INDEPTH: With Ontario Liberal party candidate Brenda Rhodes

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — Brenda Rhodes knows she’s in tough to upset Norm Miller.

Nonetheless, the Liberal candidate is undaunted.

Last time she ran against Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP, in 2007, she had half his votes.

Since then, Dan and Cindy Waters cut into that Conservative lead in 2011 and 2014.

Rhodes hopes this time she can win back the seat last held by the Liberals when Ken Black became a cabinet minister.

During those years, Rhodes remained committed to politics and the party, said the former aide to ex-MP Andy Mitchell, the last Liberal to hold office in the riding.

She worked and studied a little in Kingston and Montreal at McGill University, then just over three years ago she came back to work as manager of the Bracebridge- (and now) Port Sydney Chamber of Commerce.

Starting May 1 she will take a month’s leave of absence to campaign fulltime until the June 7 Ontario election.

“And then I’m at Queen’s Park,” she says with a very friendly laugh.

Already, she’s been out knocking on doors, and getting a good response, she said — over coffee, for me, and water for her — at the Coffee Station in Gravenhurst Easter Saturday morning.

With us was her own aide, Audrey Van Petegem.

“I was away from the riding, but now I’m back home, yahoo!”

And that reception she received in an hour knocking on doors at about 40 homes Thursday night in the Covered Bridge area didn’t surprise her. She had some people say they’d support her.

Although it should in a solidly Conservative town and in an upscale neighbourhood.

You don’t have to be a Rhodes scholar to understand the polls that say Premier Kathleen Wynne could go down to defeat — maybe easily.

“It’s early in the game,” says Rhodes, there’s “no panicking — yet.”

“It’s quite early in the game, we all know the polls go up and down. This is a dance, it’s about politics, you know this,” the 38-year-old in May says matter-of-factly, as if a seasoned pro at this game.

And she kind of is, after running 11 years ago with some success.

But it’s only been a week around this time. The Huntsville resident was acclaimed March 27 in a hastily-called nomination meeting at Tea-Beards in Gravenhurst, and attended by guest speaker MPP Steven Del Duca.

So, why now, again?

Brenda Rhodes, 37, lives in Huntsville with partner Terry

Manager of the Bracebridge-Port Sydney Chamber of Commerce

Was the 2007 provincial Liberal candidate.

She won 26.71 per cent of the votes in that election, behind winnerMPP Norm Miller who took 47.17 per cent of the votes.

So, why now again?

“I think here, people they want a change, they need a new voice, they need somebody that’s a strong voice. So that’s what we’re focusing on.”

So, you don’t think that the voters don’t have that now, a strong voice?

“No, I don’t, I think they need somebody’s that’s a little younger and has a little more gusto. I think Norm’s a very nice man, I don’t want to take anything from Norm. But you know, they need someone who has fire in their belly. Somebody that’s really, you know, wanting to get out there, and make sure that they’re involved with the groups in the community.

“Like I said in my nomination meeting, we have a lot of organizations that are doing some cool stuff, and I really think we’re kind of on the peak and we’re just gonna to hit the ground running and we need all governments, all organizations, all citizens working together to try make some change here.”

Rhodes admits she’s in touch with the community and the business side of things.

“Absolutely. Not only the business community, but the organizations that support them. One of the first things I did when I came into the chamber was trying to build those relationships, and make sure I was a strong partner in the initiatives that we all wanted to put forward. Yeah, it’s really been great working with them, and even if I change jobs here — hopefully, when I change jobs I should say — that we can continue those relationships and work together.

“Because we need someone at Queen’s Park that knows the policies, knows what’s coming down and making sure that we can capitalize on every opportunity that we can get.”

Rhodes isn’t only a one trick pony advocating soley for parochial Parry Sound-Muskoka matters.

“I think it’s twofold. You have to be involved with what’s happening here. And also on the bigger picture. It’s a two-part job.”

