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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2015-10-15, Page 22PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015. Climate change a hot topic with candidates Piping down the market Friday marked the final day for the 2015 Brussels Farmers’ Market and members of the Brussels Legion Pipe Band were on hand to help mark the day, parading in from the Brussels Legion Branch and providing tunes for shoppers to enjoy while they browsed the wares. (Denny Scott photo) Continued from page 9 reduction does not translate to sales – just ask anyone in the auto sector or farmers hoping the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement would be a great opportunity to export cheese. The first thing I would do is say no to anything that would hurt our local producers. This is the NDP’s stance on the TPP as well. We could and should only sign trade deals that guarantee some benefit for Canadian producers otherwise we will flood our domestic shelf space with foreign products and Canadian farmers will be hung out to dry again. JS: The viability of Canadian family farms is at risk. The next generation of farmers depends on the development of effective and sensible risk management programs. I commit to engage with farmers and their associations to find solutions together. A growing number of Canadians value high quality produce grown in Canada. Policies and trade agreements should secure the future of farmers in Huron-Bruce by protecting our supply management system. 5. As the economy has slid into recession, what is the biggest problem facing the country’s finances? How would you help Canada flourish once again? BL: Actually the opposite is true, Canada is experiencing modest economic growth for 2015 and those numbers are projected to rise in the coming years. The Canadian economy is stronger than other countries’ but it is fragile and needs to be protected. The economy is our number one priority. With a $5 billion surplus so far this year we’re pursuing a low- tax, balanced budget plan to protect Canadian jobs and growth in the face of global uncertainty. The wrong government decision on taxes, spending or deficits can upset our fragile economy, causing business closures, downsizing and job loss in your community. The Liberals announced they will run multi-billion dollar deficits. They will also raise taxes to pay for their promises. Their deficits and tax hikes will leave our fragile economy exposed, cost you money and risk your job. The NDP is promising billions in new spending with no plan to pay for it. Taxes will have to go up and that will expose our fragile economy, cost you money and risk your job. I believe that only our Conservative government can protect our fragile economy for the next four years. AT : Each year over the next decade, we will steadily increase federal infrastructure investment. At full implementation, this will represent an annual additional investment of $9.5 billion per year. This will almost double federal infrastructure investment to nearly $125 billion – from $65 billion – over 10 years, which will be the largest new investment in infrastructure in Canadian history. Investing in infrastructure and providing municipalities and communities with the opportunity to identify what they need most is so important in creating middle class jobs. Every single dollar that we spend on public and social infrastructure helps grow the economy, makes us more competitive in international markets, creates jobs and improves our quality of life. GC: The biggest problem facing this country’s finances is that we reward foreign ownership (and closure) of Canadian companies and ship our resources out of this country wholesale. In order to create jobs in Canada while also reducing our carbon footprint, we need to create a strong, domestic value-added market for Canada’s abundant resources. Rather than lock this country into agreements spanning over 30 years like Prime Minister Stephen Harper has done, we need to make sure we create Canadian jobs processing Canadian resources on Canadian soil. We should not allow or encourage transnational corporations to take government handouts and then close up and leave the country like Volkswagon did when it left for Mexico $5 million richer. We need a government with brains and backbone to protect our people first, and I want to be a part of that. JS: The lack of investment in our country and mismanagement of resources is holding Canada back. A government that serves communities and embraces a sustainable economy will invest in needed infrastructure and deliver sustainable programs. 6. Do you believe climate change is altering the lives of Canadians? If so, what do you plan to do to help protect the environment? BL: We are the first government in Canadian history to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – and we’ve done so while protecting the Canadian economy and Canadian jobs. Canada has a fair and ambitious greenhouse gas reduction target that is in line with other major industrialized countries and reflects our national circumstances, including Canada’s position as a world leader in clean electricity generation. Our government will continue to implement a responsible sector-by- sector regulatory approach that is aligned with our major economic competitors – like the United States – to ensure Canada’s economic competitiveness is protected. AT : The environment has suffered under Stephen Harper’s leadership in the last 10 years. It would be irresponsible not to take meaningful action on climate change and Liberal leader Justin Trudeau promised very early on to take a lead on environmental issues. As Prime Minister of Canada, Trudeau would attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris in December, a couple of months after the Oct. 19 election. Within 90 days, he has pledged to hold a First Ministers meeting and to work with the provinces and territories to develop a framework to combat climate change. As your MP, I would make sure to identify the place that rural communities like Huron-Bruce would have within that framework. GC: My response to this ties in with my previous answer. Processing Canadian resources at home drastically reduces our carbon footprint and allows us to hold manufacturing and processing to our own high standards. But, those standards have been stripped or gutted under Harper, so the NDP intends to reverse the weakening of our environmental assessment procedures and restore protections removed in the Navigable Waters Act. Our party also encourages the development of green energy and sets ambitious carbon reduction goals. Oil, coal, even uranium are all finite resources. We need to think in terms of generations as we expand and adjust Canada’s energy framework. But, we need to do so responsibly and with the community’s support so we can avoid excess emotional duress thrust upon our municipalities. JS: Yes, immediate climate action is needed from all levels of government to provide hope for Canadians. Insurance companies, forward- thinking companies and individuals understand that severe weather patterns like floods and droughts occur more often and will be a big burden to mankind. The sooner we agree on a real target to reduce our carbon emissions, the faster we will see results. Transitioning from a fossil fuel economy to renewable technologies will create a whole new business and technology sector with new needed jobs and, as has already been demonstrated elsewhere. FERGUS JANTZI Fergus Jantzi of RR 1, Dublin passed away suddenly on Monday, Oct. 5, 2015. Born in Seaforth on Dec. 18, 1941, Fergus was in his 74th year. Fergus was the loving brother of Harold Jantzi, Clinton and Joy Ross and her husband Alf, Seaforth. He will also be missed by his eight nieces and nephews. Fergus was predeceased by his parents Aaron and Flossie (nee Stelck) Jantzi and sister-in-law Edna Jantzi. Visitation was held at McGlynn Family Funeral Home, Seaforth on Thursday, Oct. 8 and Friday, Oct. 9 until the time of Fergus’ funeral service. Rev. Mary Fletcher officiated. Interment took place in Maitlandbank Cemetery and a reception followed at Cavan United Church in Winthrop. As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations to the Seaforth Community Hospital Foundation or the Heart and Stroke Foundation are appreciated and can still be made through McGlynn Family Funeral Home or by visiting Fergus’ online memorial at www.mcglynnfamilyfuneral home.com Obituaries Years of experience Incumbent Ben Lobb of the Conservative Party says that Prime Minister Stephen Harper is the only leader who can responsibly balance the budget, so the Conservatives should be trusted with Canada’s economy. (File photo)