Bob Speller vowed to end the neglect of our rural communities as he was confirmed as the Liberal candidate for Haldimand-Norfolk in the next federal election.

“I am fighting for the jobs and prosperity that the people of Haldimand-Norfolk want and deserve,” Speller said.

Speller, 53, is no stranger to local people. He was born in Hagersville and has lived his entire life in Haldimand-Norfolk. He was first elected as a member of parliament in 1988 and was re-elected in 1993, 1997, and 2000. In 2003 he was named Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food.

“People ask me why I am running after already being a Member of Parliament and Minister of Agriculture. It’s because I just can’t sit idly by as our farmers and our families, our steel workers and industries, and our people and our communities are neglected by the Harper government,” said Speller.

“I have a proven record as someone who works hard, gets results, and will never let you down. I am running again to fight for the prosperity our people want and deserve.”

Speller said the Harper government has put Canada into a $50-billion deficit yet Haldimand-Norfolk is not seeing the promised infrastructure spending and jobs that would assist our community.

“In Haldimand-Norfolk we have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country while the Harper government has created the country’s highest deficit in history,” said Speller. “We have the highest deficit and in Haldimand-Norfolk we have the least to show for it.”

Speller said our agricultural sector faces serious challenges both in Haldimand-Norfolk and across Canada but the Harper government has failed to act.

“Canada’s agriculture sector is in crisis,” Speller said. “Harper doesn’t understand that ignoring a crisis does not make it go away. It makes it worse.”

Haldimand-Norfolk is also challenged by unresolved land claims which casts a cloud over our entire local economy, Speller said.

“Harper has ignored the land claims issue in our area and as a result it is only getting worse. In contrast, Michael Ignatieff has already turned his attention to seeking a solution by meeting local Caledonia residents and the Six Nations leadership.”

Harper allowed Stelco to be sold to U.S. Steel with a weak agreement that should never have been allowed to happen, Speller said. “Harper sold our steel industry and all of us down the river and now our good-paying jobs have gone south.”

In contrast to Harper, Michael Ignatieff understands that Canada can only be prosperous if our rural communities are prosperous, Speller said.

“You can count on me to use my experience as federal minister of agriculture to drive forward our party’s vision of putting the concerns of rural communities front and centre where they belong.”