HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2015-10-15, Page 9THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015. PAGE 9.
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3. What do you see as being the
largest single issue facing Huron-
Bruce over the next term? And what
would you do, if elected, to deal with
it?
BL: I see jobs and economic
growth continuing to be an issue, not
only across Canada but also here in
Huron-Bruce.
We will continue to keep taxes low
and target investments to keep our
economy growing and moving
forward. Our Prime Minister is
aiming to create an additional 1.3
million new jobs by 2020. This level
of job growth would see new jobs
created at a slightly faster pace than
previously, in the face of significant
global economic instability.
With our low-tax, balanced budget
plan it is an achievable target by
2020. The Liberals and NDP would
run permanent deficits, raise taxes
and hike payroll taxes in order to pay
for their promises.
AT : I think we need to work
harder to create opportunities for our
young people here in Huron-Bruce. I
think too many people have
experienced seeing their children
grow up and move away, never to
return. We need to make it a viable
option for our young people to settle
down and make their lives here in
Huron-Bruce, if that is their choice.
That means looking long and hard
at the way we promote economic
development in the riding,
supporting small business and
innovators who are looking for ways
to create opportunity here.
One strategy is to invest heavily in
our infrastructure, both the
traditional infrastructure of bridges
and ports, but also the kind of social
infrastructure that leads to better
communities - child care facilities,
seniors residences, cultural and
recreational facilities and so on.
GC: Jobs and poverty. On the
issue of jobs, I realize this riding is
unlikely to get another big employer
of 500 or more people in the near
future. But, the NDP (and I)
recognize the huge role small
businesses play in the local
economy. That’s where we aim to
provide innovation tax credits to
allow smaller manufacturers to buy
much needed equipment so they can
expand their workforces without
running into the red.
As an MP, I would be in a position
to help small businesses acquire
grants and credits to be able to grow,
and will certainly vote for the NDP’s
lowering of the small business tax
from 11 to nine per cent.
On poverty, this riding needs a
listening ear more than anything.
There are so many NGO or third-
party groups dedicated to
eradicating poverty in this riding but
they need the ear of the federal
government.
While writing for local papers,
I’ve listened to too many
heartbreaking stories of people
caught in the system with nowhere
to turn. I want to help where people
are hurting most, and the two groups
hit disproportionately hard in this
riding are widowed seniors and
single young mothers. The NDP
plan to bring seniors out of poverty
and implement $15 a day childcare
helps both these disadvantaged
groups get a head start.
JS: The imminent decision about
radioactive operational nuclear
waste burial and abandonment in the
Great Lakes Basin in a deep
geologic repository (DGR) is very
important for our citizens. The
Green Party of Canada opposes the
proposed plan together with the
Municipalities of Bluewater and 174
other communities.
As your Member of Parliament I
would bring a balanced message to
influence the new Federal Minister
of the Environment by December 1,
2015.
4. What do you think is the most
difficult challenge facing the
agricultural sector, the biggest
economic driver in the riding, going
forward? What would you do to help
farmers?
BL: Under previous Liberal
governments, Canadian farmers and
farming communities were
neglected and left to face the
significant challenges of modern-
day farming without the right tools
or support. That was unacceptable.
Since 2006, our government has
supported Canada’s farm families by
delivering the right tools and
programs to help farm families deal
with environmental challenges and
uncertainties, investing in research
and development so farmers can
strengthen their production, working
to secure the health and integrity of
Canada’s food supply and opening
markets, while continuing to protect
and preserve jobs, for Canadian
farmers on tables around the world.
Trade is vital to Canada’s
continued economic prosperity and
we have expanded new markets for
Canadian farmers from five to 51
free trade agreements since 2006.
This includes the landmark free
trade agreements we negotiated with
the European Union, South Korea as
well as the Trans Pacific Partnership
(TPP). These agreements will
reduce or eliminate tariffs on
virtually all agricultural products
grown in Huron-Bruce.
We have also made continuous
improvements to the Advance
Payments Program to stimulate
investment and innovation in
Canada’s agriculture sector as well
as streamline administration,
provide greater flexibility and more
repayment options.
AT : Agriculture is the backbone of
our economy here in Huron-Bruce, it
is our past, our present and our
future. Canada is one of the largest
agricultural exporters in the world,
and farmers are essential to putting
healthy and affordable food in
grocery stores and on our tables.
Just recently, the Liberal Party
unveiled a plan to make immediate
investments in the agriculture sector.
We will invest $160 million over
four years in an Agri-Food Value
Added Investment Fund to attract
investment and create good jobs in
food processing, in addition to $100
million over four years in
agricultural research to support
innovation in the sector.
The Liberals also support free
trade and will take a responsible
approach to examining the yet-to-
be-published details of the Trans-
Pacific Partnership – and will
safeguard our sensitive sectors like
supply management.
GC: If I had to pick one, I would
say it is a federal government bent
on dismantling supply management
and making bad trade deals.
I realize supply-managed
agriculture is only between eight and
10 per cent of all farming, but our
MP and Prime Minister both stated
supply management would not be
touched in the TPP and yet, they
have already begun snipping away at
the corners. That quota is gone now.
Aside from that aspect, our
government is entering into trade
deals that are short-sighted –
equating market access to profit.
Access to markets or tariff
Candidates discuss agriculture, recession
A new approach
Gerard Creces of the NDP, seen above at an all-candidates
meeting in late September, wants to introduce a number of
new initiatives to the country and to the riding, including
affordable daycare through the NDP platform. (File photo)
Time for change
Allan Thompson, the Huron-Bruce candidate for the Liberal
Party suggests that it’s time for a change from the Stephen
Harper era and the Conservative government. He says that
Justin Trudeau, the party’s leader, is ready to run the
province. (File photo)
Ask A Financial Advisor
When Can I Retire?
If you’re still in the work force, eventually, you’re going to ask yourself: “When can I retire?”
To answer this question, you’ll need to take three steps.
First, you’ll have to identify your potential sources of retirement income, such as the
Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security and other government programs, as well as a
workplace pension if you have one. You’ll also need to consider your personal savings,
such as your RRSP or TFSA.
Your second step is to determine if a gap exists between the income you can count on
during retirement and the money you’ll need to support your retirement lifestyle. A
professional financial advisor can help you make this calculation.
Your final step is to decide how to close any retirement gap. Unless you want to delay your
retirement, or scale down your retirement lifestyle, you may need to contribute more to your
RRSP and other investment accounts. You also should consider working with a financial
advisor to choose the appropriate mix of investments to help your money grow over time.
But in any case, don’t wait too long before you tackle the “When can I retire?” question —
because the sooner you start working on it, the better the answer you’ll get.
Have a question you want answered here? Ask Brian by phone or email.
Brian Hilt - Financial Advisor
79 Ontario Road, P.O. Box 1450
Mitchell, ON N0K 1N0
(519) 348-9873
brian.hilt@edwardjones.com Member - Canadian
Investor Protection Fund
MEETING NOTICE
Municipality of
Morris-Turnberry
The upcoming meetings for the
Municipality of Morris-Turnberry will be held:
Tuesday, October 13 at 7:00 p.m. Special Council Meeting
Tuesday, October 20 at 7:30 p.m. Regular Council Meeting
Wednesday, October 21 at 7:00 p.m. Joint Meeting with the
Township of North Huron,
at the Columbus Room at
the North Huron Wescast
Community Complex
Sheepskin Coats
Downtown Blyth
519-523-4740
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