New constitution, president on riding association agenda

The Timiskaming portion of the Nipissing-Timiskaming federal riding will have more than fair representation on the new riding association’s executive, says Greg Ducharme, vice-president of the Nipissing riding association.

Timiskaming-Cochrane and Nipissing are being merged, and a founding meeting for the hybrid riding will be held Saturday at the Clarion Resort-Pinewood Park.

A new constitution has been drafted, Ducharme said, and it respects the right of the Tri-Towns to have “solid” representation in the governing of the association.

“And to that end we have guaranteed that six of our 18 directors will be from the Tri-Towns, which is a high ratio to the population number there,” Ducharme said.

As well the new riding association will have four vice-presidents, one from the Tri-Towns, one from North Bay, one from Callander, and one from Mattawa.

Once the constitution is approved, association members will then elect a new president.

Two candidates have emerged so far, Ducharme, and Carol Lonsdale, president of Timiskaming-Cochrane.

“I’ve been involved with the Liberal party since 1976, and I’ve done everything,” Lonsdale said.

“I’ve been chased and bitten by dogs, done phone canvassing, was a fundraising chair, social issues chair and just have a lot of experience. And this new riding association will need someone with experience going into an election, and I’d love to be that person.”

Ducharme said he has some “fresh ideas” about how the riding association should operate.

“And I would like to see greater emphasis on policy and for the riding association to participate in the development of policy,” Ducharme said.

“I’m also a very hard worker and very dependable.”