Ont. Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie in northern Ontario ahead of leader’s debate in North Bay

Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie arrived in North Bay early ahead of Friday's leader's debate at Canadore College.

Ahead of the Ontario leader’s debate in North Bay on Friday afternoon, one of the party leaders arrived to tour the city’s Nipissing University and meet with students.

Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie was the first party to pull into the city, arriving late Thursday afternoon.

As she stepped off the bus, she was welcomed by the university’s president and vice-chancellor, Kevin Wamsley, and North Bay Deputy Mayor Maggie Horsfield.

Crombie joined school staff for a roughly 30-miunute tour of the nursing simulation labs, becoming familiar with the school’s nursing program.

She also met with several students who showed her around the lab.

• Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
• Want more local news? Check out the North Bay page

Addressing the students at the end of the tour, Crombie stated she “admired” their bravery for going into a “really valuable” profession.

“It’s hard work, right? But it’s really valuable and really meaningful. I just wish there were more of you coming into this,” Crombie said.

“It’s a tough job, but it can be very fulfilling. So thank you for choosing this profession.”

While on the tour, she stressed that the Ontario Liberal’s health care platform includes paying all nurses and personal support workers (PSWs) a living wage.

She also stressed that policy would help in the long run, by training and retaining staff for hospitals and long-term care homes that are in need for critical care support.

The Ontario Liberal party promises to invest in hospital infrastructure and hire 3,100 new doctors to keep people with minor ailments out of overcrowded emergency rooms.

“There are all kinds of issues that people have encountered with wait times largely, or lack of paramedics, but mostly just waiting in the hospital,” she told Nipissing students and staff.

• Get local breaking news alerts
• Download the CTV News app now

The debate is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday at Canadore College with Crombie, PC Leader Doug Ford, NDP Leader Marit Stiles and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner.

CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca will be in attendance and will provide full coverage.