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Falling down stairs, pushing stuck cars out of snow banks and cancelling events are just some of the challenges candidates have faced on the winter campaign trail, but Sol Mamakwa may have them all beat.<\/p>\n
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This is Ontario\u2019s first winter election campaign since 1981 and the incumbent NDP candidate for Kiiwetinoong in northwestern\u00a0Ontario\u00a0has rented a plane with skis so he can try to visit some of the 24 fly-in First Nation communities in his riding that spans nearly 300,000 square kilometres.<\/p>\n
\u201c(It\u2019s) not too bad, but it\u2019s frickin\u2019 cold right now,\u201d he said recently during a break from campaigning in Pickle Lake. \u201cLast week has been minus 40.\u201d<\/p>\n
He was trying to visit two to three fly-in communities a day with his plane over the last week or so of the campaign. At a cost of $6,000 to $8,000 per day that\u2019s about all his campaign can afford, so he is trying to maximize his flying time.<\/p>\n
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In Kenora-Rainy River, directly south of Kiiwetinoong, the temperatures were similarly bone chilling, and the Progressive Conservative incumbent has been feeling it while out canvassing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI look like Kenny from South Park,\u201d Greg Rickford said, describing how he bundles himself up from head to toe.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce you get past minus 30, if your skin is exposed and you\u2019re out there for any amount of time, you\u2019re putting yourself at a little bit of risk.\u201d<\/p>\n
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