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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2004-06-23, Page 6S-THI HURON RXPO$ITOR, Juno 23, 2004 Pirt41.- ,11 Paul STECKLE Paul Steckle Liberal incumbent stands by record By Matt Sherrie Goderich Signal -Star Editor Paul Steckle proudly stands by his record. After more than a decade as Huron -Bruce's federal representative in Ottawa, the Liberal incumbent — first elected in 1993 — insists accountability shouldn't be an issue when voters mark their ballots on June 28. "I have been a representative who has maintained his integrity in spite of times where I've differed from my party's views," Steckle said. "I would like it to be known that I still have that kind of freedom under the current prime minister's mandate unlike the Conservative party who — as candidates — all had to sign a document in which they committed themselves not to criticize the leader or their colleagues." Steckle said the Conservative Party showed its true colours a number of months ago when they sent out cards to his constituents indicating he was responsible for the country's firearms policy. "I had a man tell me that he wasn't voting for me because I had betrayed him on the firearms issue," Steckle said. "(The Conservatives) have changed people's thinking because they lied to them. That's not being honest and that's not showing the kind of integrity that I've always tried to show." On the issue of spending and tax cuts, Steckle said both the Conservatives and the New Democratic Party are way off the mark with their proposals. With Stephen Harper Sae SUCKLE, Page 7 Dave Vosey Environmental crisis top issue, says Vasey By Susan Hundertmark - ----- - ---------- -- -- -- Expositor Editor The global environmental crisis, expected to seriously harm human health in the next 20-50 years is the number one issue for Huron -Bruce Green Party candidate Dave Vasey. "I thought it was just absurd that the Conservatives' are saying they don't want to recognize the Kyoto Accord. That denial is very parallel with George Bush and the U.S. Is that what Canadians are about?" he says. "What we're doing to the environment is going to come back to haunt us in the next generation, not 200 years from now. We could very easily be up against something more serious than any war," he says. Vasey, 25; is a trained environmental scientist who lives in Kincardine and works' as a lab technician at Bruce Power. He says he doesn't sec any contradiction pinning for the Green Party and working at a nuclear power plant. "Nuclear is a low carbon technology and the reality is we're going to need it to carry energy into the future. My main focus is reducing carbon dioxide and we'll need nuclear to carry us there," he says. Regarding the toxic waste created by nuclear power, Vasey says more research is needed to "find a way to deal with that." In fact, he says nuclear waste is one form of pollution Sae POLLUTION, Page 18 Federal Election 2004 Barb Fisher Fisher says voters want a change By Maria Wilson Kincardine News Editor Kincardine resident Barb Fisher's campaign to represent Huron -Bruce in parliament began in emest on Mar. 6 when she secured the nomination for the Conservative Party of Canada. Self -described as "driven" with boundless energy, the 53 - year -old former MPP has logged at least 12,000 km on her vehicle in a bid to meet as many constituents as possible. Fisher acknowledges, in a June 8 interview, that trying to upset Liberal incumbent Paul Steckle, isn't going to be easy. "It's a tough competition all the way and I'm not taking anything for granted," she said of the MP who will be seeking his fourth term on June 28. However, Fisheris also very much aware that voters are looking for a change in Ottawa. "This campaign is so different from anything I've ever encountered," Fisher, who has prior involvement in 18 various campaigns, said. "Voters are angry, disgruntled and upset." Fisher believes her party, led by Stephen Harper, can offer a credible alternative to Paul Martin and the Liberals. Pointing to the sponsorship scandal with its mismanagement of a reported $100 million, Fisher denounces the rationale that $100 million is a mere drop in the bucket. "It's never okay when money is misused or missing," she said. "In politics, people trust you to do the job honestly and with integrity and it doesn't matter how much or how little - See CONSERVATIVES, Page • Dave Joslin Joslin wants return to Christian values By Amy Zoethout Lucknow Sentinel Staff Dave Joslin would like to sec Canada return to the Christian principles this country was founded on. "Canada is moving away from its Christian moorings," said Joslin, who is running as the Huron -Bruce federal candidate for the Christian Heritage Party (CHP). This is the third time Joslin has represented the party in a federal election. He also ran in last fall's provincial election under the Family Coalition Party. "I honestly believe that Christianity provides the best, most caring society you can find anywhere." Moving back towards those traditional values, said Joslin, would build Canada back into a country that is "prosperous, free, tolerant and safe." He noted that Canada has not been so prosperous with "a trillion dollars in debt." He also added that just by reading the newspapers everyday, "we can see that we are not particularly safe anymore." Addressing the issue of accountability in government, Joslin said that the CHP would like to see thc concentration of power taken away from the Prime Minister. "We are really emphasizing in this election our concern with the concentration of power in the Prime Minister's office," said Joslin. He added that one way of changing that would be through "sweeping electoral reforms" and implementing a system of proportional representation. See CHP, Page $ Grant Robertson NDP trustworthy, says Robertson By Ann Harvey Shoreline Beacon Editor New Democratic Party candidate Grant Robertson, 39, says his party offers trustworthiness, 25 per cent federal expenditure on health care and a realistic plan for balanced budgets. The Paisley -area man whose family owns and operates a farm just outside of Paisley and who works as a Bruce County Library branch supervisor in Ripley and Lucknow, explained his party's policies and his reasons for believing he can represent the Huron -Bruce riding in an interview June 9. Although his bid to get the Huron Bruce provincial seat in the last election failed, he remains convinced he Has experience that will allow him to represent Huron-Bnlce. "I've been the president of the National Farmers Union and I've been involved in a lot of community groups." Robertson said, "1 believe strongly in the way we were raised. A promise made is a promise kept and your word is your bond.' And his party promises specific practical solutions including ways to be accountable, and avoid the misuse of large amounts of public funds such as the Liberal's sponsorship scandal. "We need to move forward with a strong auditor general who actually has some teeth. "We have an auditor general right now who's able to uncover some of the bugs Tying under the rocks but can't Sae NDP, Page 7 Glen Smith Legalize marijuana, says Glen Smith By Cheryl Heath Clinton News Record Editor Legalize it. That two -word phrase best sums up the campaign platform of Glen Smith, the Marijuana Party candidate. Smith, of Tiverton, is running under thc Marijuana Party banner for Huron-Brucc. He says legalizing marijuana, and regulating it in a style similar to alcohol under the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, could spell relief for Canadians in more ways than one. Smith, who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in political science and economics, is a first-time contender in thc federal scene though he was president of the student council while studying at the University of Toronto: "We feel the legalization of marijuana could bring a lot of money to the table," he said, noting the proceeds from tax collection and government -regulated sales could help fund health-care and take care of the needs of the ageing Baby Boomer population. Smith, who notes not everyone is taking him seriously on the campaign trail, said though Huron -Bruce is traditionally conservative in its views, voters seem ambivalent about the possibility of legalizing marijuana. He said the biggest concern seems to he the perils of second-hand smoke. "Anything smoked in large amounts is not good for the Sea SMITH, Page 9