HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2019-10-17, Page 32Continued from page 26
should be a non-partisan issue. We
will move off fossil fuels, moving all
vehicles to zero-emission electric
vehicles by 2030 by which time we
would stop the sale of internal
combustion engines.
We would support farmers in
moving toward regenerative
farming, reducing their fertilizer use
to improve soil quality so that it can
hold carbon rather than emitting
carbon. We would set targets for
each part of the food system
including the transportation of food.
We would ensure a third of our food
would go to local, domestic use
which reduces the distance of
transport.
Our goal is to reach net-zero
carbon emissions by 2050 through
setting incremental targets (beyond
our 60 per cent reduction below
2005 levels by 2030) every five
years starting in 2025.
KK: We will end agreements with
the UN regarding climate change
including the Paris Accord, en-
couraging provinces and territories
to develop their own unique and
sensible plans to adapt to our ever-
changing climate. We have so many
great ideas and smart people across
Canada coming up with new greener
technologies and products every day.
The private sector needs to be
allowed to grow and prosper by
investing in new technology and
innovation without the subsidies
previously provided unknowingly by
taxpayers. We are a free open market
economy and if businesses want to
get ahead and grow, they need to
change with the times without
taxpayer handouts.
The lessons we learned and
fostered decades ago: the basic
understandings of reduce, reuse and
recycle should be brought back
home and developed here in Canada
even further, closing the loop
between the first conception of a
product and the eventual recycling
into raw materials to create the next
product.
• What do you feel is the most
urgent issue facing farming today
and what would your party do
about it if it formed government?
BL: The most urgent issues facing
farmers today are trade and labour
shortages. Canada currently has
trade issues with many countries
including China, India and the
United States. The Chinese
government has banned Canadian
canola, soy, beef and pork at a cost
to Canadian farmers of a billion
dollars. At the same time, the
renegotiated NAFTA (USMCA)
trade deal failed to significantly
expand market access to Canadian
agricultural producers while actively
harming our dairy sector.
We need to address the long-
standing labour shortages impacting
our agricultural and agri-food
industries. That means a focus on
economic stream immigration to
bring workers with skills we need to
Canada and it means ensuring that
newcomers are given the supports
like language training they need to
succeed when they come to Canada.
It means that rather than playing
auctioneer with immigration
numbers, we will set immigration
limits from year to year to serve
Canadians’ best interests.
It’s time to elect a government that
will actually stand up for Canada’s
farmers – not just pay them lip-
service.
AT: Agriculture is at the heart of
the Huron-Bruce economy. The
Liberal government protected our
supply management system. And to
ensure that farmers have access to
the help they need when they need it,
we will move forward with a
collaborative review of Canada’s
business risk management programs,
with a special focus on Agri-
Stability.
We’re prepared to increase federal
support to farmers to help them
manage risks beyond their control.
We’ll also continue to work with
farmers on tax measures to facilitate
the intergenerational transfer of
family farms. Canada is fortunate to
have a vibrant and strong agriculture
sector; a sector that contributes
greatly to our economy and supports
thousands of jobs across the country.
When we invest in this sector, it
reaps benefits not only for the
region, but for all Canadians. Recent
trade deals, including CETA, CPTPP
and CUSMA, present challenges for
farmers in supply managed sectors.
To date we have concluded
arrangements with dairy producers
and processors with respect to
CETA, and have recently announced
supports for dairy farmers relating to
CPTPP. We will move forward to
finish this work for all supply
managed sectors, including
processors, so they receive full and
fair support. As CUSMA is ratified,
we will take the same approach.
TM: Farming can become part of
the solution to climate change while
building resilience to the challenges
that it will pose for farmers. We need
to bring in the next generation of
farmers so that we have people
invested in caring for the land.
We have a plan for a Canadian
Food Strategy that will invest in
agricultural communities and
support young farmers and
succession planning while ending
the unfair tax treatment on family
farm transfers. Soil is the place
where the challenge and opportunity
of climate change meets farmers.
Estimates are that 82 per cent of
Ontario soils are losing CO2 to the
atmosphere rather than sequestering
it as soil organic matter and 68 per
cent of our farmland is at an
unsustainable risk of soil erosion.
