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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-09-29, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2011. PAGE 11. Continued from page 1 Ontario, saying that nuclear and Bruce Power was the way to power the province going forward into the future. Mitchell said it was her party’s intention to phase out coal plants and that was why the Green Energy Act was so important and a big part of the Liberals’ 25-year energy plan. Robertson also attacked the Green Energy Act, saying there is a high level of misinformation making its way around regarding the act and the use of CO2 with wind turbines. When the topic turned to rural infrastructure, Thompson stated that $35 billion has been earmarked for infrastructure in the PC budget. She specifically raised the topic of rural hospitals and how they need a boost after the last eight years. Mitchell, however, looked at her record saying that since 2008 over $75 million has been spent on infrastructure in Huron-Bruce and that $54 billion is committed over the next 10 years for infrastructure in Ontario. When it comes to infrastructure, Robertson focused on the schools of Huron-Bruce which, he says, have suffered by the Toronto “cookie- cutter” approach that has been taken in the riding. “It cannibalizes our schools,” Robertson said of the current approach. Valenta said he would opt to cut government waste by “firing unnecessary bureaucrats” and apply that money to infrastructure funding. Two questions on supply management and the Risk Management Program were met with support from all candidates except for Valenta, who felt that free enterprise should reign. Mitchell said her government has reduced agricultural red tape by 28 per cent to allow farmers to do more and have more freedom in Huron- Bruce. Robertson, however, still felt there was more work to be done. He used the example of a known carcinogen being banned in Canada for spraying on apples. However, that same carcinogen is being used in China on apples that end up in Canada, which Robertson said puts local farmers at a competitive disadvantage. He said the NDP would strive to rid the province of anything that would out Ontario farmers at a competitive disadvantage. When the topic of the discussion turned to education, Mitchell said great strides had been made in secondary schools in Huron-Bruce, including the high skills majors program in all the riding’s secondary schools. The program, Mitchell said, gives students the choice among college, university and a co-op placement. Mitchell said it’s programs like the high skills majors program that draw young people into Huron-Bruce to work and live. Robertson, however, saw it differently, saying that the first priority should be to keep local schools open. The NDP, he said, would introduce a rural school stabilization program that would stop local school and communities from being “penalized” by closures. Robertson identified schools being funded on the 1997 Mike Harris funding outline should be updated and that one in 10 young people in Ontario is unemployed and without long-term prospects, which is something he said has to change. Valenta said education should be directed from the municipal level to ensure that more control is retained by funds staying in Huron-Bruce. “The Provincial Government should just butt out and let the municipality handle education,” he said. Thompson said that Huron- Bruce’s largest export to the rest of the province, and the world, is its young people. The PC party, she said, would increase education funding by $2.5 billion in its first term which would ensure a lot of support at the local level. In terms of healthcare, Robertson said that 20,000 people are currently on the list for homecare. If that list was eradicated and those people were taken care of, beds