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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2007-10-03, Page 19News Agricultural issues debated at all -candidates' meeting hosted by Huron Federation of Agriculture The Huron Expositor • October 3, 2007 Page 19 Gerard Creces MEEMEREMNID Agriculture was the issue on Thursday, Sept. 27 when the Huron Federation of Agriculture hosted an all -candidates debate at the Holmesville Community Centre. Progressive Conservative candi- date Rob Morley made opening statements talking about capping property values, improving the quality of health care and farm com- modity prices, saying it was his party's aim to get closer to the Quebec model. Green Party candidate Victoria Serda touched on the, importance of family, one school system and the possibilities for green technology in agriculture. She also noted she has a lot more experience this time around. NDP candidate Paul Klopp said he was there to lobby government to get agriculture back on its feet. He referred to a _$300 million pledge for risk management, regulations on the food industry, Ontario packers and commodity prices. Kincardine -based independent candiate Ron Stephens told farmers, "I'm probably as fed up as you are." He said he was of broken promises, and that while he can't make any promises for money, health and fam- ily were of highest importance to him. Huron -Bruce MPP, Liberal Carol Mitchell talked of her government's proven track record, including the addition of six family health teams, the strong economy, and dollar pari- ty as examples. She also spoke of the province's risk management commitments as well as monies for Ontario Foodland, the young farmers' pro- gram and being the only caucus to create supply management legisla- tion. Clinton -based independent candi- date Dennis Valenta talked about his intention to change family law and give more rights to divorced fathers. He accused Mitchell of treating him with cont'hmpt and dis- respect at her office. He also addressed the importance of the family farm saying, "You pre- serve the farm and I'll do the fami- ly." Dave Joslin launched directly into the need to make money more avail- able to people, lowering taxes and gearing up for labour shortages. due to a retiring population. His mes- sage was one that fewer people keep paying more and more, something that could be changed by reducing taxes and encouraging investments. Klopp hammered home the NDP's $300 million promise for risk man- agement funding, which would spill backwards if there was surplus at the end of any given year. Mitchell said her government is committed to Farmers Feed Cities, and that all provinces' regional agri- cultural differences must be addressed if federal negotiations were to go anywhere. Morley said the federal govern- ment had agriculture in its costing plan, including $150 million for risk management, though he stressed negotiations were needed for pro- ducers. Serda said global warming is going to make agriculture much tougher in Ontario and while losses should be covered, irrigation sys- tems also need to be further devel- oped. Ron Stephens got a few guffaws from the crowd when he said he didn't really know much about agri- culture. However, he said the gov- ernment owed farmers and that value must be added to the family farm. With no party platform, Valenta suggested he would do for agricul- ture whatever the voters wanted him to do. Joslin answered with a simple yes when asked if his party plans to compensate both 2005-2006 and 2007-2008 farm losses. He also emphasized the need to get Europe and the United States to cease what he called their "trade -distorting pro- grams." On the issue of health care, Stephens spoke about fast -tracking doctors from other countries to address the growing shortages, with a graduated pay -scale to accompany. Mitchell touched on her party's hiring more than 5400 nurses, com- mitment to hospital funding, Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) funding and hiring school nurses. "We sure do get a lot of promises," quipped Valenta, who suggested bureaucrats do a nurse's job every few months just to stay grounded. Joslin raised the point of shorten- ing shift hours for doctors and nurs- es, getting spending under control whereas Morley said more money was needed to bring electronic records online and create a solid recruitment strategy. Both Serda and Klopp expanded on in-home services. Serda said widening the mandate of non-profit organizations could allow more and better care. Klopp said his party would hire 1,200 RPNs next year. He also attacked the use of private money in public 'hospitals and ksaid the Liberals are taking way too long to get the health teams up and run- ning. Things between Mitchell and Klopp got a little tense when asked about government restructuring in municipalities. Klopp attacked the Liberals for requesting inventories for the municipality's assets. Mitchell outlined the services the province has uploaded before addressing Klopp, saying the gov- ernment is looking into asset man- agement by the municipalities, adding that drug benefits and infra- structure are slated for further uploading in the future. Morley added his party would put 100 per cent of the provincial fuel tax back into the province, as it's currently not being spent. S e r d a addressed the issue of down- loading, calling it a "cruel way of reducing taxes on a provincial level." This, she said, was just putting the bur- den on property taxpayers, dri- ving cost of living up and killing business. Joslin said he's philosophically opposed to 11, 4It DOMINION DRIVER TRAINING & CAROL BLAKE, COURSE PROVIDER are offering you a Ministry Approved Driver Education 4 DAY COURSE beginning December 27, 2007 to be held in Clinton at the Betty Cardno Centre Highway #8, West of Clinton Call to book space. 1-800-665-3027 or 519-527-1891 or www.dominiondrivertraining.on.ca go regional government. "The government that's closest to the individual cares for the individ- ual," he said, adding a deregulated economy would help municipalities significantly. On the topic of proportional rep- resentation, Morley drew applause for saying politicians should earn their stripes and not be hand picked. He added that it already takes two hours to cover this riding and by decreasing the number of ridings, it will be rural Ontario that suffers. Mitchell, Stephens and Valenta were also opposed to the idea. Both Serda and Joslin were in favour of the reforms while Klopp was ambivalent - equal parts of praise for the idea and demonizing federal and provincial governments for increasing the sizes of ridings. When asked about ground water protection and aquifers, Serda stressed the need for irrigation and tackling climate change. wa FARM E 0 SEAFORTH 519-527-0120 EXETER 519-235-2121 www.teamvincent.com Protect Your Pet and Your Family $25 Low Cost Rabies Vaccination Anima! vaccination at these chni ;s includes GST certificate ,r Blyth Veterinary Services 234 Queen Street South, Blyth October 13th 8:30 am -12 pm St. Helen's Community Hall October 18th 1 pm -4 pm Clinton Veterinary Services 275 Huron Street, Clinton October 13th 9 am -11 am Exeter Animal Hospital 660 Main Street, Exeter October 13th 9 am -12 pm Lucknow-Huron Veterinary Services 623 Campbell Street, Lucknow October 13th 9 am -12 pm Seaforth Veterinary Clinic Main Street North, Seaforth October 13"' 9 am -1 pm South Huron Veterinary Clinic 20 Main Street East, Zurich October 13th 9 am -1 pm Thames Road Veterinary Clinic 74 Thames Road West, Exeter October 13th 9 am -1 pm Wingham Veterinary Clinic 11 Alfred Street East, Wingham October 13"' 9 am -12 pm . .These clinics are for cats and dogs over three months of age. • Please have your pets on leashes or in carrying cages. • These low cost clinics provide Rabies Vaccination only. • No other treatment will be available. 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