Agriculture can sequester carbon
but only if we manage our farms to
increase soil organic matter. This is a
win/win/win proposition. As soils
increase in organic matter their
ability to absorb and hold water
dramatically increases. A one per
cent increase in soil organic matter
can hold 20,000 more gallons of
water and improves water
infiltration. This means increasing
soil organic matter makes farmland
more resilient in the face of both
flooding and drought. It also means
increased soil organic matter holds
more water in the landscape
reducing flooding risk in those
watersheds. That organic matter
increase in the soil is CO2 removed
from the atmosphere. We need a
national Regenerative Farm Plan
helping farmers develop plans
specific to their farm for increasing
soil organic matter and biodiversity.
NW: The climate is a growing
concern, at least in certain areas of
farming.
Instability in weather patterns
would first be noticed by farmers
most likely, because droughts or
more extreme precipitation is going
to affect their crops.
We have a comprehensive plan to
tackle climate change that involves
supporting farmers in the transition
to a cleaner economy.
KK: Capital expenditures are a
key driver of productivity and when
manufacturers invest in new
equipment and machinery,
manufacturers can produce more
output per hour, improve product
quality and increase efficiency at all
levels. It contributes to a greener
economy, using less energy and
resources to produce more. An
investment in productive capacity is
the best way to help both our
economy and the environment.
Accelerated Capital Cost
Allowance has the effect of boosting
investment by allowing for a faster
write-off and cost recovery. Instead
of writing off an investment over 15
years we want to reduce this to a
period of only three years. This has a
positive affect on the company’s
cash flow. The government loses
corporate tax revenues in the short-
term, but increased productivity and
profitability brings in more revenue
in the longer term.
There is no clear reason to restrict
this measure to manufacturing and
green energy equipment. Investment
should be encouraged in all sectors
of our economy and the measure
should be made permanent.
Investment in oil and gas,
telecommunications, fisheries,
agriculture or any sector that
provides value-adding jobs to
Canadians would benefit from this
plan.
• What do you feel is the most
glaring concern in Huron-Bruce
specifically and how would you
bring the concerns of your riding
to Ottawa?
BL: In the past four years,
affordability has become the most
pressing issue for residents in
Huron-Bruce.
That’s why a Conservative
government will be focused on
making life more affordable. We’re
going to cut the income tax rate for
all Canadians. We’re going to take
the GST off home heating and
energy bills. We’re going to
eliminate the carbon tax to reduce
the price of fuel. We’re going to raise
the age credit for seniors. We will
make it easier for first time home
buyers to achieve their dreams of
home ownership.
AT: Huron-Bruce needs to be
heard and needs an MP who can be a
stronger voice in Ottawa. And to be
heard in Ottawa, you have to listen
in Huron-Bruce. What I’ve been
hearing on doorsteps is that people
are concerned about affordability
and the cost of living; they are
worried about climate change and
what it means for future generations
and also don’t like the cuts to
healthcare, education and the
environment that they’ve seen from
the Doug Ford Conservative
government.
Many people are also tired of the
sense that all the decisions are made
by people who live in the city. They
want more attention to those who
live in small towns, on country roads
and farms. People also tell me
they’re tired of mudslinging and
negative politics and want
candidates to put forward their
PAGE 32. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019.
Livable planet shouldn’t be partisan says Wendler
Decision time
On Oct. 21, Canadians will choose their next Prime Minister. With five local candidates vying
for the title of Huron-Bruce MP, there are a number of important issues that need to be
discussed. From left: Conservative Ben Lobb, Tony McQuail of the NDP, Liberal Allan
Thompson and Nicholas Wendler of the Green Party. Absent was Kevin Klerks of the People’s
Party of Canada. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
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Brussels Santa
Claus Parade
Don’t Drink
& Drive
Town Hall Public Meeting
Reeve Bailey and Council invite constituents of the
Township of North Huron to a Town Hall public
meeting to provide their comments and input to
Council. The details are as follows:
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Location: Blyth Memorial Hall
431 Queen Street, Blyth
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