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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-11-16, Page 5The candidates - the issues KEN DUNLOP Liberal Party Candidate QUESTIONS: Polls show that Canadians seem increasingly worried about the Free Trade Agreement. How do you see the agreement affecting the people of the Huron-Bruce Riding? What do you think the effect will be on Canada as a whole? Murray Cardiff The agreement assures the people of Huron Bruce continued access to our established markets and pro­ vides new opportunities to expand our markets. It also offers our nation a more secure trade relationship with the United States. The effect on Canada will be an enhanced ecnomy, which enables us to maintain our social programs and support to agriculture. A strong growing economy brings with it new investmentand increased job oppor­ tunity. The net effect for Canada will be very positive. Tom Clark The Christian Heritage Party is, in principle, in favour of free trade but we have some real concerns about the current legislation and we are at the present time studying it piece by piece. One of my advisers has mentioned that free trade as it applies to banking is bad news for Canadians. We are looking at it and have real concerns about this free trade agreement that has been drawn up by the Conservative government. But we are in favour of a freer trading agreement with the Americans. Approximately 77 per cent of our trade with the Americans is free now so we’re only talking about approximately 23 per cent. Whether we can get into a whole free trade agreement or whether we’ll have to remain protectionists in some of our areas remains to be seen but we would definitely want some changes in the Free Trade Agree­ ment as it now stands, especially as it applies to banking. Ken Dunlop The Free Trade Agreement will hurt the riding of Huron, particularly agriculture. As the agreement takes effect over five to 10 years it will have an especially hard effect on supply managed commodities. If the dollar goes up, it will have an effect on red meat producers, and even grains people because it will take away one of the competitive advantages. If I was a farmer I’d be very concerned about this agreement and in a rural area, if farmers aren’t making money the rest of the community isn't making money. Ona national scope small industry is very much at risk depending on the strength of the dollar. If the dollar rises, and most analyists believe it will, it will put a lot of our small manufacturers at risk. I’d be afraid of small industry moving to the U.S. as the dollar rises. The fact we have had to guarantee a set amount of our energy to the U.S. is a worry, because we already had free trade in energy. This was really a throw-in and 1 think it's what the Americans were holding out for. I think it’s why Simon Reisman left the trade talks and what Michael Wilson came in to sign the agreement for. Tony McQuaii The workers at the Fleck Manu­ facturing plant in Huron Park know what Free Trade will mean for workers in Huron-Bruce. Their jobs were moved to the Mexican-U.S. free trade zone. Family Farmers will be told that if they want to sell their products they better be willing to work for the level of wages that illegal Mexican immigrants will work for in U.S. agribusiness. The Mulroney trade deal will put more power in the hands of international big business and take it away from Canadians. Overtime it will turn Canada into a resource colony of the United States. Ed Broadbent and the New Democratic Party have consistently opposed the deal. TOM CLARK Christian Heritage Party Candidate Environmental concerns are high on the list of issues for most Canadians. What specific policies would you as a candidate support to improve the environment? Tom Clark As a Christian Heritage Party we believe that Christians have a responsibility to God to protect the environment. God gave this earth to human beings to be good stewa rds of the environment and we are quite concerned about the acid rain problem. As a Christian Heritage party we would have a strong environmental program for the Canadian electorate. Ken Dunlop Canadians have now woken up to the fact that the environment is being threatened. I would hope that a Liberal government, indeed any government, would put environ­ mental issues high on the agenda. BulwithFreeTradetheremaybe putting tougher environment con­ trols in place. Tony McQuaii My concern for the environment goes back to my youth growing up in the country. My degree in Environ­ mental Studies where 1 majored in energy and agricultural issues has been helpful in understanding the choices we face. The New Democra­ tic Party would bring in a special tax on toxic chemicals which would go intoan environmental cleanup fund. This would both generate funds for environmental cleanup and ensure that the cost of cleaning up toxic chemicals is reflected in the price of products containing them. We believe in working with the provinces and municipalities to upgrade our sewage handling and treatment facilities to reduce water pollution. We are committed to VIGOROUS pursuit of a treaty on acid rain with the U.S. We need federal standards for packaging and containers which will encourage the use of reuseable and recyclable containers and discour­ age over packaging. We need to actively promote energy conserva­ tion and efficiency in the Canadian economy to reduce the environmen­ tal damage caused by energy production and use. In the long run an environmentally sustainable economy is the only economy that will survive. If our economy destroys our environment, our families and our communities will be the big losers. The environmental issue is a global issue and we must work with other nations to ensure an adequate sharing of the earth’s resources with our brothers and sisters in the third world. If we don’t they may destroy the tropical rainforest