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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-12-22, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2005. Agriculture top issue for MP candidates By Heather Crawford Citizen staff The all-candidates meeting scheduled in Holmesville Dec. 15 was stormed out and has been rescheduled for Jan. 13. However, the candidates commented on several issues giving readers something to ponder over Christmas. Agriculture seems to be at the top of the list for candidates running for Huron-Bruce MP. “This is an agricultural area and farmers have been in trouble with beef prices dropping and the prices in grains and oils,” current MP Paul Steckle said. “I think agriculture is something that affects all of MP PAUL Huron-Bruce.” STECKLE NDP candidate Liberal Grant Robertson agreed. “I don’t think there is a single overriding issue as being the most important [to people in Huron-Bruce]. I think people are looking at accountability with their government, healthcare and farming are certainly important.” Robertson put forward a proposal for a Family Farm Act which would “help foster a discussion that focuses on developing a national-provincial strategy to get at the root causes of the farm income crisis.” The plan would ensure that any program developed at the federal level would pay out the largest share to family farmers, not foreign shareholders of multi-national companies. For Christian Heritage Party candidate David Joslin, the most important issues for people in Huron- Bruce are the same issues for all of Iraq. I don’t always agree with my party but I am free to speak against my leader when I don’t agree,” he said. Regarding Stephen Harper’s proposal to cut the GST from seven to five per cent if elected, Steckle was doubtful. “I saw a (Conservative) sign the other day that said expect the GST to be cut to six per cent on Jan. 24. That is an absolute lie,” he said. “Tax cuts apply to the wrong sector. We are interested in helping lower to middle­ income families.” Lobb said cutting the GST to five per cent is a five year plan. “We would immediately cut the GST to six per cent,” he said. “Then after four years cut it down to five per cent. The idea behind it is not to add any more administration. It’s a nice tax cut for lower income people.” When it comes to Stephen Harper’s proposal to pay parents who stay at home with their children, Steckle is puzzled. “That is hardly a responsible way of spending money,” he said. “Gi /ing [parents] $25 a week doesn’t cut it. There is no guarantee the child will get a cent. People want something they can depend on. How can you justify $125 a week?’’ He said the Liberals have a plan for a national daycare program. “How can there be a plan [for daycare] from a party that didn’t have much to say or do about it before?” he asked of the Conservatives. Robertson said the biggest export in Huron-Bruce is youth. “[The NDP] have pulled $1.6 billion [from the Liberal minority government] to be put into lower tuition and [more] training. Anyone who wants support for education should be able to have it,” he said. “I think this is especially important in the rural areas and communities. There should be a focus on good quality childcare,” he said. “What the Conservative GRANT ROBERTSON NDP party is proposing doesn’t create a single daycare. The NDP have a step by step practical plan for childcare.” Joslin said the CHP is prepared to offer families where one parent stays at home, a $ 1,000 a month tax break, would parents money that we don’t think will spend on ‘beer and popcorn’ like the Liberals say and it would free up 1.5 million jobs, many of them entry level, would be “This give more available for students,” he said. The sponsorship scandal will be the downfall of the Liberal government according to Joslin. “The Liberals stand to lose every MP west of the Ontario border,” he said. “Sadly, people in Ontario don’t care. Until they do, there will be a minority government and elections every year.” “[Canadians] are going to be looking for change,” Lobb said, regarding the sponsorship scandal. “There are a lot of votes that won’t be cast for the Liberals because of that. The people in this area are salt-of-the- earth people and they will not tolerate that.” Steckle said he is aware that the Liberal government unwisely spent “a whole bunch of money. More money was spent in the investigation than was lost in the first place,” he said. Joslin added that many Albertans are unhappy enough to want to separate. “Sixty per cent of Albertans want to separate from Canada and join the U.S.,” he said. “I’m not worried about Quebec separating. I think they just use it as blackmail to get grants and subsidies out of the federal government. Quebec is a basketcase economically. Alberta is not a basketcase however.” All candidates agree that politics is a place most people look at cynically. “I think it’s easy to be cynical about politicians,” Robertson said. “I’m a person of high integrity and I hope people see that, but I can only be who I am.” “I think Stephen Harper has led the Continued on page 13 DAVE JOSLIN CHP Everything’s pointing to a great season, but it just wouldn’t be Christmas if we didn’t get the chance to express our gratitude to all of our patrons and friends. Merry Christmas and sincere thanks from all of us. Blyth General Store Blyth 523-9785 Canada, “and that’s the concentration of power with the PM and judicial activism,” he said. Joslin’s top priority is to make an elected senate, privatize crown corporations and elect top judges in Canada as well. “Or at the very least, they should be subjected to judicial review,” he said. Conservative candidate Ben Lobb said agriculture is a main issue in this area but accountability is the most important issue facing residents. “I think the Member of Parliament for Huron-Bruce has to be responsible BEN LOBB for what he says Conservative or ^oes anc* a'so is accountable for the party. I knocked on 2,200 doors,” he said. “And the people I talked to >aid they want a party to follow ihroughr and deliver. The Member of Parliament has to be on the same page as the constituents and to have an effect in caucus in Ottawa.” » Joslin gave a long list of changes to make. “First of all, we would work to ensure that euthanasia is never [legalized]. You cannot legislate against human selfishness. We would reinstate capital punishment, end all funding for abortion, scrap bill C-68 (regarding gun registry)...not a lot of people know that the government has the ability to ban all firearms without reason [right now],” he said. On top of this agenda, Joslin said the CHP would seek to reduce taxes. Steckle is relying on his party’s record over the past 12 years to prove why the Liberals should be re-elected. “Canada needs to stand up for who we are. We have a great deal to offer. We didn’t send our sons and daughters to Seated(L to R): Joe Steffler, Deputy Mayor Bernie MacLellan, Mayor Joe Seili, Sharon McClure, Alvin McLellan Standing(L to R): David Blaney, Larry McGrath, Frank Stretton, Mark Beaven, Bill Dejong, Fergus Kelly, Lou Maloney from the council and staff of Municipality of Huron East