Thunder Bay--Rainy River

Thunder Bay--Rainy River is a sprawling federal riding in northwestern Ontario that covers the southern portion of the city of Thunder Bay and extends westward to the Manitoba border and southward to the Minnesota border at Rainy River. The riding encompasses the towns of Fort Frances, Atikokan, and Rainy River, along with vast stretches of boreal forest, lake country, and several First Nations communities. It is one of Ontario's largest ridings by area and one of its most geographically isolated, with many communities accessible only by seasonal roads. Liberal Marcus Powlowski has held the seat since 2019.

Candidates

Marcus Powlowski (Liberal) won his third consecutive election. A physician, lawyer, and public health expert, Powlowski holds an MD and an LLB from the University of Toronto, a Master of Public Health from Harvard, and a Master of Laws from Georgetown University. Before entering politics, he practiced emergency medicine for seven years in Swaziland, The Gambia, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu, then worked at Norway House Cree Nation in northern Manitoba before becoming an emergency room physician at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

Brendan Hyatt (Conservative) is a former director of education and superintendent with the Northwest Catholic District School Board. He holds a BA and a Bachelor of Education from Lakehead University and a master's in education. He also served as a council member and deputy reeve of LaVallee Township.

Yuk-Sem Won (NDP) ran as the New Democratic Party candidate in the riding.

Sabrina Ree (People's Party - PPC) ran for the People's Party of Canada.

Eric Arner (Green Party) stood as the Green Party candidate.

About the Riding

Thunder Bay--Rainy River's economy has historically rested on natural resources -- forestry, mining, and pulp and paper -- but the riding has faced significant industrial transitions in recent decades as mills have closed and resource extraction has shifted. The Alstom manufacturing plant in Thunder Bay, which builds streetcars and transit vehicles, has been a critical employer and a focal point of the 2025 campaign. Powlowski championed efforts to secure a new Toronto Transit Commission streetcar contract for the plant and supported a proposed lithium processing facility, both aimed at anchoring advanced manufacturing jobs in the region.

Healthcare access is a persistent and deeply felt issue across the riding. The shortage of family doctors in Thunder Bay and the near-total absence of physician services in rural and First Nations communities create urgent challenges for residents who often travel hours to reach medical care. Powlowski, as a physician himself, made rural healthcare a signature issue throughout his three terms.

The riding's border communities add a cross-border dimension to local politics. Fort Frances, which lost its Resolute Forest Products mill in 2014, has struggled economically, and the town's proximity to International Falls, Minnesota, makes US trade policy and border management tangible concerns. The 2025 campaign was shaped by affordability pressures, the US tariff threat, and questions about resource development in a riding that depends heavily on both public-sector employment and the natural resource economy.