in their scramble to survive and we will pay a price in climate change and drought. Murray Cardiff In the past four years the government has brought forward many major environmental protec­ tion measures among which are the elimination of lead from gasoline by theyear 1990, andsupportforthe production and use of ethanol as a fuel additive. We will continue to work towards securing an agree­ ment with,the United States as well as the Canadian provinces such that legislation will be drafted to ensure the lowering of those pollutants which give rise to acid rain. In addition we will ensure that Environ­ ment Canada will continue to receive the funding necessary to carry forward essential environmental programs which preserve our pre­ cious environment. Should there be a new abortion law? If so, how should the issue be dealt with, as a party policy or as a matter of principle by individual M.P.s? If there were a free vote, on legalizing abortion, which way would you vote? Ken Dunlop There should be a new abortion law. It’s too bad the old law was struck down by courts. I believe all votes should be free votes where the Member of Parliament votes by his conscience although I know there are times you have to follow party policy. I would support no abortions except those where the health of the mother is endangered or where incest or rape are involved or in a couple of other incidences. Tony McQuaii I believe that even- child desenes asecureandlovinghome.Idonot believe that recriminalizing abortion will achieve this goal or solve the problem of abortion in our society. I believe the decision to become a mother is the responsibility of the woman. There is a wide range of religious and ethical positions on abortion. Freedom of religion in a democratic society requires not only the freedom to exercise one’s own religious beliefs but to allow others the same freedom of conscience. If we would allow MP’s a free vote in the Parliament we should allow women a free vote in their lives. If we are to reduce the number of abortions in our society we need to address the causes of unwanted pregnancy. Women are frequently the victims of sexual pressure, exploitation and violence. We must do a better job of empowering women so that they can protect themselves from sexual coercion and violence. We need to do a better job of sexual education so that women who do not wish to be pregnant have the knowledge and skills to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. We must also recognize the significant responsi­ bility that men have for unwanted pregnancy. At the same time, we favour measures that would help reduce abortions by enhancing the support currently available to families and children. A woman who decides to bearachildshouldbeable to look forward to quality child care arrangements, secure employment, affordable housing, safe neighbour­ hoods for herself and her child. Currently many of these needs are unmet, not least because successive Conservative and Liberal govern­ ments have refused to budget for them or to provide assistance to families. As well, families should be able to receive family counselling services, information on family planning and birth control and other services that would help them avoid unwanted pregnancy. Again, these services have been cut by the current government. New Democrats want to work toward the day when every child in Canada isawantedchild, achild whose family can look forward to a secure future filled with opportuni­ ties to grow, learn, work and prosper. Murray Cardiff I believe there should be a new abortion law. This issue should be dealt with by the individual Mem­ bers of Parliament. The law in respect to abortion was struck down TONY McQUAIL NDP Candidate MURRAY CARDIFF Progressive Conservative Candidate by the Supreme Court in January 1988 with the effect that there is currently no law in place. 1 am not in favour of a law that legalizes abortion. Tom Clark Definitely there should be a law. Eight thousand abortions a year is proof enough that we need tough abortion legislation in this country. In the abortion legislation that was put forth by the Conservative government in the last house, each one of the three options amounted to abortion on demand and we as a Christian Heritage Party believe that is totally unacceptable. We need a tough new abortion law and, at the same time we need abortion outlawed, we need laws bringing back capital punishment because it’s my feeling we have to put teeth back into the law orwe’ll have the same thing we had with (Dr. Henry) Morgentaler down in Toronto where he just defied the law and carried on with his murdering of the unborn, and even got protection from the law to do his illegal abortions, abortions. I will be proposing private mem­ bers legislation if elected to Ottawa to stop the slaughter of the unborn. Wc have a totally unacceptable situation. We have a government that has the audacity to condemn South Africa for apartheid (and we are against apartheid) but at the same time allowing its citizens tocommit genocide by killing 80,000 unborn citizens a year. This is nothing short of hypocrisy. The second step of the government’s tax reform program appears likely to he a value-added tax.Ifsuchatax comes In, should it be on all products, or should exemptions be allowed as with the current federal sales tax? If exemptions are allowed what are some of the things you ’d see as exempt? Tony McQuaii Ed Broadbent and the New Democratic Party want a tax system that is fair and understandable. We oppose the hidden taxes such as the value-added tax because it is one more tax that hits the middle and lower income earner hardest. It is totally unfair that my daughter pays more sales tax on an ice cream come than 60,000 profit­ able corporations which avoid pay­ ing any tax. We believe the tax system must be overhauled to provide Fairness for the average Continued on page 8