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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-01-11, Page 3Wednesday, January 11, 2006 Exeter Times—Advocate 3 Huron -Bruce candidates race to the finish line By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — Fewer than two weeks remain before the 2006 federal election Jan. 23 and five candidates are running hard to unseat Liberal incumbent MP Paul Steckle, who is opposed by Dave Joslin of the Christian Heritage Party, Ben Lobb from the Conservative Party, Green Party candidate Victoria Serda, independent Dennis Valenta and NDP candidate Grant Robertson. Following are the 2006 candidates profiled alphabeti- cally. Dave Joslin-Christian Heritage Party Christian Heritage Party candidate Dave Joslin said with the spending the Liberal Party has promised, "they must think it grows on a tree...since the spring time, the Martin government has promised about $30 billion in spending." Joslin said the Martin plan for fed- eral daycare will cost $12 to $15 bil- lion, adding between $1,200 and $1,500 of new taxes on each family in Canada and asks whether Martin intends to follow through on his promises. "Taxation would have to rise to absolutely ruinous levels to pay for it," said Joslin. "The key to understanding the whole thing is, he has no intentions of spending that kind of money, these are promises meant to buy votes." According to Joslin, people are fed up with "looking at their paycheques and having it gutted every week...and the way the justice system is. What good does anybody think banning hand guns is? Hand guns are already banned." Joslin said while the Liberals posture themselves as the party of compassion, "how compassionate is it to give people phony remedies?" He added another problem is none of the parties are regarded as any better and the desire for change is more deep-seated than in the 2004 election. "People are beginning to realize, to put it bluntly, what hypocrites the Liberals are...and realize Paul Martin is a power hungry individual." Ben Lobb -Conservative Ben Lobb of the Conservative Party, in his first cam- paign, says one of the reasons for his decision to enter politics was family. His grandfather was the mayor of Clinton and several uncles were in involved at different levels of govern- ment. He graduated from Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton and earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Lee University in Tennessee. Lobb is employed by Wescast Industries in Wingham, is a co-owner of the Central Huron Outlet Store and lives in Holmesville. "I'm really encouraged by the response we're get- ting," said Lobb. "From start to finish from your local member of parliament to your party to your leader. And they want your election priorities and election promises to be kept. Lobb said his priority for the riding is to retain industries and attract new ones to the area. "This is so important, and we have to work together federally, provin- cially and municipally...we need to be ready that if there is a business interested in coming here we roll out the red carpet and have our plans in place." Lobb added he feels Conservative leader Stephen Harper has done an excellent job of laying out his vision for what he wants the country to look like. "That's given people an opportunity to really see some of the quality policies and platforms he's intro- duced...there are definitely some undercurrents and winds of change in the air. On a national level, Lobb said people are asking what the Conservatives will do differently to enforce accountability, which he said will be addressed by the Conservatives' accountability act. "This will be the first piece of legislation implement- ed...it talks about powers given to the auditor general, and the controller general and to protect whistle blow- ers." Lobb said he is happy with the way the campaign has gone both nationally and federally but added with the disillusionment in the political system, "whoever gets in, they have a tremendous job ahead of them to restore the faith in the people that the federal system works." Grant Robertson -NDP New Democratic Party candidate Grant Robertson says he feels it is clear the Huron -Bruce election fight will be between the Liberals and the NDP. Dave Joslin Ben Lobb Robertson said he decided to run federally while sit- ting in the hospital beside his father who was recover- ing from surgery and thought how it might have to be paid for. A veteran of the campaign trail, Robertson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with honours in Canadian History and Politics from Trent University. He has been a supervisor of the Lucknow and Ripley branches of the Bruce County Library and an Ontario Director of the National Farmers Union. He ran and was defeated in the 2003 Huron -Bruce provincial cam- paign and the 2004 federal cam- paign. Robertson said health care and agriculture at the top of the list for priorities in his campaign. Supporting area young people is another concern for Robertson. "Whether that is early in life with child care or later with easy access to post secondary education, tuition relief and making sure training is there." He added another priority is cleaning up government. "I'm not going to Ottawa to play games. I'm going to be an MP that isn't going to be ignored and get some results for people in Huron-Bruce...those are the kind of priorities I'm hearing from people." Robertson said he is gratified with the level of sup- port his campaign has received. "We're surging, the Liberals are falling and the Conservatives have stalled." "Ed Broadbent has prepared and put forward our ethics package to clean up government and get rid of all these lobbyists and this revolving door between party insiders and their corporate clients. "Almost 40 per cent of Canadians aren't voting and there are reasons for that. We