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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-10-04, Page 9The Huron CountyFederation of Agriculture held its all candidates meeting last Thursday to a packed house in Holmesville. Five party candidates and two independent candidates took the podium to convince the people of Huron/Bruce why they should be chosen to represent the riding in the Oct. 10 provincial election. Rob Morley represented the Conservative Party, Carol Mitchell was there on behalf of the Liberal Party, Paul Klopp was there for the NDP, Victoria Serda for the Green Party and Paul Joslin for the Family Coalition Party. The two independent candidates are Ron Stephens and Dennis Valenta. Stephen Thompson, HCFA president, chaired the meeting. Candidates were given two minutes for opening and closing statements as well as responses to prepared questions. Hot topics at the meeting included the risk management program (RMP), health care, the environment and education. OPENING STATEMENTS Morley said he hoped to have a risk management program on par with that of Quebec, which he said he wanted to use as a foundation, but make it diverse enough to reflect Ontario’s diversity. Morley, who has strong roots in Huron County, as a former councillor, a reeve and a warden, also said he is looking towards health care with a sizeable commitment from the Tories, as well as environmental issues. Serda, who is one of a handful of Ontarians authorized to give Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth lecture, made no bones that her platform is largely based on the environment. Klopp, who is a former MPP, said his party is dedicated to more than either the Tories and the Liberals, committing $300 million each year of the next term, starting with 2007 to risk management for farmers. He boasted about programs that the NDP started that the Tories closed out and insisted that he and his party are committed to keeping local business in Ontario.Mitchell listed her and herparty’s achievements over thelast term, including healthcare and risk management. She also said that the Holmesville meeting had the highest attendance of all of their all candidates meetings, which she thanked the audience for. Joslin started his night by saying that his party is the only one committed to shrinking government for the good of the province. He cited the aging population and the increasing number of retirees, saying that Ontario, with its $100 billion deficit, will be in trouble in 15 years, paying off the bill as well as funding pensions. Valenta, one of two independent candidates, started by saying he wanted to keep the family in Huron’s family farms. He cited statistics regarding the divorce rate, custody arrangements and support payments. After garnering 4,000 signatures of support for his cause, Valenta said he received no support from Mitchell during her tenure, spurring him on into the election himself. Stephens, who started by saying he’s fed up with the mainstream parties, focused on agriculture and education. After being told that his Grade 8 education is equivalent to a Grade 12 education today, Stephens deemed this unacceptable, and took it upon himself to run and attempt to make a change. QUESTION AND ANSWER After the opening statements, several questions were then presented to the candidates, who were each given time to respond in order. The questions started with possibly the most important one at an agriculture meeting, regarding RMP. Serda was the first to respond. A former organic farmer, Serda said, “Most people don’t understand farming and where their food comes from.” Klopp reiterated his party’s commitment of $300 million, comparing it to the Conservative commitment of $150 million. Klopp insisted that this money is something that is budgeted for and is ready to go. In addition to topping theConservative mark of moneycommitted to RMP, Kloppalso was skeptical of theLiberals, who just recently committed money to the program. “The Liberals waited until six weeks before the election,” he said. “What party wouldn’t want a good show.” Mitchell defended her party’s actions on the RMP, citing regional differences as the reason for the delay. She also reiterated her commitment to Farmers Feed Cities. Morley stated that this money is already banked on in the Conservative budget, whereas it is not in the Liberal agenda. He added that while there is $150 million committed instantly, there will be $300 million by the end of the term. Independent candidate Valenta told people to remember when voting that the current state of affairs and the problems that need to be solved were all created by the mainstream parties already. The issue of compensation for the crop years of 2005 and 2006 was raised as the next question. Klopp reiterated that the NDP will have $300 million ready in 2008, saying that whatever is left in the account can start retroactive payments. “You can’t fix what the Liberals did, but I think that’s a pretty good start,” he said. The third question of the evening was in regards to the rural health care crisis. Independent candidate Stephens said that mainstream parties were responsible for the current state of health care. Stephens