1. Why are you running?

To give people — especially young people — a way to vote for real action on global warming.

2. What are your qualifications for political office?

I have three pretty obvious qualifications. First, I have a track record of contributing to economic development in Sudbury. Here are two well-known examples: the McEwen School of Architecture was my idea and I got it started. I was also the first person to identify and promote Sudbury’s mining supply and services sector. It has become the main source of job growth in the city.

Second, as an economist in Sudbury for 30 years, I have written hundreds of columns, taught courses and done research on public policy and economic development. That is a lot of training for public service.

Third, with climate change and an energy revolution underway, I think we need people who understand energy and climate economics in government.

3. What makes you stand out from the other candidates in your riding?

Knowledge of issues, a track record of contributions to the community, a terrific network of smart people.

4. What are your top priorities?

– Get real action of climate change. Fortunately, that lines up with a powerful and long-range strategy for creating jobs across the economy.

– Devolve power over Northern Resources to Northern Ontario, including

a) mining and forestry revenues stay in the North;

b) create a provincial set of accounts for Northern Ontario; and

c) stop the giveaways: raise Ontario’s resource royalty rate. They are currently the lowest in Canada and among the lowest in the world.

– Re-amalgamate Sudbury to undo the mess the Mike Harris government made

– Stop school closures by making boards work together

5. Northern Ontario has struggled economically compared to other parts of the province. How would you change that?

I have been working on this problem for 20 years. Some concrete steps needed now are. They include:

– Actively promote the development of the mining supply and services sector in the North as the leading northern manufacturing sector.

– Move all research and post-secondary education related to mining and forestry to Northern Ontario. Make Sudbury the "Harvard of the North" for mining.

– Support creation of a northern wood innovation centre attached to the McEwen School of architecture to promote value added in forest based industries.

– Support development of civil engineering program with emphasis on northern issues: water, roads, heavy timber construction,

These steps would add the equivalent of at least 1,500 jobs over the next 10 years. In addition we need, community control of forest resources so we can develop a value-added forest industry.

6. Should Northern Ontario be given more power to control its affairs?

This is an issue I have been promoting for 25 years and it is one of my highest priorities. The north will continue to decline as long as it is run as a colony of southern Ontario.

7. What would you do with the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund?

The heritage fund should get more money in the short run and it should be eliminated In the long run. Instead, an elected regional council should direct the spending of revenues collected in the North.

8. What are your thoughts on the Ring of Fire?

– Recognize there will be 200 mines in the northwest and plan accordingly.

– Fund Ontario Northland to build the RoF railroad now to really promote development.

– Create a regional government in the northwest to plan schools, roads, communities. (This will be run at first by FNs, who will have to attract and hold non-FN immigrants.)

– Control of hunting and fishing in the northwest to First Nations as the treaties imply.

9. Are you committed to finishing the four-laning of Highway 69?

Yes. Although it actually adds little to the economy, but it is a quality-of-life issue for people living in our part of the north.

10. How would you improve health-care in Sudbury?

Greens want to promote health instead of "health care". The Green Party of Ontario will make health promotion a top priority. Dealing effectively with poverty, expanding homecare, long-term and palliative care, and increasing the number of personal support workers will help us reduce the burden on hospitals. We will ensure sufficient resources are allocated to mental health and expanded pharmacare.

— David Robinson is the Green Party candidate in Sudbury.