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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 1999-06-02, Page 1414-TIIE HURON EXPOSITOR, Jun* 2, 1999 Meet the candidates of the June 3 provincial election Tomes will be cut again, incumbent Helen Johns says Helen Johns, 46, the incumbent Huron -Bruce MPP says the Progressive. Conservative Party has a balanced plan for strengthening the economy, creating more jobs and making Ontario a better place ,in which to live.' "The debate is over - tax cuts create jobs. The Conservatives cut taxes 69' • times and a record 540,000 jobs were created in Ontario. Ontario has led the way and others are now following Mike Harris' leadership by cutting taxes to boost their economies." Johns promises her party will cut taxes again, putting more money back in people's pockets and stimulating' more job creation. Both the provincial income tax rate and the provincial portion of residential property taxes will be cut by 20 percent, she said., Johns say& Ontario's deficit was $11.3 billion when the party took office in 1995. "Although it wasn't easy, the deficit is now on track to zero. The Conservatives will continue to make the tough decisions to balance the budget next .year, as premised." Voters must make 'sure . that future governments don't squander that progress by running another deficit. Johns says. The party's Balanced Budget Act will require all Ontario governments to keep the budget in • balance If they fail, the premier and all cabinet ministers will have their pay docked. • Health care Health care spending has increased by $1.5 pillion to its highest level in Ontario history, despite huge cuts in ,federal funding, according to Johns. "It •took some tough, politically risky_ action, but the government did what had to • he done to modernize and refocus spending on front-line care. , "Now the government is building a health care system for the future by increasing , health care funding by a guaranteed 20 per cent ovcr'the next five years to meet the needs of our.aging population." Shea says her government will also introduce a Patients' Bill of Rights to iguarantec quality services, when needed. Rights, -.Education In the educational field. Johns says the party believes • classroonis should be the focus of resources, and guarantees that classroom funding will -continue to increase to match rising enrolment. ,She says the education system Must be directly linked to the real world - to the jobs, ideas and challenges faced every day. . "The Conservatives will create -higher education standards by testing teachers as well as students, open the doors -to advanced education with more financial assistance for. students and start early with effective programs for young children on the first rung of the learning ladder." Ontario needs an infrastructure designed to meet our. requirements today and in the • future. Johns says. • "Ontario prospers when leaders take concrete steps to prepare for the future. The strongest. premiers consistently build frameworks big enough to grow into." Johns promises the government will establish a $20 billion public/private Super :Build Growth Fund to renew Ontario's ne;twst►rk of hospitals, high tech links, highways. schools, universities and colleges. That money will be spent smarter, she says, more strategically and more creatively, to get the infrastructure up to today's standards and ready to meet tomorrow's needs. Agriculture In regards to agriculture, Johns says the 1 government knows farming is a challenging business. She says the government is committed to providing Ontario's farmers with the support they need. "We delivered on our promise to restore Ontario's agriculture budget to its fair share, while restoring Ontario's economy." The Ontariogovernment's agriculture budget in 1998 - 99 is over $128 million higher than when it was in 1995. "The Conservatives believe farmers, deserve fair treatment from government, and will fight to ensure farmers receive their fair share of federal support. 'Johns says the Conservatives will provide $35 million for the Ontario Agriculture program, Healthy Futures. "The focus will be on total farm quality. management for product quality, food safety and environmental quality. This is crucial to access markets, attract new business and ensure consumer confidence in Ontario's food production system." She says the provincial government has taken steps to eliminate further strains on already critically -low ground water levels. A moratorium has been placed on several counties including Huron and Bruce which will stop the issuance of permits for water taking. "Any action that can ,be taken to protect our water resources must be taken," she says. Johns also addressed hunting and fishing, the traditional outdoor activities in Huron - Bruce. She says the license fees paid by outdoors enthusiasts help make it possible to preserve wildlife and their habitat. The government supports Ontario's tradition of, ethical, safe, hunting and fishing. , On February. i0, 1999, Johns says she initiated what is now a PC contmitment to. legislate the right to hunt and fish. The Conservative platform says it's time to legally,recognize heritagehunting and fishing practices in Ontario and acknowledge' the role anglers and hunters have played in environmental conservation. Johns promises the right to hunt and fish in Ontario with a Heritage Hunting & Fishing Act will be legislated. Vote forme "After all the progress made in the past, we can't risk it all by returning to the old style of politics that left Ontario in such a mess four years ago, .I believe Huron -Bruce should continue to move to better times, not slide backward into high debts, • high unemployment, runaway spending and low expectations." She says Huron -Bruce can face the future with hope and confidence. "With economic growth more people are working, providing for themselvesand their families. We have the resources needed to support a better quality of life, with higher quality education in the classroom, more secure communities and dependable, sustainable health care." Linda Freiburger's Family Coalition Party favours vouchers Linda Frei burger. 