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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2019-10-17, Page 9THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019. PAGE 9. Continued from page 1 Huron-Bruce and bring their concerns to Ottawa, using every tool he has to represent the riding. PREPARED QUESTIONS The federation prepared a number of questions for the candidates and the first one was on international trade wars that have been hurting farmers. Thompson said that as Canada has lost markets to trade wars initiated for political reasons, the country is being “Trumped” and needs to be creative in finding new markets. He added, however, that Canada is in a uniquely advantageous position as the only G7 country with open trade avenues with all other G7 countries, meaning Canada could expand its trade with Europe and Asia to make up for losses in trade with China. Wendler said the Green Party would replace one third of Canada’s food imports with domestic production to ensure sustainability in the country and reduce reliance on trade and inject $15 billion back into the Canadian economy as a result. McQuail said the NDP would focus its attention on fair trade and not free trade and defend Canadian agriculture from unfair political trade retaliation. Lobb lamented that Canada’s problems with China are linked to “one person in B.C.” (the detained Chief Financial Officer of Huawei, Meng Wanzhou, who Canada arrested at the behest of the U.S.) and it has cost the country greatly. Looking to India, he said, could be the future for Canadian farmers. The candidates next tackled illegal trespassing on farms. Thompson said that because trespassing is already illegal, it would be about enforcing existing laws, but very often farm trespassing is malicious in nature, Thompson said, which is where a public education campaign would be helpful. Teaching urban dwellers and others who are skeptical about what truly goes on at a modern Canadian farm should work to alleviate some concerns of groups working to trespass on farms for animal rights. McQuail agreed with Thompson, saying there are laws in place against trespassing and breaking and entering, all of which should be enforced to the full extent of the law. Crafting a special law for farm trespassing, however, he felt might attract more attention to the issue, which would work against what farmers are trying to accomplish. Lobb suggested working closely with the OPP on the issue, adding that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has a role to play in public education as well. He said there are no issues in Huron County with local farm practices, but that laws needed to be in place to protect farmers. The candidates also discussed the expansion of broadband internet through rural Ontario, with the candidates agreeing it was needed to keep rural Ontario competitive in today’s business market. Wendler suggested working with local banks and post offices to provide broadband internet to those who don’t have access. Thompson said local communities need access to fast, reliable internet in order to stay competitive. A Liberal government has a goal of bringing broadband internet to 95 per cent of the country by 2026. Lobb pointed to the South West Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) project as a success story for rural internet, especially while involving the local telecomm- unications companies. In many ways, he said, government needs to “get out of the way” of these companies and let them do their work, while helping with funding. When it comes to farmers reducing their environmental foot- print while not compromising profit, Lobb said the government needed to work with property owners. McQuail said, especially as someone who worked to develop the Environmental Farm Plan years ago, that the world of agriculture can be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem. Thompson agreed with McQuail, saying that farmers are, in many cases, closer to the land than many of those living in cities. They see the effects of climate change before many others and farmers have always been innovators, he said. The federation asked candidates how they would ensure residents’ voices are being heard in Ottawa. Thompson said taking the concerns of constituents to Ottawa is the most important job an MP has. During his campaign, Thompson has been visiting small towns and hamlets and knocking on doors of people who haven’t seen a candidate in years. Through that process, Thompson said he learned a lot about people and their concerns. He also said it’s crucial for rural MPs like whoever wins the Huron- Bruce riding to remind Ottawa that 20 per cent of Canadians live in rural communities like Huron and Bruce Counties and their needs and opinions matter. McQuail said that while an MP can listen to all constituents’ concerns, he can’t necessarily bring them all to Ottawa, saying that an MP can’t vote both yes and no on an issue on which his residents are split, but that listening is the key. He also took that opportunity to advocate for proportional representation, a drum the NDP has been beating for some time, ensuring that every Canadian vote cast will be represented in the House of Commons. Lobb said every one of the candidates would bring residents’ concerns forward, but that each would have his own style. He insisted that he is not a partisan person and has forged relationships with colleagues from all parties, which is crucial to getting anything done in Ottawa. When asked about the biggest issue facing Canadian agriculture, Thompson said the sector’s story needs to be told to the rest of the country. Lobb said the issues would really depend on each sector, but he said that consistent issues across the industry would really be trade and the labour shortage. In regards to the implementation of a risk