RED LAKE – Born and raised in Red Lake, Catherine Kiewning advocates for the people living in the Northwest region.
Kiewning dedicates endless volunteer hours to important causes and initiatives, like the Second Chance Pet Network, the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, and the local Christmas Cheer initiative. Presently, she is a director/co-founder on the Rainbow Alliance Dryden/Pride Committee, chair of Hoshizaki House’s Board of Directors, and director/co-founder of the Dryden Area Young Professionals Network.
Kiewning attended university in Montreal before obtaining her dream job: working with youth in public health in Dryden. She also holds a Master’s degree in social justice education from Lakehead University.
Kiewning also ran as a candidate in Dryden’s 2018 municipal election with a reputation for always having things on the go.
She spends her free time hiking the Mavis Lake Trails, venturing out to Tunnel Island, and exploring the 8th Streetwalking and ski trails. Her profound love of nature drives her to protect and preserve Ontario’s flora and fauna, so she decided to run for the Greens.
When it comes to Kenora- Rainy River, Kiewning holds nothing back.
Education is a priority. If elected, Kiewning and the Ontario Green are looking to improve education at the systemic level. Their plan will ensure that post-secondary students have a fair chance to go to college or university without the crushing weight of student loan debt.
“We will immediately reverse the Ford government’s cuts to OSAP by converting loans to grants for low and middle-income students. Additionally, they will also eliminate interest charges on student debt,” Kiewning said.
However, post-secondary education is not the only people on the Green Party’s radar.
Kiewning acknowledges that Ontario’s curriculum needs an overhaul with the inclusion of an informed approach to discussions of anti-Black racism, 2SLGBTQIA+ prejudice, and all forms of discrimination across subject areas.
“People in positions of power are out to maintain structures and systems of oppression,” Kiewning explains. “It is in the current government's best interest to ensure young, progressive people DON'T vote because that means there will be people who don't hold societal power, making the laws for the betterment of ourselves and not the rich and powerful. The biggest rebellion, the best slap in the face of inequity, is to vote.”
One of the most powerful displaces of disrupting circles of power is the open discussion of prejudice and discrimination.
In addition, Kiewning wants to restore funding for the Indigenous curriculum program and work with Indigenous educators and community leaders to develop a mandatory curriculum on colonialism and residential schools, treaties, and Indigenous histories and experiences.
When asked about housing crisis affecting Kenora- Rainy River, Kiewning admitted that the problem is much larger than the act of building more homes. Inflation and low wages alienate the first-time buyer from applying for mortgages. While most youths are working three jobs to make enough to pay their bills, homeownership creates additional maintenance costs that some cannot afford.
The Green Party’s platform includes investing $1 billion per year to build 182,000 affordable community rental homes, including 60,000 supportive dwellings over the next decade. Fund and Indigenous-led housing strategy. Create more pathways to homeownership; Consult on and develop a down payment support program to help low and middle-income first-time homebuyers.
“The Green Party of Ontario wants to invest in a housing supply, actually building homes in our ridings, making sure that everyone has a safe and affordable place to live first,” Kiewning said. “The Green Party’s Housing First approach to ending homelessness is remarkable in its simplicity- when you have one of your most basic needs taken care of; you can thrive in other parts of your life. Things get better when you have safe housing. The GPO wants to limit corporations purchasing homes because it drives up the prices for the rest of us- and it's not fair. It's almost unrealistic for young adults to buy homes in a market like this, especially if they are making minimum wage- which is why the Green Party of Ontario wants to introduce basic income for the province. We piloted this in Thunder Bay, and the results were remarkable- when people have enough to contribute to the economy- they do. It benefits all of us to take care of each other.”
When it comes to transportation for the North, the Ontario Green Party isn’t taking no for an answer.
Kiewning said, “the GPO gets that the GTA gets a lot of money regarding public transit- fossil fuels are on the way out, they are not being treated as a precious, non-renewable resource by greedy companies. The Green Party of Ontario is committed to electric public transit, and I think Northwestern Ontario is the perfect place to pilot it! We don't need many vehicles to make a huge impact on our communities.”
The Green Party of Ontario will also establish a clean, affordable, accessible intercity electric bus service to connect all communities across the province, ensuring connections in small, rural communities and dedicated bus lanes. Fully fund the Northlander passenger rail service. Explore on-demand systems for public transit, especially in suburban and rural communities. Redesign roads to reduce motorists’ speed in areas hazardous to pedestrians and cyclists and eliminate hazards such as slip lanes.
