Chronicle Journal - Stories -

Opinion Poll
A wind farm is proposed for the Nor‘Wester range south of Thunder Bay. What‘s your view on the proposal:
	In favour — green energy is the way to go
	No way, not in our backyard
	Well, it might spur much needed economic development
	Don't know — I hear many conflicting claims

More Links	tbayjobline	TbayWeddings	Play Games!	^New! eVents Calendar	Advertise with Us	Contact Us

Other Links	Movie Times	Airport	Bus Schedule	Road Conditions	Library	Weather

Joe Comuzzi to join Tories
By JIM KELLY
Friday, June 22, 2007

Email this article
Send a Letter to the Editor
Printer friendly page

Former Thunder Bay-Superior North Liberal MP Joe Comuzzi has agreed to join the Conservative Party of Canada, The Chronicle-Journal has learned.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be in Thunder Bay on Tuesday to make the formal announcement at the Prince Arthur Hotel, according to a reliable source.
Comuzzi has been sitting as an independent since he was thrown out of the Liberal caucus by opposition leader Stephane Dion for pledging to support the Conservative budget on March 21.
A reliable source said Comuzzi, 74, made his decision earlier this week.
In joining the Conservative Party, Comuzzi becomes the first Tory to hold the seat since Donald James Cowan was elected in the former Port Arthur riding in 1930.
Cowan was succeeded by famed Liberal Clarence Decatur (C.D.) Howe in 1935, when Comuzzi was two years old.
The riding has been held by a mix of Liberal, Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and New Democratic Party MPs since then.
Comuzzi made it known far and wide that he would support the Conservative budget because it promised millions in research money that could benefit Thunder Bay including $14.7 million for the Molecular Medicine Research Centre. That money has yet to be announced.
Comuzzi‘s decision led to his ouster from the party by Dion.
Yet, the Liberal-dominated Senate passed the budget bill Friday. In the end, only Liberal senators from Atlantic Canada and Saskatchewan voted against the package, which passed 45-21 with six abstentions. It received royal assent about two hours later.
That wasn‘t his only run-in with his boss. Former Prime Minister Paul Martin accepted Comuzzi‘s resignation from cabinet on June 29, 2005 for opposing same-sex marriage (Bill C-38).
Comuzzi was also in former Prime Minister Jean Chretien‘s doghouse for asking for a review of the bilingualism and biculturalism policy on its 25th anniversary in 1998.
During the six terms since being elected in 1988, Comuzzi has spoken on riding issues, including the pulp and paper industry, the softwood lumber dispute, grain transportation, mining, business, health care and the local economy. He also served in many leadership capacities that related to transportation and industry.
Top of Page

Games!
Canadian Crossword
PlayFour!
Word Roundup