PC Gale’s top issues: health care, housing, jobs

Currently serving his second term as regional councillor for Niagara Falls, Bob Gale is representing the Progressive Conservative party in the June 2 provincial election.

Gale says he has spent his life working for Niagara, first in public service as a police officer, then as an entrepreneur for 35 years, with businesses covering NOTL, Niagara Falls and Fort Erie, and most recently as a regional councillor. 

He retired in 2014 as president but remains chairman of the board for Gale Gas Bars, which includes Gales Fuels and Bob’s Fast and Fresh Convenience.

With his wife Vera, the Niagara businessman now lives in St. Catharines, and owns several properties in Niagara Falls. His daughter Jessica, who lives in St. Davids, has taken over control of the company. 

He was born in St. Catharines, grew up in Niagara Falls, and raised his three children in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Over the years he has been a baseball and hockey coach, a Big Brother,  and spearheaded the Gale family’s involvement in many volunteer and philanthropic endeavours to benefit the community, including the Gale Centre in Niagara Falls.

He formed and funded the Bob Gale Recreation Fund, organized Ten Men in a Tent in 2009 and 2010 to benefit Project SHARE, and was president of the Boys and Girls Club, where he was made an honorary board member.

“I was in business for a long time, and sat on many high profile boards,” he said when he was chosen to represent the provincial Conservatives for the riding. “I have thick skin, and I understand that this will be a challenging election. The fact is that Niagara needs a strong Conservative voice in a strong Conservative government to make sure that our unique needs are taken care of. I am ready to take that task head on.”

The next few years, as the economy recovers from the pandemic, will be tough, he said, and tourism is the industry hardest hit.

“We need a representative at Queen’s Park that has tourism experience, and I believe my tenure on the board of the Niagara Parks Commission, and what I was able to accomplish there speaks to my experience.”

As he approaches the upcoming election, he says health care, jobs, and housing are three of his top priorities.

“Our children and grandchildren can’t afford homes. It doesn’t look good for their future.” 

It takes too much time and too much red tape to get housing built, he added — the PC party is promising to cut red tape, planning for 150,000 housing starts across Ontario in the next year, and 1.5 million over the next decade, without touching any Greenbelt land.

As for jobs, the province needs more skilled-trade workers, Gale says. “Too many kids think they need to go to university. We can’t find bodies to fill jobs, let alone skilled jobs. We have to convince kids, and offer incentives, to take skilled trade courses.” A PC government, he says would offer grants for those kinds of courses.

One of the easy solutions in health care is to get the new Niagara Falls hospital built, and Gale says he is guaranteeing there will be a shovel in the ground this year. Tenders are out for it now, and he hopes to speed up the process to get it done, “like I did for the Niagara Falls hospital emergency department in the early 2000s,” he says. “My plan is to get this hospital going.”

The PC government is also spending $3.8 billion over 10 years on wellness programs, says Gale, which include addictions services, cognitive-behavioural therapy, and youth mental health, and is committing to a $5,000 retention bonus for nurses, and more support for first responders.

The Conservative government is also investing in nursing programs, increasing enrolment across the province for nurses and personal support workers, he says.

Gale did not take part in last week’s Cogeco debate of Niagara Falls riding candidates, saying he’s been told the best way to spend his time is going door-to-door, talking to people, which is what he’s been doing.

“It’s more important for me to meet the constituents. The biggest thing is to get out and meet people in the riding. I’ve heard that from everyone — everything else is secondary.”

Niagara Falls is a big riding to cover, he says, “from lake to lake. I’m canvassing everyone. It’s so important to meet people.”

And what he is hearing, “is people want a voice in Toronto to represent them with the party in power. They feel neglected. We’re not getting the things that other areas might have,” he says.

“They want to move on, to get the economy going. They want to move on from the pandemic, and every issue that is hampering the economy and health care. Let’s move on to the lifestyle we’ve enjoyed for many years,” says Gale.

“It’s time for Niagara-on-the-Lake, Fort Erie and Niagara Falls to have their voices heard at the provincial table, so that we can get it done. Only Premier Ford and I will get a shovel in the ground at the South Niagara hospital, invest in roads and create new and better jobs, while we stay open.  And whether it’s refunding licence plate sticker fees, or slashing the gas tax, I firmly believe that that money is better in your pocket than in the government’s.”

The Niagara Falls riding has seven candidates running in the June 2 provincial election: Bob Gale (Progressive Conservatives), Wayne Gates (NDP), Wesley Kavanagh (Ontario Party), Christine Lewis-Napolitano (New Blue), Devon St. Denis-Richard (None of the Above Direct Democracy Party), Tommy Ward (Green Party), and Ashley Waters (Ontario Liberal Party).

People can vote in person on June 2 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. at the voting location assigned to them based on their current residential address.

Ontario residents can vote at any of the advance voting locations in their electoral district between May 19 and May 28.

For more information on voting, including mail-in ballots, visit https://www.elections.on.ca/waystovote