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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2007-10-03, Page 1212 Times—Advocate Wednesday,October 3, 2007 Lambton-Kent-Middlesex candidates ready for election By Pat Bolen and Nina Van Lieshout TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF LAMBTON-KENT- MIDDLESEX The Times - Advocate continues its coverage of the Oct. 10 election this week with profiles of the candidates running in Lambton-Kent- Middlesex. Candidates are featured below alphabetically. James Armstrong (Green) After running in the 2003 election as an Independent, Lambton-Kent- Middlesex candidate James Armstong is returning as the repre- sentative of the Green Party. Armstrong is "dead -set against" John Tory's proposal to extend pub- lic funding to religious schools, believing the four school boards should amalgamated into one, saving millions of dollars by omitting the duplica- tion of services and resources. He says it's impor- tant to also "keep one school in every community," so stu- dents will have less travel time. Armstrong also says the health tax implemented by the McGuinty govern- ment should be shifted elsewhere, taking a more proactive approach to ensure prob- lems are fixed before they are even started. As far as the election reform is concerned, Armstrong thinks it's a good idea, explaining, "it is good for the youth." He also explained that the process was not put together by politicians, but rather by electors. Looking at the environment, Armstrong says clean electricity and coal power are his main focuses. Armstrong says by promoting the conservation of energy, it will assist in unloading the electrical system. He would like to see "the coal burning generator stations being shut down" or at least be properly maintained. Armstrong says his campaign is picking up momentum. "It's been extremely receptive and the community really understands," says Armstong. James Armstrong Brad Harness (Reform) "The ultimate thing for us is deci- sion making," says Reform candidate Brad Harness who is against the ref- erendum on elec- toral reform. Rather than the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) system, Harness says Reform wants to see regular provi- sions for referen- dums and a recall system "so voters have the opportunity Brad Harness to pull back their elected represen- tative." Faith based schooling is another hot election issue in the riding, says Harness. "It's not popular at all." The Liberal health tax "would be scrapped for sure...there's enough money in the system. What needs to be done is a proper going through of who does what between levels of government." Harness said the issue of school closings has been tied together with the faith based schools in some of the all candidates meetings. "We should put it to a binding ref- erendum with multiple choices...and say 'what would you really like?" Harness said he doesn't see any need to close local schools especially since 85 per cent goes to staff bud- gets. Harness said school board budgets should be broken into individual school budgets and principals should be given authority to hire and run the schools within the budgets. Another idea Harness said Reform would like to see is a parallel rail line beside Highway 401 to get trucks off the highway. Harness said truckers are in favour of the idea and they also have con- cerns about the speed limitations brought in by the Liberal govern- ment, which they feel makes them uncompetitive against American truckers. Joyce Jolliffe (NDP) It is the third campaign for NDP candidate Joyce Jolliffe, who ran in 2000 at the federal level and provin- cially in 2003. Farming and envi- ronmental issues are important in the riding, says Jolliffe. "We need to look at the risk they've been taking and take some of those risks away," says Jolliffe of farmers. "We need to put in a risk manage- ment program that's not based on the federal government...it has to be us to look after our farmers." Another issue is human waste being shipped into the riding, although recently in Coldstream and Poplar Hill residents managed to block shipments of human waste to their areas. "There's not information out there about it," says Jolliffe who is con- cerned about where the waste is coming from and whether it contains antibiotics and other harmful mate- rials. While Jolliffe was initially "100 per cent" in favour of the election refer- endum, "the more I hear, the more I read, I have mixed feelings." Jolliffe said what she is hearing in the riding is the same as what she feels, in that there are questions about how the representatives will be selected. "I know they're saying by percent- age, but that doesn't answer the question." Regarding the Liberal health tax, Jolliffe said the NDP will give the $490 back to the family that is earn- ing $80,000 or less. "But we need to do it slowly to make sure we have a system in place where the dollars are flowing to keep our health