would be freed up at local hospitals to decrease wait times. He said the current practises need to stop so that people can get the care they need. Valenta said he would support people who need care staying in their homes for as long as possible and he said he thinks that would be best for all involved. Thompson pointed the finger at Mitchell, who was in power while her party oversaw the “waste and scandal” of the E-Health “debacle.” Mitchell said seniors are “happiest and healthiest at home” and that her government would introduce an annual renovation tax credit for seniors so they can install anything they need to make their lives at home easier without the financial burden. “We have the shortest wait times in Canada,” Mitchell said. “We’ve made significant investments and these investments are paying off.” When discussing mental health and substance abuse, the Walkerton Jail became a topic of conversation among the candidates. “We stand to lose all the good work of the Bruce crystal meth task force with the closure of the Walkerton Jail,” Thompson said. Mitchell discussed the forum that took place in the caucus on mental health between members from all parties. She said “no politics should be attached to mental health.” Robertson agreed, saying the importance of the Walkerton Jail in programs for those with mental health issues is immeasurable. “Mental health is not a partisan issue, it should never be a partisan issue,” Robertson said. FLOOR QUESTIONS Questions from those in attendance at the meeting were dominated by wind energy and industrial wind turbines. The first question from the floor was asked by Ashfield-Colborne- Wawanosh resident Shawn Drennan who has recently launched a high profile lawsuit against gag orders associated with wind turbines and buyouts. Other wind turbine-related questions were then asked by Huron East’s Gerry Ryan and two other people. Thompson reiterated her party’s stance that they would halt the Green Energy Act in its tracks and not proceed on any further wind turbine developments until a number of studies, including one on health and safety, were conducted. Mitchell stated once again that she was in favour of green energy and the jobs it would bring to Huron- Bruce. She also stated that there is “no direct link” between wind turbines and sickness and that “study after study” has been done to prove that. Robertson said that communities were being torn apart by wind turbines and that he wasn’t in favour of any practice that “shoves people in the community aside.” With the hour approaching 10 p.m., two people were still waiting to ask questions, both wind turbine related and Bakker called an end to the meeting. However, after outrage from the people in the audience, he allowed the questions to be asked. Both questions were directed at Mitchell with the other candidates having the option to answer as well. CLOSING STATEMENTS Valenta stated that he would provide an independent voice at Queen’s Park for Huron-Bruce and that was something none of the other candidates could say. Robertson said his plan was to attack the issues of the day, as opposed to the other candidates in the election. He said he would try to focus on the implementation of renewable energy that works and taking the HST off of heating and electric bills. “I want people to respect us in rural Ontario for once,” he said. Mitchell boasted about her party’s fully-costed and economist- reviewed platform and her achievements of the past eight years. Mitchell said Ontario’s schools are the best in the English-speaking world and that the province will continue to remain strong despite economic trends. “Ontario will remain strong,” she said. “We led the nation and we led the world after the recession. Let’s keep moving Huron-Bruce forward.” Thompson said the PC party is the only party that has said it won’t raise taxes and that like any Conservative, she’s planning on being fiscally responsible if she gets elected this fall. “I want to bring much-needed change,” Thompson said. “Ontario’s hard-working families deserve relief now.” Names are in order of finishSection ECOMMERCIAL GRAIN1/4 bu. red wheat - Don Fischer, Darren Johnston, Sean Mitchell. 