47, is the •Family . Coalition Party candidate for the riding of Huron Bruce. Freihurgcr says her' party is in favor of a voucher system for education. • ' "Government Monies would follow the child, whether they attend a county -based charter school or arc home -schooled. it is the parent's responsibility to choose: the education system for their child." Freiburger is notin favor of a -school program for three year olds. • "Schools are not to be considered a method of day care. Children need to be hugged and praised. Who better to do this than their parents. Parents are the first and most important educators of their children." She says helping today's students prepare for the challenges ahead will create innovation and a growing economy in Ontario. it is the responsibility of' government to promote healthy lifestyles, maintain a high quality of health care facilities and guarantee accessibility, Freiburger says. The trend toward preventative medicine, nutrition and natural medicines . should be encouraged, she adds. "The FCP. will eliminate government funding for • abortion, euthanasia and sex change operations." "Conscience legislation will allow health care 'workers to refuse to participate in any procedure which is contrary to their morai conviction -8r religion, as declared by tem at time of employment." She says the FCP doesn't believe in a ceiling . on doctor's -fees. The party also believes the life-giving role of . nurses should be recognized 'and palliative care needs to be ' reinforced and expanded. • Agriculture The FCP supports the Right to Farm legislation. "The farm sector must be free to operate responsibly, without interference regarding ,standard farm operating practices," Freiburger says. The party also promotes the responsible management of livestock waste through nutrient management plans. "The party will protect existing land in agricultural use from urban and industrial expansion," Freiburger says. The FCP also supports the responsible use of approved chemicals in agriculture. "Farmers' take a pesticide course in order to use sprays on their crops. However, anyone can buy the same product to use on their lawn and gardens without any educational training." Tax cuts vs paying off debt ' Freiburger wants to balance the budget every year so as not to increase debt. • "After balancing the budget, start to reduce the debt by 10 per cent. Once the debt is paid off, Ontario is saving. $9.1 billion in -Interest. Then -we -- can afford to reduce the provincial tax by two per cent per year." Vote forme "I are about my family, my ,community and my country," Freiburger says. "There has to be responsibility for actions taken in government. A government should be a life - enforcing establishment. For people that means life is sacred; for business that means creating -a growing, healthy environment for youth and the working sector. For where we live that means protection• for the air, water and ground. We are given stewardship of this earth for ourselves acid our future generations. "I am a candidate for the FCP because I needed a political party with values I believe in ... a party that believes in people .,,'that families are the building block of our society." Ross Lamont was president of Liberal Party of Ontario Ross Lamont, 43, is running as the Liberal candidate in the Huron -Bruce riding. He managed Dalton McGuinty's leadership campaign three years ago, and was the president of the Ontario Liberal party, last year. He believes the current education funding formula will result in the closing of many rural schools in Huron -Bruce. "A Liberal government wit protect our small rural schools from these clost.res and put more decision making back in the hands of local school boards. We will put money back into education to restore special education programs,' reduce real classroom sizes and provide adult education." Health care Lamont says Ontarians expect accessible publicly funded health care. "That has been badly , eroded over the past four years. A ' Liberal government will put nurses ' back into our institutiohs, provide home care where needed and put programs in place to ensure graduating doctors • are committed to coming to underserviced areas like Huron - Bruce"" Lamont says the Liberals will ensure local hospitals are not closed. "A set of health care standards will be implemented through the Ontario Patient Protection Act so people will have the health care they require." • Agriculture Lamont says a Liberal government will support the agricultural industry by providing funding for long term disaster_ relief programs. It will also make a long term commitment to the sales tax rebate on 'construction materials and will work with commodity groups to promote quality food products more effectively. "We will establish a rural ground water protection strategy and provide support to the development of faun nutrient managerncrit plans." he says. , A Liberal government will also put in place ' meaningful risk management programs to ensure that relief is available for. drought victims, Lamont says. Tax cuts vs paying off debt "Borrowing money 10 provide tax cuts which largely benefits the most wealthy people in Ontario is not in the province's best interest," Lamont says. According to Lamont..a Liberal government would first balance the hooks, reinvest in health care and education and then • selectively provide tax relief to those who .need it the most, the middle class. Vote for me Lamont has a strong rural background and has an understanding of the issues • in Huron -Bruce. . "I will work hard for all my constituents and respond quickly to every issue that is brought to my attention," he said. Tony McQuail says Ontarians have seen destruction of education Tony McQuail, 47, of Lucknow is 'running as the New Democratic Party candidate in. the Huron Bruce riding. On education, McQuail says. Ontarians have witnessed destructive changes to the education system because of Bill 160. ' "To pay for a tax break for the wealthy, the Harris Conservatives. have cut $1.2 