HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-01-18, Page 9•
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Serda fighting
for future
generations
Troy Patterson
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Port Elgin resi-
dent Victoria Serda
will be pushing the
Green Party's plat-
form to protect and
preserve the earth
for future genera-
tions.
"I want to give vot-
ers a chance to have
some hope to elect
someone with a
vision to help every-
one to the best of my
ability and voice
their concerns in
government," said
Serda.
Serda's family has
been a part of the
area for decades.
With her husband
Jamie, she home
schools her daughter
Corrina, 9, and is
heavily involved
with volunteer work.
She's the
spokesperson for
Green Horizons, a
Saugeen Shores
environmental
group, is the founder
to the Lake Huron
Earth First
Community, a net-
work of environmen-
tal organizations,
and is the coordina-
tor for Grey -Bruce
Home Schoolers.
"I'm very serious
about my civic duty.
I really care about
people," said Serda.
She's also part of
Little Theatre in
Owen Sound and
shares a passion for
arts and culture.
If elected, Serda
and the Green Party
would press for
amendments to the
Charter of Rights
and Freedoms to
include the right of
accessibility to clean
air and water and
safe food for all
Canadians.
The platform also
boasts measures to
increase equality for
women, while work -
Moria :Serda
ing to eliminate dis-
crimination of visi-
ble minorities.'
"Whatever deci-
sions are made have
to be right for future
generations while
addressing the long-
term impact," she
said.
Serda spent time
working in organic
farming, which she
hopes to promote
along with the
reduction of pesti-
cide use.
"I used to be a
farmer so I know
how hard it can be,"
she said.
She also worked
as a private school
teacher and a per-
sonal care attendant
in the past.
Her platform sup-
ports proportional
representation and
decentralization of
government to give
more power to
municipal govern-
ments.
"It will allow peo-
ple to have a lot
more say in- what
happens with the
federal government,"
she said.
"I'd like to be that
voice for (Huron -
Bruce). Personal
integrity and com-
mitment to sustain-
ability are impor-
tant things to offer
the constituency,"
said Serda.
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1
Federal Election 2006
Steckle served
constituents
for 12 years
Mark N o n k e s
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Liberal candidate and
four -time incumbent
Paul Steckle said for the
12 years he's served as
an MP in Ottawa he's
run as a true, uninhibit-
ed voice for Huron -
Bruce.
"My record speaks
more loudly than my
words," Steckle said.
Steckle said he is com-
mitted to. representing
Huron -Bruce with fair-
ness and honesty and
has always taken the
views of the constituen-
cy first when deciding
on issues debated in the
House of Commons.
In this election cam-
paign, Steckle said
things have truly heated
up after the Christmas
break.
"We expected it to get
dirty and indeed it has
but not at the local
level," Steckle added.
Steckle pointed to the
Liberal's record on cre-
ating an economy the
strongest Canada has
ever seen.
He said the Liberals
have helped people in
the middle and lower
income tax brackets.
The governing
Liberals have promised
$30 billion in tax reduc-
tion over five years.
The Canadian econo-
my, Steckle added, is
currently seeing infla-
tion, interest and unem-
ployment at its lowest
rate in 30 years.
"Quite frankly, I think
the economy right now
is as good as we'll ever
see it," Steckle said.
During the Liberal's
reign, Steckle comment-
ed the government has
presented years of bal-
anced budgets and the
country's deficit cut by
millions.
In health care the
Liberal government
Steckle pointed out that
the Liberals are com-
mitted to providing
national and universal
health care for Canada.
A priority for the
Paul Steckle
Liberals, Steckle said,
will be to bring 1,000
more foreign -trained
doctorson board with
the proper accredita-
tion.
He also pointed out
that a national strategy
to reduce wait times has
to be created but the
wheel doesn't have to be
reinvented.
While locally, agricul-
ture touches almost
every life in Huron and
Bruce, Steckle said the
challenges remain tough
for farmers.
Steckle continues to
serve as the head of a
parliamentary agricul-
ture committee that
looks at the issues fac-
ing today's farmers.
Steckle said a Liberal
government is commit-
ted to reworking the
Canadian Agricultural
Income Stabilization
(CAIS) program which
was designed to provide
farmers with financial
relief.
While Steckle admit-
ted the government has
been faced with contro-
versy in
the last few years, he
said Prime Minister
Paul Martin has worked
diligently to restore gov-
ernment accountability
and responsibility.
"We have a good gov-
ernment," Steckle said.
"I'm proud to be part of
this government."
The Huron Expositor • January 18, 2006 Page 9
Vallenta wants
to reform
family law
Mark N o n k e s
Dennis Valenta, a
truck driver from
Clinton, is running-
as an independent on
the promise of being
a true, uninhibited
voice for the area as
voters get set to go to
the ballot box Jan.
23.
"Maybe: being an
MP is a bit different
than truck driving
but I understand
what the job is,"
Valenta said. "The
MP's job is to repre-
sent the people.
"I haven't seen
that being done and
I think that will
define whether you
have democracy or
not."
Thecurrent politi-
cal system in
Canada, Valenta
said, flies in the face
of democracy.
"Once you go to the
poll and cast your
vote democracy ends
and the party takes
over."
To get his face and
name known
throughout the -area,
Valenta said he's
been busy knocking
on farmers' doors for
the last few months.
Valenta explained
he chose to meet
farmers first as this
area is largely agri-
cultural and he
wanted to hear their
concerns.
Valenta said while
he may not necessar-
ily agree with the
way agriculture is
currently being run,
as a representative
he would advocate so
Canadian farmers
had the same advan-
tages as producers in
other countries, such
as the United States.
"We have to subsi-
dize our farmers,"
Valenta said.
Valenta, who is an
active member of
Dennis Valenta
Fathers Are Capable
Too (FACT) said
another priority of
his is to help reform
the court system to
make family law.
equal ` for both par-
ents. .
Currently, Valenta
said, mothers- are
favoured in custody
cases.
"Denying a child
with either parent -
it's child abuse,"
Valenta said. "It is
one of the reasons
I'm running, this
divorce issue."
Valenta admitted
he was once a card -
c a r r y i n g
Conservative and
tried to run as a
hopeful candidate.
However, as an inde-
pendent,Valenta said
if elected he'll be out
there in the riding
meeting people and
listening to their
concerns.
"I do know the
party leader can't
tell me to sit down
and shut -up,"
Valenta said.
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