Bill Mauro sees 'significant holes' in NDP, PC platforms

Incumbent Liberal MPP Bill Mauro said his list of accomplishments in Thunder Bay-Atikokan is long and the NDP and PC platforms fall short,during a live debate on CBC's Superior Morning on Monday.

Mauro was joined in studio by NDPcandidate Mary Kozorys and the PC's Harold Wilson.

"I truly believe that both Michael Gravelle and I have been able to make and deliver on the advantage of being in government for our constituents," Mauro said.

"The list of accomplishments is long and at the end of the day that's what people look to us to do.We can look to the law school, the Ring of Fire commitment, 1,200 jobs at Bombardier, four-laning highways, angioplasty, [and] two coal plants saved."

Kozoryschallenged Mauro's list, particularly in the energy sector and what she called the Liberal "hydro empire...and theexplosion of the hydro bureaucracy."

The NDP"would look at consolidating four hydro agencies," she sad. "That in itself cuts the cream of bureaucracy. Also we're looking at capping the salaries of the top hydro executives, something the Liberals have not discussed."

Wilson also talked about cutting bureaucracy, but added there's been an "unfortunate misrepresentation" of the PC's plans to reduce the public sector.

"It's probably one of the more vexing things of this whole campaign for me.Twice on the weekend I had nurses telling me that as part of the million jobs plan we're going to be getting rid of nurses," he said.

"Nurses are not going to be cut. That's one of the front line services we need.Bureaucracieswithin the ministry of health, yes, let's take a look at those."