Liberal Bob Nault to challenge Greg Rickford in Kenora riding

Bob Nault, a former LiberalMinister of Indian Affairs, will attempt to unseat Conservative Greg Rickford, the current Minister of Natural Resources, in the upcoming federal election.

Nault won the Liberal nomination in the Kenora riding on Sunday. He was the LiberalMP in the riding for 16 years, serving as Indian Affairs minister from 1999 to 2003.

In 2004, Nault left politicsto start his own consulting business, but he announced in January that he'd be seeking the Liberal nomination in the upcoming election.

"I couldn't stand by and watch our region deteriorate without trying to fix things for our children and our grandchildren," Nault said in a news release after getting the Liberal nod.

Employment, health, economy

Rising unemployment,health-care problems and aboriginal peoples' exclusion from the economy are among the issues he saidhe'll tackle if elected.

Two things must happen to improve the economy for First Nations people, Nault said.

First, jurisdictional issues on governance must be resolved, and that means moving beyondthe Indian Act when it comes to self-government for First Nations, he said.

Second,First Nations communities in the riding must be brought into the modern era, he said.

"We cannot expect First Nations to be successful and to have an economy if there are no roads, no grid and so those are the kinds of issues that have been somewhat stalled and on hold, " said Nault.

There needs to be a partnership involving all parties, First Nations and the federal and provincial governments, he said.

The Kenora riding could see another political heavyweight join the race once the NDP have selected their candidate. Former provincial NDP Leader Howard Hampton announced on Friday that he is seekingthe federal nomination for that party.

Ember McKillop, an elementary school teacher in Dryden, is the Green Party candidate for the riding.