management program, Lobb said he has yet to attend an all- candidates meeting hosted by the federation at which the program hadn’t been discussed. Due to trade wars, Lobb said the U.S. is actively compensating farmers and suggested Canada should look at a similar program. McQuail said the use of oil has changed farming and that calories put in for calories put out have changed drastically in the face of modern farming, so there is an onus on farmers to monitor their own levels of risk, a stance he acknowledged wouldn’t win him any popularity contests that night. Thompson said the Liberals wanted to revisit the business risk management program, which underwent major cuts in 2013, saying that a risk management program is addressed extensively in the rural section of the party’s platform. FLOOR QUESTIONS One of the few questions from the floor considered leadership, asking the candidates to address their party’s leader and why he/she would make a good Prime Minister. McQuail said Jagmeet Singh is young and has a great sense of humour, which is how he would address leading the nation, while Wendler said Elizabeth May is hard- working and was recently recognized in a poll as the most ethical party leader in Canada. Thompson said he has seen Justin Trudeau interact with Canadians in person and he’s the type of person who looks people in the eye and listens to them. He has also put together a great team that has worked on the international stage to represent Canada and its numerous interests. Lobb said Andrew Scheer would Candidates tackle trade, trespassing at fed. meeting The campaign trail With just days until the Oct. 21 federal election, four of the five Huron-Bruce candidates were in Holmesville last week to discuss many of the issues facing farmers today, including escalating trade wars, animal rights trespassers and the availability of reliable, high-speed internet. From left: Conservative Ben Lobb, Tony McQuail of the NDP, Liberal Allan Thompson and Nicholas Wendler of the Green Party. Kevin Klerks of the People’s Party of Canada was not in attendance for the meeting. (Shawn Loughlin photo) Thank You from Central Huron Secondary School to all our commencement and undergraduate award donors. No one questions the value of post-secondary education. Yet, sometimes the frightening cost of continued formal education can force many worthy students to pause. The obvious generosity of the individuals and businesses below is proof of our community's desire to support the enduring intellectual growth of its young people. The Central Huron Secondary School community wishes to thank each of you for your generous support, ensuring that "potential and opportunity" are realized for each of our graduates. Alzheimers Society Bartliff’s Bakery B.M Ross and Associates B&M Fine Furniture Bayfield Optimist Club Brenda Wright Britannia Masonic Lodge #170 Bruce Power Canadian Parents for French Central Huron Secondary School Student Council Clinton Badminton Club Clinton Dental Clinic Clinton & District Kinsmen Club Clinton Family Physicians' Clinton Kinettes Clinton Lion's Club Clinton News Record Clinton Public Hospital Auxillary Clinton Optimist Club Cooper Standard Automotive Crimes Stoppers Delta Mu Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Devereaux Murray Law District 8 - OSSTF Dungannon Super Pull Dr. Carolyn J. Wood Excalibur Insurance Group/South Easthope Mutual The family of Al Jewson The family of Bethany Blanchard The family of Bill Fleming The family of Bill Gerth The family of Bill Pinder The family of Brian Hill The family of E.A. Fines The family of EB Menzies The family of Earl Ralph Switzer The family of Edmund Daly The family of Elizabeth Scott The family of George Jefferson The family of Haugh-McNaughton The family of Dr. Grant Lee The family of Jack Riddell The family of Janet and Margreta Snell The family of Jean McEwen The family of Jean Hildebrand The family of Jeanne Saldivar The family of Judge and Mrs. Frank Fingland The family of Kathleen Stapleton The family of Lorne Brown The family of Mackenzie Fisher The family of Mary Anne Smith The family of Mary Elizabeth Jackson (Hinton) The family of Neil Atchison The family of Norma Jeffrey The family of Norman Parks The family of Pamela King The family of Ruby Haddy The family of Sir Ernest Cooper The family of Susan and Bertha Ross The family of Tanner Steffler The family of W.D. Fair Father Nagle Council 5420 Knights of Columbus Hay Mutual Ins. Co. in memory of John Consitt Huron Expositor Huron Federation of Agriculture Huron Perth Association of Realtors Huron Tire and Auto Lavis Contracting The Leeming family Linda Doig The MacKay family Marklevitz Architects Inc McCall MacBain Foundation Morgan Roofing Contractors The Municipality of Central Huron Murphy Bus Lines Nutritional Management Services Optimal Health Orr Insurance - Seaforth Radar Auto Parts Ltd. The Robinson family Royal Bank of Canada The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 140, Clinton The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 156, Seaforth Schulich School of Leadership Seaforth Animal Hospital Seaforth Automotive & Industrial Supply Seaforth B.I.A. Seaforth Community Hospital Auxiliary Seaforth Lion's Club Sun North Systems TD Canada Trust The Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians & Technologists The Ontario Association of Cooperative Education Teachers The Ontario Principals Council The Teachers of Central Huron Secondary School The Teachers Festival Liaison Usborne & Hibbert Mutual Fire Insurance Company Ward Hodgins West Wawanosh Mutual Insurance Company If you, or your business, or your service club would like to sponsor a future award at the CHSS commencement or undergraduate award assembly, please feel free to contact the school administration or guidance office. Continued on page 10