1/4 bu. barley - Bruce Higgins, Marie Perrie. 1/4 bu. mixed grain - Glen Borgess. 6 cobs husking corn - Sean Mitchell, Bauer Farms, Flora Morton, Fred Uhler. 1/4 bu. white field beans - Sean Mitchell. 10 stalks soybeans - Bauer Farms, Flora Morton, Flora Uhler, Darren Johnston. Section F2 FORAGE CROPS 5" slice hay, 1st cut - Marjorie Elg, Samantha Hall, Eleanor Newans, Marie Perrie. 5" slice hay, 2nd cut - Marjorie Elg, Glen Borgess. 6 stalks of ensilage corn - L. Johnston, Bauer Farms, Myles Johnston, Darren Johnston. Section F4 FIELD CROPS Grain corn - John Perrie, Murray Cardiff, Neil Mitchell, Bauer Farms, Matt Shortreed, Fred Uhler. White beans - Don Fischer, Neil Mitchell, Bill Sellers, Marten Thomet, Jerry Zwep. Barley - Bruce Higgins. Winter wheat - Neil Mitchell, Murray Cardiff, Glen Sellers, John Perrie, Jerry Zwep, Darren Johnston. Soybeans - John Perrie, Maurice Douma, Brian Morton, Ern Lewington, Bauer Farms, Neil Mitchell. S1 Highest points in field crop competition - John Perrie. Section G1 EGGS 1 doz. white eggs - Cody Harding. 1 doz. brown eggs - Myles Johnston, Lola Johnston, Sheila Burgess. 6 eggs from another farm fowl – No entries. Section G2 FRUIT 5 crab apples - Samantha Hall, Eleanor Newans. 5 wild apples - David Perrie, ShirleyBowman, Gabrielle Boettcher.5 homegrown apples, any variety -Donna Bauer, Gabby Johnston, MaxJohnston. 5 homegrown pears, any variety - Max Johnston, Eleanor Newans, Gabby Johnston. 6 homegrown plums -no entries. 1 citron - Eleanor Newans. 1 ripe muskmelon or cantaloupe - William Vande Bruinhorst, Sheila Burgess. 1 watermelon - Alyssa Beirnes, Ben Vande Bruinhorst, Jacco Vande Bruinhorst. 1 pint fall raspberries - Shirley Bowman, Cathy Cardiff, Don Chesher. 3 clusters elderberries - David Perrie, Eleanor Newans, Samantha Hall. S1. Fruit Display - Eleanor Newans, David Perrie, Joan Perrie. Section H VEGETABLES AND ROOTS 1 quart dry white beans - no entries. 5 pickling beets - Sandra Machan, Fred Uhler, Don Chesher. 5 round beets (turnip)- Fred Uhler, Olivia Johnston, Gabby Johnston. 5 long beets (cylindra)- Fred Uhler, Glen Burgess. 1 head cabbage - Fred Uhler, Maddy Bernard, Don Chesher. 5 short carrots, under 3" long - Don Chesher, William Vande Bruinhorst, Myles Johnston. 5 long carrots, over 5" long - Fred Uhler, Casey Bernard, Brian Schlosser. 5 gherkins - no entries. 3 pickling cucumbers, under 6" long - Cody Harding. 3 table cucumbers, under 12" long - Eleanor Newans, Shirley Bowman, Lola Johnston. 3 ripe cucumbers, yellow - Fred Uhler, Myles Johnston. 5 garlic bulbs - Sandra Machan. 5 leeks - Ronald Vande Bruinhorst, William Vande Bruinhorst. 5 Spanish onions - Sandra Machan, Galen Van den Assem. 5 onions, from sets - Sandra Machan, Fred Uhler, Don Chesher. 3 sweet green peppers - Tammy Beirnes, Olivia McHardy, SandraMachan.3 sweet red peppers - EleanorNewans, Sandra Machan, TammyBeirnes. 3 hot peppers - Tammy Beirnes, William Vande Bruinhorst, Fred Uhler. 2 pie pumpkins - Fred Uhler, Myles Johnston, Shirley Bowman. 2 acorn or pepper squash - Shirley Bowman, Fred Uhler, Don Chesher. 2 butternut squash - Gabrielle Boettcher, Shirley Bowman, Ronald Vande Bruinhorst. 2 hubbard squash - Fred Uhler, David Perrie. 2 zucchini squash - Don Chesher, Glen Burgess, Fred Uhler. 2 buttercup squash - Jacco Vande Bruinhorst, Don Chesher. 2 squash, any other variety, named - Glen Burgess, Fred Uhler, Sandra Cable. 2 large ripe sunflower heads - Fred Uhler, Don Chesher, Ben Vande Bruinhorst. 