said that foreign doctors should be fast-tracked and set up with incentives in rural communities. Mitchell boasted that nearly 5,500 new nurses were hired in Ontario in the Dalton McGuinty era, but said there is more work to do. Morley agreed that more work needs to be done, championing the new electronic medical recording system. Klopp pointed out that both the Liberals and Conservatives are moving towards the privatization of health care, which is something the NDP doesn’t want. Eventually, the question ofthe referendum came upregarding proportionalrepresentation, something that both the Liberals and the Conservatives are opposed to. Stephens, however, volunteered that there should be no parties in politics and that every candidate should be an independent. That way they can make their own decisions. PUBLIC QUESTION PERIOD The floor was then opened up to questions from the audience, although there was only time for two. The issue of the lack of ground moisture around the Maitland River, was raised. Morley said it is an issue that concerns everyone, but that his party had no official position on the matter. Klopp found this “outrageous”, saying that he doesn’t need his party to have a position on an issue for him to comment on it, especially something as important as this. Klopp voiced his concern on the matter and said that an issue like that isn’t necessarily “sexy” tospend money on in the media,but that the NDP would takeup that concern.Mitchell backed up the Liberals, who worked to get sourcewater protection into the province after the Walkerton inquiry. She said that when it came up in the House of Commons, the NDP and Conservatives were both opposed. Stephens commented that the only way this problem can be solved might possibly involve a rain dance, a sentiment that fellow independent candidate Valenta echoed minutes later. Joslin agreed, saying that while heat went up and water levels went down in the 1970s, the 1980s compensated and evened out. He said that he didn’t think there was sufficient evidence to support global warming, or the fact that it is man-made, drawing applause for his comments. Serda, however, took time in her closing remarks to refute this statement, citing scientific evidence and assuring the audience that Ontario is a large contributorto global warming and thatsomething needs to be donesoon.CLOSING REMARKS In his closing remarks, Valenta urged the audience to vote independent. “You look up here and you see seven candidates, seven choices right? You have two free-thinkers and five party people with scripted answers,” he said. Klopp said it’s time for a change, saying that he’s skeptical about trusting the Liberals, citing a lot of “fast and loose talk.” Klopp reassured the audience that he will fight for them, calling the NDP, “a strong voice.” Morley told people to expect straight talk from the Conservatives. He said he has spent his entire career in Huron County and that local politics are a passion of his, calling a vote for the Conservatives, “a clear choice.” Mitchell said that the Liberals have been moving forward for their whole term, “so let’s keep moving forward.” THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2007. PAGE 9. Candidates have their say at meeting Continued from page 1 opportunity further on Sept. 24, McClinchey has been spearheading the project himself, but has involved economic development officer Kerri Herrfort as well. “I see it as a point of economic development, because not only are people learning in Blyth, they may be staying here, or shopping on our main street. If you’re going to come here to learn, you’ll stop in to have supper as well, and in that sense, we all win,” McClinchey said. While the centre won’t be in Blyth overnight, McClinchey is currently talking to six or seven local organizations, like the Lake Huron Learning Collaborative, about a partnership that would strengthen the possibility of a centre in Blyth. “There are big things that we can do in North Huron. We have some immense opportunities in the community, so I think sometimes we do have to shoot for the stars and see where we land,” he said. McClinchey said there are over 1,200 programs from various colleges and universities completely available on-line now. Currently, establishments that are partnered up with the Bruce County Access Centre are Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Guelph, University of Waterloo and Lambton College to name a few. Information on the program can be found at www.ontariolearn.com and the Access Centre in Tiverton can be found at www.contactbrucecounty.ca Energy-efficient ideas bring home the savings OM OPA, Every Kilowatt Counts, and Ontario Power Authority are each official marks of the Ontario Power Authority Coin image ©2007 Royal Canadian Mint – All Rights Reserved Look for your coupon book in the mail. Packed with over $35 of savings, your Every Kilowatt Counts coupon book instantly saves you money on energy-efficient products—from lighting to devices that put you in control of your electricity use. Redeem at your nearest retailer by November 30th, and start saving while helping the environment too. By Shawn LoughlinThe Citizen Talks underway for centre