A former federal Liberal candidate in the Huron-Bruce riding has a new assignment.
Allan Thompson been asked by the federal Liberal party to set up and chair a task force in rural ridings in Ontario.
The goal of "Project Rural" is to design a program of outreach in federal ridings across the province that are mostly rural.
"Project Rural" will also conduct research into key rural issues and will tap into existing work on rural issues and concerns.
As the Liberal candidate in Huron-Bruce in last year’s election, Thompson ran on a theme of providing a strong rural voice. He was born and raised on a farm in Bruce County and is now a journalism professor at Carleton University.
"We must be regarded as a party and government that has something to say to rural voters. And having something to say starts with listening," says Thompson. "I think the federal Liberal party can work harder to connect with people who live in rural communities."
The full details of the task force’s composition and mandate are still being finalized. The first step will be to consult with former Liberal candidates, their campaign teams, and electoral district associations from ridings with a significant rural presence.
