A longtime northwestern Ontario fixture in provincial politics is stepping aside.
Thunder Bay-Superior North MPP Michael Gravelle has announced he won’t seek re-election in June.
Gravelle is currently undergoing chemotherapy and says he needs to look after his ongoing treatment for cancer.
The Liberal was first elected as a member for Port Arthur in 1995 before the riding changed names for the 1999 election.
Gravelle served as a member of cabinet during the Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne governments.
In 2007, he was named Ontario Minister of Northern Development and Mines.
In the summer of 2009, Gravelle’s ministry was expanded, adding on the responsibility of forestry.
In 2011 he was shuffled to the position of Minister of Natural Resources and in February 2013, Kathleen Wynne moved him back to the position of Minister of Northern Development and Mines.
He was reconfirmed in that role after the 2014 election.
The provincial election is scheduled for June 2.
The official start of the campaign is expected to kick off next week.
Meantime, the Ontario Liberals are out with what their leader says is the first of several election commitments to seniors.
Steven Del Duca says he will double the Old Age Security top-up from the province to a maximum of $1,000 if elected Premier.
“We’re also going to be increasing the threshold of eligibility for a single senior, bringing that threshold up to $25,000 a year in income and for a senior couple bringing it up to $50,000,” says Del Duca.
Ontario’s Guaranteed Annual Income System currently provides up to $83/month ($996 annually) and is available to eligible seniors who earn up to $23,904 annually for single seniors, up to $47,808 for senior couples.
“This is the kind of tangible and positive example of Ontario Liberal progress that (our team is) determined to deliver for Ontario seniors.
(With files from Kevin Jeffrey and Randy Thoms)