Two days after Rhodes watched on TV one of the largest-spending budgets in Ontario’s history, and “getting briefing calls,” she says she’s “proud of our party.”

“Especially talking about it through the lens of our community, there’s a lot of people struggling.  There are a lot of people trying to make ends meet. And a lot of these programs that were announced are gonna help put money back in their pockets. It’s gonna help them through some programs . And I’m really happy that they’ve taken this stance. Because we need to make sure that everyone is coming along with us. We can’t leave anyone behind.”

Rhodes dismisses the notion of it as a socialist or fatalist budget; that the nanny state can better take care of you.

“Not at all. In everybody’s life there’s a time where you need help. We need to make sure that everybody has that help when it happens.”

Though she has no children, Rhodes lauds the Liberals’ new child care plan to get more women in the workforce because it’s good for the economy.

“I think this is fantastic. I have a lot of friends who’ve just recently had kids and they have had to make decisions, and its not based on ‘do I want to go back to work or not?’ It’s what’s the financial view of this? Does it make sense financially? Instead of making a decision if they want to or not.

“And I think helping with that decision is awesome. But also getting women back into the workforce if they choose to, is wonderful. Because we know organizations thrive when women are part of them, or they’re on board, when they’re running them, when they’re employees. You need that balance.”

Rhodes wouldn’t say whether she’s a true feminist, whatever that is today.

“I won’t even answer that question. Because it’s about helping everybody. I think it’s about balance. It’s about fairness. I think it’s about making sure that everybody has opportunities, fair opportunities.”

Rhodes says her name won’t come up in Google searches for #MeToo, or in Facebook conversations about it on social media.

“I didn’t (tweet), but I did do the (#MeToo) march in Huntsville. Because I think it’s important. It’s a sector of some of the issues that we have in society. I think we need to stand up for that also, but there are other issues, too.”

Like all the care services the government has identified as needs it will provide, like the child care funds, free university tuition, free prescriptions up to age 25 and seniors over 65, and some basic universal dental care — albeit with a price tag that will return a debt this year of $6.7 billion; and debt of $325 billion.

Those services are to help people and groups on the margins, and middle-class working parents with children.

“But there’s still a sector that doesn’t have that, and again it’s about helping that sector. And we know, I think, the amount of money they anticipate going into some of the seniors’ pockets is about $200. And we know when money goes back into peoples’ pockets then they spend them. They spend them downtown, they spend them in our ma and pop shops. So the more money we can get back into people pockets, we know that in turn is spent within our community. And that’s what we need.”

But the budget has lots of Official and unofficial critics. Like the New Democrats who are campaigning strongly on more social services, such as added free dental care.

“I know the NDP wanted us to go further on that.

“But, you know, not everything’s perfect, right. I’ll admit that. But you need somebody like me in there to start pushing and saying, ‘OK, we started this, now let’s see if we can continue it.’

“You know the mental health initiative — I think is fantastic. I was speaking to one of the mental health practitioners the other day, and she said they’re having to be in school as early as Grade 3. That’s scary, scary …. Just for support. They don’t have somebody in there yet. So this announcement about having support in the schools is, I think, imperative, especially trying to get to these children before they get to high school, because we all know how difficult high school is. And we’ve seen results of kids having major problems and taking their lives and we need to be getting to this problem earlier.”

Rhodes has seen this kind of tragedy personally, including after high school with two of her friends, including one best friend who “took their lives.”

“That can’t happen.”

And while mental health and PTSDs are more common, “the worst part is,” says Rhodes “it’s not like it’s a broken arm and you can go to the emergency for, it’s something you can’t see. So people don’t understand it and we need to break down those barriers.”

She said “I know the mental health support system, they’re taxed.

“They only have a certain amount of money, so this injection is really going to help reach more people.”

With Parry Sound-Muskoka having one of the lowest average incomes in the province — and one of the highest rates of alcohol and drug addiction and social problems — Rhodes said she “couldn’t comment” on whether that has led to a more profoundly challenging mental health landscape locally.

