MP Ken Boshcoff
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MP Ken Boshcoff

Thunder Bay Rainy River MP Ken Boshcoff
Loves To Solve Problems



by Scott A. Sumner
Thunder Bay Business
     After spending time with Ken Boshcoff in Ottawa you quickly realize he is in his element. With a schedule that  stretches to up to 16 hours a day, 6 or more days a week you know you have to like your work. “ One of my goals in life I realized is I like to find solutions.Solving problems to me is something with which I can really help people as individuals. As time goes on you get better at doing this. I really feel stronger and confident in this position with my experience in business and municipal government,” smiles Ken Boshcoff. “ It is an interesting process in Ottawa because I know exactly what I am doing here. My goal is the economic rejuvenation of Northern Ontario, so everything I do is in context that it works for NW Ontario and I then know it works for Canada. That gives me my direction, my reason for being here and my purpose.  Many people here come from backgrounds that don’t understand how governments work. My experience has been my greatest asset. The Canadian content  bill that was passed recently is an example.  It began from myself as Mayor  of Thunder Bay meeting with Bomardier. Then a year later as MP, that connection continued and we had of lots contacts getting other MP’s, the Councilor’s in Thunder Bay and MPP's- everyone on board. There is not one issue that doesn’t follow a process . It is a team effort. I had to find supporters across
all parties so it is a long process but you can get there.”

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    “ The Bill presented by myself was debated two different days in the House of Commons and by the time it came up I had met with all the house leaders of the parties and incorporated all their ideas which were all favourable.  We developed an consensus and were unanimous.
 From the minute I get up til the time I get home you are going full blast. You can work as hard as you possibly can here. As well there are some who don’t work to their capacity. Each day is chuck full of activities  but I try to get a  gym workout in every two days,” noted Boshcoff. “ The schedule is longer in Thunder Bay with more evening events. In Ottawa I go to the office at night to clean up my work. I have an extremely competent staff that can deal with issues as well
which really helps.

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    “ The Northern Ontario Liberal MP's have a  meeting  each Monday when parliament is in session. We use this caucus to talk about Northern Ontario with a focus on what we can do to make it better for us in the North. We  currently hold 6 seats out of 10 in Northern Ontario. The goal is to discuss what message we want to deliver in a loud clear voice,” stated Roger Valley Chair of Northern Ontario.   “ Wednesday morning the full Ontario caucus meets and right after that the  National Liberal caucus has a meeting from10 to 12am.  We have learnt from other experienced politicians down here that you have to stand united. We go so far as to deliver printed material and 2, 3 or 4 of us will take over the mike and deliver our message over and over again to gain support. At one time we controlled one quarter of the whole National executive.”
    We have a lot of strength  here in Northern Ontario if we could fix the inequality of government sharing of revenues. The North is  very heavy in mining and the municipalities don’t get their share of taxes. For example in Sudbury the mining companies realized if their buildings were not there they would pay less taxes so they tore them down and the work they did there they do underground now. In 1 year we lost $ 3 million taxes,” stated Sudbury MP. “ We are extremely rich in natural resources and very poor in manufacturing and are the only area in Canada that is poor in a rich province. Our provincial government does not provide what we need. Toronto is bursting at the seams and it is time their manufacturing comes North.  The situation we are we in is the rest of Canada can only go down and we can only go up. The future is good for us. Why locate a call central type location is a big city because your turnover is quite high and in the north you like the wages and they will be less turnover. We have proof it works and a low rate
of error because it is the same people working on it.”
     “ The MP’s from the north get along extremely well, speak with one voice and have quite a bit of respect from the other members of parliament. They always know the Northern Ontario is around.” smiled Ken Boshcoff.



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