have to get our system working so it is working for Canadians, not for Liberal insiders and wealthy donors. "We want people to know they have a real opportuni- ty to elect an NDP MP this time. If they want change they have to vote for it." Victoria Serda-Green Party The only woman in the Huron -Bruce election race is Victoria Serda who says she is receiving a lot of sup- port from people who feel the Green Party policies are valuable and important. "I'm on a shoestring budget and I don't have very many volunteers so my campaign isn't at the same level as the other candidates...so it is more of a grass- roots level thing." Verda was born in Owen Sound, has a Bachelor of Education from the University of Waterloo and is a teacher who homeschools her daugh- ter. Serda said the ideas of the Green Party coincide with her own on how government should work. "I feel those ideas are important to be aired in this region because it helps the other parties especially to be more accountable." The agricultural debate is some- thing Serda says is something close to her heart since she used to be an organic farmer. "The cost of food is not reflecting the cost of production." Serda said accountability is the biggest issue in the election. "Everyone is totally tired of the scandals and wants to see the government properly using money." Serda added proposed tax cuts are also a concern with voters who feel taxes are necessary for Canada's social programs. "So they're not buying Conservative and Liberal promises to cut taxes by huge amounts." Another Green Party idea would see alternative health care included in the mainstream healthcare sys- tem. "We could relieve medical doctors so they're more able to do the things they're really needed for." This is the first election campaign for Serda, who says she loves talking to people and hearing what their concerns are. "We need to have more people who are just honest people involved in politics...there is a lot of apathy from people who don't want to vote because they don't believe anything can be fixed." On a national level, Serda said it is expected to be a breakthrough year for the Green Party, with expecta- tions of winning two or three seats. "With our system of government of first past the post, it's very hard for smaller parties to win seats at all. Even though the Green Party is steadily rising in the polls." Serda said her goal for the campaign is to win 10 per cent of the vote. Grant Robertson Victoria Serda "Because I'm the only woman candidate, I think I'll get a certain amount of people that just feel it's impor- tant for women to be involved in politics." Serda said another of her strengths is finding consen- sus and looking for solutions to problems. "People don't see that very often in elected politicians." Paul Steckle-Liberal Party Incumbent MP Paul Steckle is attempting his fifth election win in Huron -Bruce after wins in 1993, 1997, 2000 and 2004. Steckle is a former councillor and reeve of Stanley township. He also served as warden of Huron County council for a year. Incumbent Liberal MP Paul Steckle says the agricul- tural industry has been hit hard in the past several years and he has made serious efforts to bring reme- dies to the problems. Steckle said in response to concerns raised by the farm community, a commitment was given by Prime Minister Martin to proceed with a risk management plan. "So I've delivered on what I was asked to deliver on by the farmers," said Steckle. "I feel very positive about that. We're the only party going forward with more money in the pot...they will never have to wonder whether they have a commit- ment to agriculture. My commitment has been unwa- vering." Steckle added the Liberal economic record for the past 12 years has been unmatched since confederation. "All of the things that make an economy work are working for us with the exception of the agricultur- al sector." "My promise in this election is the same as the one I've made in every other of the previous four elections. My promise is simply to be commit- ted to my riding." In response to increasing public demand for government accountabil- ity, Steckle said it was something that he has had to deal with every day. "I can assure you that many more millions of dollars was spent trying to find the money than was ever lost in the first place." Steckle said if the opposition was responsible, "they would be coming forward and telling us what they are going to do for Canadians." Dennis Valenta -Independent Running as an independent, Valenta said his priority in the campaign is the need to change divorce laws which he says are unfair to men. "The support that I've been getting I think, has been very good. "Right now, the divorce laws are a win/lose scenario. It's a predetermined winner being the mother and the predetermined loser being the father." Valenta said the laws have to be changed because fathers are unable to pay the high rate of child support. "A father who is involved in his child's life will willing take care of a child. Paying child support is different because you have no control over how that money is spent." Valenta said he is the only candi- date willing to address the issue if he is elected. "Ultimately, the biggest priority I have is giving the people of this rid- ing a voice in the house of commons. I am the only one who can provide that because I am running as an independent. The party line is what prevents us from having a voice and if you want to have a voice you have to vote outside of the party." Paul Steckle Dennis Valenta fPG rus�rts Farm Fresh • Custom Killing • Retail • Wholesale 41130 Thames Rd E. Exeter, ON (519) 235-2969 Blade Steaks 51.99th. Fresh Hamburger 51.25(b. for 101bs. Beef Tenderloin 59.991b. Pork Chops 52.5911b. Smoked Pork Chops 54.991b. Whole Lamb 5180.00 (cut and wrapped) Government Inspected, and Drug Free Freezer Packages Available