TIMMINS - Corey Lepage knew he wanted to get into politics; he didn’t think it would happen so soon.
“Sometimes opportunities come when you don’t expect them," said the NDP candidate for Timmins, who is one of five candidates vying to be the Timmins MPP.
He grew up in Timmins, attending École secondaire catholique Thériault and completing a bachelor's degree in business administration at University d’Hearst at the Timmins Campus. He’s looking forward to bringing a voice to the needs of the community.
He had been involved in politics for most of his life and worked on former longtime MPP Gilles Bisson's campaigns before running himself.
“It’s always been something that I’ve had in my life since a young age,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to make a positive change in people’s lives, not necessarily only in politics, but you always have a path in life that you think you’ll follow, and things always end up happening differently.”
His father owned a wholesale business, and his parents owned a corner store, so his interest in business started at a young age.
“I’ve always been immersed in that side of things as well, and it helped shape some of my values,” he said. “I value fiscal responsibility while having the vision of the grassroots, core values of the NDP.”
He said his education in business gave him the understanding that to have the programs needed to help people, the funding needs to be taken care of and in place for longer than a single term of office.
He wants to hear from the people of Timmins, and, if he wins the seat, focus on what they want to see happen.
“As the MPP, the biggest part of your job is working with the people of your community and advocating for the people in your community in Queen’s Park,” he said. “It won’t be necessarily that I have an agenda, my agenda will be the people of Timmins.”
So far in the campaign, he said he’s been bolstered by the conversations he’s been having with people as he and his team go door to door.
“We have been door-knocking,” he said. “It’s worth it because the reception that we’ve been getting is really positive.”
At the age of 24, Lepage knows he has many possibilities ahead of him, and while his initial plans for a political career later in his life have been sped up, he’s rolling with that decision.
“Right now, I’m taking it one day at a time, and my primary focus is all on this right now,” he said. “Dominos fell how they fell, and here we are. I couldn’t be happier with the way things have turned out, and I’m very excited to be campaigning as our NDP candidate.”
He said he’s looking forward to debates and showing people what he can offer.
“I look forward to the debate, and I hope Mr. Pirie will be there,” said Lepage.
Election day is on Feb. 27.
The other Timmins candidates are Liberal Dominic Casto, New Blue David Farrell, PC George Pirie, and Green Marie-Josée Yelle.
