make something happen and will bring forward the legislation in March and then there will be more public
hearings if that is decided. I believe there will be sufficient time to do a full consultation.”
What does Michael Gravelle think about our current economy?
“ The glass is half full or half empty. There is no question we are going through an extraordinary challenging economic time. I also can see how we can work our way through this. There is very real confidence that commodity prices will go up again. There is good
exploration here in Thunder Bay. Yes it is tough but there is still a commitment to invest in Canada. They are still doing exploration. Forestry will come back again. Terrace Bay Pulp was shut down and now 450 people are working there. Fort Frances has a $80 million Bio
Mass project underway to sustain jobs. Forestry is a vital industry and will come back.”
“ It is my nature to be optimistic. I talk to the experts and they tell us why it will turn around. I need accurate information and then make decisions on a daily basis. I am trying to get it right.”
How do you like working in the world of politics?
“ I figured out early on in my political life that you have to be yourself. I was raised to be a person who was respectful and kind to others and not any better than anyone else. I am fortunate to be where I am but I believe very much in the equal value of everyone. I
do that with everyone. I am who am I am and at my best when I am myself. People here see me at the grocery store or the gas station. My youngest brother Mark has Downs Syndrome and we have adored him all our lives in my family. Since my father passed away and my mom is at Pioneer Ridge I am more involved in his life. He lives in a group home but every Saturday I spend with Mark. I don’t talk about it often but it is part of my life.”
“ The best thing about this job is being able to help people. It is the first thing I learned working for Bob Andras 40 years ago and I still feel the same now. People come in to the office with extraordinary problems, even things we aren't involved with. For example a local women came in to my office with a big insurance problem. I told her insurance is a private matter, but decided I would write a letter to the president of that insurance company. They looked into it and and felt they made a mistake and it worked out. I am so glad I could help. I did a polite letter to the president, it just sounds wrong and I hope you will look at it and he did it.
Ultimately when we can help people we are happiest. We never push anyone away. You can’t have all success but we try and do everything we can to help.”
How long will Michael Gravelle stay in politics?
“I love what I’m doing and will know when to stop. You have to do this job at a high level with passion to do to right. I love it as much as when I started 24 years ago. I am an optimistic but try never to put out false hopes. You hope that we are in a period of time when we have a different kind of prosperity. That is why the Growth Plan in our Ministry is so important. Every community has an important role to play. They all have a tremendous history. We have
to invest in the smaller communities as well. We will be OK as we are transitioning our economy.The people in the small communities are incredibly resilient. They don’t want to leave. I believe we have a prosperous future here.”