“I haven’t seen the stats yet, so I don’t know that I could comment on that.

“I don’t know. I think maybe we notice it, maybe more because we’re a small community. And we know everybody. And so I think that’s maybe where it seems like it may be more. It may be, but you need to look at the stats to see that.”

Rhodes said she was aware of the residual problems compounded by drug and alcohol, in the form of domestic spousal abuse (live-in/common law partners) — and including the newest identified category of “intimate partner” abuse by a boyfriend or girlfriend.

Provincial police detachments in Bracebridge and Huntsville came under severe and  widespread criticism two years ago for initially being ranked near the top 10 in the number of female sex assault reports being dismissed as “unfounded” by local officers. The numbers were downsized considerably after an internal OPP investigation of the original Globe and Mail data analysis.

Rhodes said some of this again touches on mental health and the addictions counselling  portion of it. And hopefully, she said, people can get help.

The same with alcohol, with the Simcoe-Muskoka Health Unit regularly ranking Muskoka among the top overall consumers and contributors to the $2.2 billion profit the LLBO will contribute to the government’s bottom lines this year.

(Think about that number, that’s just the profits; imagine what the total amount spent is before they buy the booze to sell and operate a plant overhead. Could it be double that?)

On the hottest of provincial topics in Muskoka — the hospitals situation that a Liberal MPP would have an acute interest and role in — Rhodes began by saying there will be a little bit more budget money already announced at $750,000.

“Some funding is going to every hospital.”

But she said more money is coming “and we’ll know about that in coming the days” for capital renovations and operating funding for beds.

“I don’t know if that affects us.”

“We know that there’s direct funding coming for each and every hospital in Ontario.”

So, has Ontario treated Ontario hospitals fairly the past 15 years?

“There’s no doubt that we need to improve on hospitals and so I’d have to look into the intricate details of it. But we definitely need to be supporting them. We know wait times are longer than we want them. And I’m fairly sure the premier has said they same and I know that’s something they’re looking at.”

In regard to the local hospitals feud:

“I support a two-site hospitals. I know that if one of our communities loses that hospital that’s devastating for a community.

Two full-service sites, or two with complementary services?

“I don’t know the model yet, I am still trying to make my mind up? But I know we need two sites.”

So, you would you support kind of what happening now with different services in different hospitals?

“Yep.

“I know the (MAHC) board is working hard and the motion that came through Huntsville, I think the reason why they put that forward was really to increase the communication. (But) I don’t believe what’s asking the board to be demolished.

“But, I understand, the people want to hear more, they want to understand the process and they want to understand where the board’s at. So, I think that’s fair.”

Has it gone on too long?

“They have a mandate and they have to go through their process. And part of the problem is not understanding what that specific process is. I know (MAHC chair) Ev Brown and her team are now committed to the Huntsville council to have some more open communications. She’s asked for questions to be given ahead of time to her group so they can answer those questions.

“So I am hoping that that will be an open and fair process. And I think it will be. So I am hoping we can improve on the communications and hear some positives from that group.”

She says Bracebridge Mayor Graydon Smith said on Facebook he doesn’t agree with the motion, but both communities are still working together to find a solution and work with the board — and those at the LHIN and Ministry of Health.

And what would Brenda Rhodes bring to this debate and other issues of importance to the riding and province.

“I have the energy, I have the drive. I’ve been talking to small business for three years and working with those organizations.”

And what do they have to say about the province’s wage increase?

“I think a lot of the businesses, that hit them hard. And admittedly, I agree that could have been ….  I agree with the minimum wage hike. I know that needed to happen. And that helps support people that are in need. We hadn’t had a wage increase in quite some time.

“How it was implemented I think could have been done differently; and that put a big burden on small- and medium-sized businesses and it could have been handled differently (by the Liberal government) I think.

“But having said that, on the flip side, I do believe that the wage should have gone up.”