2 miniature, ripe sunflower heads - Maddy Bernard, Sandra Machan, Fred Uhler. 5 large red tomatoes - Shirley Bowman, Eleanor Newans, Samantha Hall. 5 large green tomatoes - Eleanor Newans, Jacco Vande Bruinhorst, Ben Vande Bruinhorst. 7 small cherry tomatoes - Tammy Beirnes, Maleah Taylor, Brian Schlosser. 12 white potatoes in a basket - Sandra Machan, Fred Uhler, Myles Johnston. 12 red potatoes in a basket - Shirley Bowman, Fred Uhler, Sandra Machan. 12 yellow potatoes in a basket - Shirley Bowman, Fred Uhler. Biggest beet - Don Chesher and Tammy Beirnes, tied first; Leanne Armstrong, Ben Vande Bruinhorst. Longest husked corncob - Gabby Johnston, Myles Johnston, Lola Johnston. Largest potato, by weight - no entries. Largest tomato, by circumference - Gabby Johnston. Largest sunflower head, by diameter- William Vande Bruinhorst, DonChesher, Samantha Hall.Tallest sunflower - Samantha Hall,Eleanor Newans, Ronald Vande Bruinhorst. Tallest cornstalk - Bauer Farms, Ronald Vande Bruinhorst, Lola Johnston. Largest “jack-o-lantern”-type pumpkin - Jaxson Beirnes, Fred Uhler, Alyssa Beirnes. Largest “jumbo” squash - Jack Pipe, Fred Uhler, Leanne Armstrong. Largest zucchini - Ben Vande Bruinhorst, Sharon Robbins, Glen Burgess. Longest carrot - Brian Schlosser, Casey Bernard, Maddy Bernard. Biggest odd-shaped vegetable - Brian Schlosser, Sam McArter, Lola Johnston. S1 - Most points in classes 1-33 - Fred Uhler. S2 - Vegetable Display - Don Chesher, Linda Vande Bruinhorst. S3 - Gourd collection - Fred Uhler, Ben Vande Bruinhorst, William Vande Bruinhorst. S4 - Herb collection - Don Chesher, Joan Perrie, Linda Vande Bruinhorst. S5 - Theme Special “theme of the year” - Jo-Ann McDonald, Shirley Bowman, Eleanor Newans. Section J FRUIT Canned peaches - Sheila Burgess, Tammy Beirnes. Canned pears - Dona Knight. Applesauce - David Perrie, Sandra Cameron, Sheila Burgess. Apple Juice - No entries. Apple Pie Filling - Sandra Cable, Linda Garland. Cherry Pie Filling - Sheila Burgess. Raisin Pie Filling - Sheila Burgess. JAMS AND JELLIES Apple Butter - Tammy Beirnes, Bev Craddock. Strawberry jam, freezer - Sandra Cable, Florence Machan, Sandra Cameron. Strawberry jam, cooked – Florence Machan, Dona Knight, Marjorie Elg. Raspberry jam - Sheila Burgess, MaryDouma, Marjorie Elg.Peach jam - Mary Douma, TammyBeirnes, Sandra Cable.Grape jelly - Sandra Cable. Red pepper jelly - Sandra Machan, Peg Aitchison, Mary Ann Thompson. Green pepper jelly - Sandra Cable, Margaret Taylor. PICKLES & DRESSINGS Bread & Butter Pickles - Linda Vande Bruinhorst, Sheila Burgess, Dianne Diehl. Nine Day Pickles - Margaret Taylor, Sandra Machan. Icicle Pickles - Sandra Machan, Margaret Taylor, Sandra Josling. Dill Pickles - Sandra Cameron, Dianne Diehl, Sandra Machan. Mustard Pickles - Shirley Baker. Pickled Beets - Floral Morton, Margaret Taylor, Sandra Machan. Pickled Beans - Sandra Josling. Pickled eggs - Floral Morton, Jo-Ann McDonald, Lola Johnston. Pickled mini corn cobs - Sheila Burgess, Jo-Ann McDonald. Green Relish - Margaret Taylor, Sandra Machan, Shirley Baker. Yellow Relish - Bessie Johnston, Margaret Taylor, Sandra Cameron. Corn Relish - Dona Knight, Lola Johnston, Shirley Baker. Steak/BBQ Sauce - Mary Douma. Salsa - hot - Shirley Baker, Jo-Ann McDonald, Sandra Cable. Salsa - mild - Sheila Burgess, Mary Ann Thompson, Alexandra Martin. Canned/stewed tomatoes - Shirley Baker, Sandra Cameron. Tomato juice - Mary Douma. Spaghetti sauce - Alexandra Martin, Sandra Cable. Chili Sauce 1 - Liz Sholdice and Sheila Burgess, tied first; Margaret Taylor and Dona Knight, tied second; Mary Ann Thompson and Jo-Ann McDonald, tied third. Salad Dressing - Bessie Johnston, Jo- Ann McDonald, Sheila Burgess. S1 - Most suitably decorated jar of canning - Margaret Taylor. Crops judged at 150th Brussels Fall Fair Wind energy dominates all-candidates meeting Continued on page 14