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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2006-01-19, Page 20Looking for local heroes There are so many people out there who do so much to improve their community. Now you have a chance to say thanks. Nominate that special person for the 21st Annual Citizen Citizenship Awards. Each year a committee chooses an outstanding citizen from each of the Blyth and area and Brussels and area communities to receive an award for contribution to the community. If you know someone you think should be honoured, please fill in the ballot and send it in. You may attach a longer explanation of why you think your nominee should win, if you like. If you have nominated someone before and he or she didn't win, please feel free to try again. I nominate 1::11 Brussels & area I feel she/he deserves this award because Nomination Deadline April 28, 2006. Name and phone number of nominator q Blyth & area as Citizen of the year for All-candidates debate All six candidates running for MP in the upcoming election had the opportunity to give their opinions on a number of issues as well as hear from residents in their riding at a debate held at the Goderich Twp. Hall in Holmesville on Friday, Jan. 13. From left: Dave Joslin, Christian Heritage Party; Paul Steckle, Liberal Party; Ben Lobb, Conservative Party; Victoria Serda, Green Party; Grant Robertson, NDP; and Dennis Valenta, Independent. (Heather Crawford photo) . PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY , JANUARY 19, 2006. Farmers bring questions to all-candidates At the all-candidates meeting on Friday, Jan. 13 at Goderich Twp. Hall in Holmesville each candidate had the opportunity to respond to questions from the floor as well as prepared questions from the host. The six candidates for Huron- Bruce are Paul Steckle from the Liberal Party, Ben Lobb from the Conservative Party, Victoria Serda from the Green Party, Grant Robertson from the NDP, Dennis Valenta, an Independent and Dave Joslin from the Christian Heritage Party. How would you address trade for farmers at the World Trade Organization? Steckle: Supply management works. Simply increasing the volume of trade does not put more money in the farmers' pockets. Lobb: We need to support the interests of our supply managers and have the best negotiators for our team Canada. Serda: I think supply management should be expanded td all other sectors and we should have the consultations of farmers. - Robertson: Risk management is so important because then we can make sure that those who are in the supply management sectors have the kind of stabilization that they need. Valenta: There's no reason why we can't keep the jobs here in Canada. There's not enough processing plants to deal with what we raise. Joslin: We should be aggressive in pursuing our policies. This is something farmers are going to have io settle for themselves. Can we find a unified front and present that at the WTO talks? If elected, what would you do to change bad agricultural policy? Steckle: Government and farm leaders are working together on an on-going basis. One of these days. we are going to get it right. There's an urgency now and we know that. Lobb: .The Conservative Party would scrap"CAIS. We would take the things that did work and add it back to our program. Serda: We are a party that believes in consensus. We would try to get the opinions of the people, whom 'these issues matterto the most. Robertson: I went out to talk to the farmers to see how the risk- management program can get into place. I asked what I can do to help. We need to reinvigorate CAIS and get rid of this one-size-fits-all approach. Valenta: I think I would just apply the same process that the MPs used to get themselves a raise. Joslin: We need to downsize the size of the federal government. Hew would you ensure corn producers don't have to launch a countervail action by themselves? Steckle: If we can find the money for risk-management then the farmers won't ask for a countervail. Lobb: We need to develop a program that works for farmers. The Liberal Party waits until it's close to an election before taking action. Serda: We have to make sure that farmers get what they deserve. Robertson: We need to have leadership in Ottawa. We have to make sure that we don't wait until the boiling point before we act. Valenta: I have the backbone to go to Ottawa and stand up against the bureaucrats. Joslin: We need emergency funding. The Liberal Party is not concerned with rural farmers. How do you feel about green house gas emissions and global warming? Steckle: Each one of us will have to make a contribution to clean up our environment. We go down our own roadside and see the kind of garbage we see, I think that's a good place to start. Lobb: The Conservative Party is going. to develop a clean air act that will aid in the reduction of smog causing pollutants. Serda: It really