Rhodes adds “I disagree” with PC Party Leader Doug Ford about cancelling the second phase going up to $15 next January.

“We have so many people struggling here and if we can give people higher wages, in turn if we can give it time that means they’re going to go those small businesses and they’re going to be spending their money. And so money in the pocket goes back into the community.”

Rhodes admits there was pushback from the business community.

“Yes we did. At the chamber we really tried to move into that advocacy role. And admittedly we could have done a better job at that piece. But at that time, the board decided that they wanted to give information just about it. We are governed by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. They help with this policy. But we weren’t sure that that was the true sentiment and voice of the business community. So we really just need to at the chamber, and this is the board’s sentiment, too, is that we need to make sure we have those lines of communication open with our businesses better. Because we were caught behind the eight-ball on that one. And we wanted to voice that better. … We’re trying to open lines of communications so we know what those businesses want.

“And like I said, admittedly we were a bit behind, we got caught on our heels a little. And with our new strategic plan, that was one of the number one things that we wanted to improve on is that communications piece with the business so that we know the true voice on any issue.

“So we’re able to advocate (for) whether it be any party. It could be the Liberal, it could be any policy that comes down the pipe. When I’m in my chamber role, I am governed by a board and I am the voice of the businesses. I don’t wear my political hat. I try my best to make sure I uphold that.”

On cannabis, Rhodes says the Liberals are still working out the details, “it’s all so new.”

“So I don’t have a comment on that yet. But again, I want to be at the table.”

Are you generally in favour of it, willing to accept it and deal with it?

“Yeah, yeah.”

And the debt?

“I am happy that she (Wynne) took the stance on putting these social programs forward. I think the best part of it is she has a plan to 2024-25 to get back in balance. And so now I am comfortable with that plan because she has that plan to do that going back. I say she, I mean the Liberal party.

“That’s a stark contrast between the Liberals and the Conservatives right now. We have that plan. We’ve laid it out, we’ve been transparent and we want make sure the people know the vision and what we’re putting forward.”

So, is this a women’s budget or women’s election?

“I don’t see it that way. Because again …, it’s about all of us,” even if there is a global movement that way in 2018.

“Absolutely, but I hate to see it as a movement. Because it shoulda been what it shoulda been. It’s not a movement, it’s a right.”

But it is a movement, though, now?

“Sure. … People should be treated equally no matter what, right?”

Rhodes also says government has to be stronger at social media because “we know we can’t capture every demographic in one medium like we used to in the newspaper. But now there are several ways, so we just have to be stronger at that.”

She also likes some of the new ways of political expression and outreach, particularly as exhibited by the Parkland high school students in Florida and their impassioned fight against the NRA and their Republican backers for more gun control.

She’s open to the way a new younger generation is having its say, speaking up and speaking out and organizing on social media instead of going through the channels

“I do, because people have been disillusioned with politics and we need to change that, especially with the younger group. These people are making decisions for you and you need to number one get out and vote and number two speak up for what you believe is right. And we as politicians need to be listening to that and bringing that back to our parties at Queen’s Park, the Hill, whatever it might be, because if we don’t, there’s going to be so much dissolution that there’s going to be no participation. We’ve seen voter numbers go down over the years. We really need to be looking at the way we’re doing politics.”

So are your friends engaged in this? Or are you just a political junkie?

“Well, it all began with Andy. We have conversations about this, I say: ‘If you want to complain, then you vote. If you don’t vote, you can’t complain. And my friends they are involved and I do quite a few friends who really involved in politics and believe in the power that politics can do for change. But we’re not disillusioned either. We know there are problems and things that still need to be worked out.”

You’re comfortable in life, financially?

“Absolutely. But my family, I didn’t come from an affluent family by any means. … I had a wonderful family life”

So what about jobs for those under-paid in the riding?

“That’s something we need to do. Understanding small business. That’s one of the stronger points I can bring to the table. It’s that exactly. Working three years with the businesses and the small towns. Those downtown cores are essential to our livelihood and trying to find supports for that. So having a strong voice around the table that understands those small businesses, that’s listening to those small businesses.”