billion from our children's schools. These cuts are deep and they are increasing class sizes, limiting course offerings and forcing students, teachers and parents tospend time fund raising when they should be spent learning." McQuail doesn't want an:Ontario where children are forced to sell chocolate bars to pay for essential school supplies, "When Bill 160 was introduced I became active in organizingparental opposition to Bill 160 in Huron County. I felt Bill 160 concentrated control of education in the hands of the Toronto bureaucracy and provincial cabinet. As a former school board trustee I. recognized the importance of having local control to meet local needs." McQuail is committed tosepealing Bill 160 and reinvesting in public education. The NDP will change the Conservatives' education funding formula and invest $360 million immediately to help keep community schools open, protect Junior Kindergarten and -Early Childhood education and adequately support special needs education. ' The NDP will but university and college tuition fees for students by' 10 per cent. "By stopping the tax cut for those with taxable incomes over $80,000, the NDP can keep these commitments to public.education without raising the deficit a single cent." Health care McQuail says the Conservatives are destroying our public health care system. The NDP willstop the move to American style, for-profit health care and home care. "We will rebuild our Ontario health care system so everyone, regardless of income, can get the care they need, when they need it." He says by stopping the tax break for those With taxable incomes over $80,000 there will be enough money. to. invest "$250 million immediately in home nursing, homemaking and -personal support services_ "We will invest $375 million to hire back nurses and health care workers so that all hospital departments, especially emergency care, intensive care, neo -natal and critical care departments are adequately' staffed and hospital beds effectively used: He says Ford, Chrysler and General Motors invested $6 billion in the auto industry, in Ontario, because of the efficiency of Ontario's- • health care system. "Purchasing health care here in Ontario, under the public system of medicare, saves them hundreds of dollars per vehicle compared to private sector health insurance in the United States. "We don't have to invent a health care system that works for -everyone. We just have to hold onto it." Agriculture McQuail has a long standing concern for the environment. "Family farmers and rural residents are becoming increasingly concerned about the size and environmental impact of corporate mega barns and their associated untreated livestock sewage." Mc()uail says it was wrong for the Conservative government to cut the Ministry of the Environment budget to pay for a tax break. "The ministry has ,been so slashed it simply doesn't have the staff to effectively monitor and enforce environmental regulations. The NDP is committed to reinvesting tax break money in healthcare, education and other essential programs, including hiring 500 new environmental officers, to replace those cut by the Harris government. As a farmer McQuail knows the anxiety and cost of coping with the drought of 1998 and the anxiety that this spring's weather has caused. He said. in 1991, the NDP provided emergencyassistance of $35.5 million ui help farmers hard hit by recession and drought • while the federal government refused help. "The NDP believes we arc. alt part et a community and that in tough times we should support each other. With the added uncertainty that climate change is bringing to agriculture we need to design programs for sharing the risk and also develop local approaches to -reduce risk. We should look at methods which minimize personal, agricultural and municipal water requirements." Also of concern to McQuail is the' plan to increase the amount -of radioactive waste fuel --- temporarily stored at the Bruce Nuclear Power • Development. "We must stop making decisions which merely postpone dealing with problems like liquid manure from corporate mega fauns or high level radioactive waste. We live in a rich agricultural area with recreation and tourist opportunities beside Lake Huron. The health and beauty of our local environment are important to our communities and our long term economic health." Tax cuts is paying off deficit • ' The Conservative "tax•cut has cut health.... education and community services for ordinary people. McQuail says the Torics have borrowed the money for this tax hreak at , the expense of communities. • Ontario's deficit ballooned during the earn 1990s, under the impact of the worst recession in this province. since the 1930s. During the recession, the. NDP government made tough decisions •• making government more affordable, while maintaining services and bringing the deficit under control. ' "We do believe that govcmments should live s' _.__ within their means. He said the NDP budget would balance over a four-year cycle allowing government to invest in people and services when times arc tough and save when times are good. Vote for me • . "If you believe it is wrong to cut health care and education while borrowing .the money for tax breaks and if you believe that we should cancel the tax break for taxable incomes over $80,000, putting. $ i'.5 billion back into .health care, education and our communities, then you should vote with me." McQuail says. Social justice and ecological sustainability guide McQuail's life. He says -they .wilt guide him as MPP. • "I believe we need to work toward both if 'we are to' create a world our children will thank us for." McQuail has 25 years of experience as a fanner and small business pers,,n; As well, he has been a school board trust< nor nine years, . and two yeari' experience as'thc executive assistant to the Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. "I believe that cooperation will build a better community than divisive competition." McQuail is running for the NDP because he sees a transfer of wealth to the wealthy .and a • plundering of local communities. i