is a reality. If the Kyoto Accord is dealt with properly, more jobs would be created. ' Robertson: Home heating is one of the biggest contributors to global warming. Here is a solution that is not only good for the environment but also' for the pocketbook. The NDP has a program that will allow you to bring down the cost of your heating bill. Valenta: I kind of question global warming When I was in public school they talked about the Ice Age coming so I don't know whether we're coming or going here. Joslin: Anybody who thinks tows are contributing to greenhouse gas should consider, what did we do when there were five million bison running around North America? Do you endorse the risk- Management program and when would you be able to implement it, if elected? Steckle: I do endorse the risk- management program and I would bring it in as soon as possible. Lobb: It took seven months for the Liberals to look at it again after it was presented. We need to address the market revenue and bring a new program in. Serda: I think it should be implemented as soon as possible. Robertson: Risk-management is a moving tirget right now. The Conservatives have not endorsed it. We have to work with the farmers to find what they want and-implement it as soon as possible. Valenta: I think you have to look at things from different angles. I can see that this is something you farmers want and I'm there for you. Joslin: I haven't read the plan well enough to be able to comment. I think it's irresponsible to say that there will be a particular date when this will be implemented. How would you help relations between the federal and provincial governments improve? Steckle: I don't think keeping good provincial and federal relations is simple. I think the relationship with the provinces is good and is not a simple situation. Lobb: We need to keep it simple. We need good leadership and effective communication and to have some give and take. Serda: We need to keep the lines of communication open with the provinces. Robertson: Provinces need flexibility. We need to work together on federal and provincial strategy for agriculture. Valenta: We can't go around pointing fingers. If they point a finger at me I will break it off and point it right back at them. Joslin: We need good leaderShip and a government that has a head for business. What will the future be like for young farmers? Steckle: Things are not good out there for agriculture unless you have a family member who can help you get into farming. We can't be putting money into something that can't make money. Lobb: We have to listen to the farmers and the Conservative Party can make the programs work. Serda: Older farmers could take on younger people as an apprenticeship. Robertson: We have to get serious about caps. There are too many of us working off the farm. Valenta: I would definitely support taking the money that was wasted on the ad scam and putting that towards farmers. Joslin: Things do not look good in the immediate future for farming. We need to focus on bringing in jobs to Huron-Bruce so that our youhg people aren't leaving. How would you address the concerns of Canada's livestock industry with regards to foreign animal disease preparedness? Steckle:We have taken some major steps in B.C. a couple of years ago with regards to avian flu. We put a response team at the location ' immediately. Lobb: The Conservative Party recently announced a $425 million investment to the OACD healthy country. This is what is used to help developing foreign nations to implement better safety restrictions. Serda: The Green Party's policy on disease control is mainly to lessen the imports. Robertson: Nature is a pretty tricky bugger and that is why we have to have Canada ready if these things happen. That's why one of the approaches we have taken is making sure that CEFA has the kind .of funding it needs. Valenta: I believe in being proactive and -having proactive policies based on sound advice. A lot of what happens with beef has been reactionary and that means bad policy because you don't have time to think it out. Joslin: Wilbur Bowman of Alberta Beef magazine suggested - that we learnedvery little from the European and Japanese experience. We should have initiated every cow testing. If elected how many dollars would your party put in to pay down Canada's $480 billion debt? Steckle: The Liberal Party has paid off $70 billion and has had a balanced budget. I'm proud of our record. Lobb: We're going to pay down $3 billion annually with the debt. Serda: no comment Robertson: We need a payment schedule to bring it dovn but we also have to invest in our schools and our communities. You can't worry about paying off the mortgage when the roof's falling in. Valenta:I can't tell -you now. I have to wait until I get to Ottawa. Joslin: We need to pay it off like a mortgage, but how long would it take you- to pay down the debt at $3 billion a year?