The Liberals are promoting $500 million for broader rural internet bandwidth.

But businesses — and homeowners — have been hearing that since back when Mitchell was a minister.

“That’s another issue that needs to be pushed and pushed and pushed. In my opinion that’s a human right. Broadband is a human right that needs to be spread across the north. …

As long as it’s affordable.

“And we’ve seen it in Bracebridge (with Lakeland Power now offering 1 gig speed). And it’s affordable in Bracebridge. That allows us to attract businesses to our area. It could be tech. … It could be anybody that can use it ….

“By connecting our communities, instead of having to be in the rat race that’s in Toronto, you want a different lifestyle, the option is here. That’s where we really need to be.”

Sounds Pollyannaish?

“Sure it does, but why can’t it be?, asks super salesperson Rhodes.

“You have examples of that here (in Gravenhurst) at the Network. … You don’t have to be in the city for if you’re able to be connected here. And at the chamber that was the message we wanted to get across. And at Queen’s Park that’s the messaging we need to be telling Ontario and the world is that we need support based on the community. We need this connectivity. We need these initiatives to help us grow and be strong. Everybody needs to be strong.”

So it’s a lot of little one businesses that adds up to 10 businesses, instead of one 10-person business.

“For me, I’m the kind of person that always wants to keep learning that always wants to be pushing myself and moving forward. And if, when I’m put into this role, when I’m your MP(P), I want to be learning, I want to be learning the best practices of the people of Ontario, of communities of Ontario. And bringing it back here and saying ‘this is the stuff I’ve seen. Can we do something with this?’”

What about the difference between aging communities and new growth?

Rhodes says “we know by statistics, young people are trying to go back to an easier of living. They want to grow their own food. They want their kids to be living in a small town, to have that community feel. They not want to be driving in their cars for three hours a day from work. They want to spend time with their families.

“These are the kind of communities. Muskoka-Parry Sound is the perfect spot for this. Not only can you live here and have that kind environment to live in, but then you have the rocks, trees and water that we have. It’s a perfect spot. And we need to be singing from the rooftops and telling people about this. And that goes hand-and-hand with that.”

Would Rhodes support the return of the Northlander train?

“I’ve talked to the party and they’ve said if we get a business proposal that works financially they’d be willing to look at it.”

Rhodes also “we know transportation is one of the issues we need be taking a look at. …

“It’s a culture shift, to go from no bus to a bus system it’s going to take time. And I see it every day people riding it. I think it’s a very positive thing for a community.”

She also likes recent moves in Innisfil to use a much cheaper Uber system to move people rather than a multi-million transportation system.

“I applaud that, if it makes environmental sense. …

“The same solutions haven’t been working, so we need to be thinking outside the box.”

But how do you pay for all this? With more people working and HST?

“Like we talked about … by putting more money back in people’s pockets. It’s a start. You need to continue on.”

She isn’t sure whether the Canadian public’s traditional conservative appetite for debt is the same of the Liberals.

“I can’t say.”

But a lot of this depends on who governs and which side of the legislature you sit. Because Miller is going to say he will be a strong voice if the Conservatives get in.

“That’s the age-old question. Which side of the fence are you going to be on. Either way I’m going to be a strong voice.  I’m invested now and as I move forward and I have the drive to do that.

“When I talk about being a young person, I’m surprised you didn’t talk about the environment (yet), but that’s second nature to me. The environment is in my being and is always top of mind. When I make decisions it goes hand-in-hand with the environment. Because that’s just how I grew up and we were taught.”

She said we need to take care of our natural resources and not make the mistakes we did in the past.

“It’s not perfect but we’re moving ahead.”

Rhodes plans to be out campaigning at nights and on weekends and fulltime as of May 1.

More later.

Let us know what you think of Rhodes’ campaign kickoff by clicking on the comments button on the story.