care going...within a year hopefully we can flow that tax rebate back down to the voters." Joyce Jolliffe Bill McMaster (Family Coalition) Representing the Family Coalition, Lambton-Kent-Middlesex candidate Bill McMaster is focusing in on the education funding plan proposed by John Tory which would extend public funding to religious schools. "I don't agree with it," says McMaster. Instead, McMaster says "there should be a voucher type system where the budget is divided by the number of students." Another priority for McMaster is health care, explaining if elected he would vote to scrap the health tax implemented by the Dalton McGuinty government. "There's more spending and bureaucracy, but no more doctors," says McMaster. Looking at the proposed election reform, McMaster says he agrees with some points of it but thinks the idea needs to be reworked. "I do agree we need a change. Somehow we need a change," says McMaster, adding that he personally likes the "U.S.-style system." When asked about the environ- ment, and if it is a priority for the party, McMaster says it is, explain- ing he promotes ethanol and methane. He also encourages the different regions to be responsible for their own garbage. "I would also like to convert the coal burning stations to clean coal technology," says McMaster. McMaster also has strong views on abortion, sex education, homosexu- ality and marriage. "This party is very pro family," says McMaster, explaining he does not believe abortion should be such an easy option, even in a rape situa- tion. "The child shouldn't be punished or murdered," says McMaster, adding he was adopted. "Let's encourage abstinence and family values," says McMaster. McMaster says abortions should have heavy restrictions, including full parental consent for those under 18 years old. McMaster also says "sex education has to be cleaned up," and says it's inappropriate to teach students that homosexuality is normal and OK. And as far as marriage is con- cerned, McMaster says, "In our party, we believe marriage is between a man and a woman, a God - ordained marriage." McMaster says he thinks his cam- paign is going well and a lot of peo- ple have been responsive. Bill McMaster Monte McNaughton (PC) With a motto that "Leadership Matters," Progressive Conservative candidate Monte McNaughton has a strong rural platform, a platform he says even has the support of some Liberals. McNaughton says one of his main pri- orities is agricul- ture, hoping to take a more "Made in Canada" approach to assist the farm- ers. McNaughton says Monte if elected his party McNaughton plans to eliminate the health tax implemented by the McGuinty government, within the first term. When asked how he feels about John Tory's proposal to extend pub- lic funding to religious schools, he explained it is a good idea, and will help ensure more schools stay open. McNaughton says there are 53,000 students attending faith -based schools who deserve an education meeting the same standards every- one else receives. McNaughton says there is no way to be sure of that right now, without more funding. McNaughton says as long as the students are learning within the Ontario public education standards, they too deserve a good education. Turning to the election reform, McNaughton says, "I'm voting to keep the existing system in rural Ontario," explaining otherwise there will be less of a voice and represen- tation for the public. The environment is a priority for McNaughton and his party, saying that if elected he will "clean up the coal plants." McNaughton says they will further improve the environment by installing clean air technology, like scrubbers, which will be beneficial. He also strongly supports wind tur- bines and other green energy. Maria Van Bommel (Liberal) Education issues are the dominant theme that incumbent Liberal MPP Maria Van Bommel is hearing in her re-election campaign. "A lot of people are really con- cerned," says Van Bommel of the Conservative pledge to fund faith based schools. Rural schools are already under pres- sure to stay open, and Van Bommel said the Liberals committed another $500 million for rural schools. "If we're going to do that, there's no funds to take care of faith based Maria schools. You just Van Bommel can't do both." Van Bommel said while she is in favour of the concept of being able to vote for both an individual and a party, "the implementation concerns me because I think it disadvantages rural and northern ridings." Van Bommel said if the system is passed, Lambton-Kent-Middlesex will either get bigger or the riding will become an urban -rural mix. "Either way, the number of rural MPPs sitting in Queen's Park will be reduced." In health care, Van Bommel said Liberal policies have made progress towards reducing doctor shortages. "We're making headway, but we have to keep the course." She added the Liberals have reversed downloading but it has to be continued. "There is a lot of services that were downloaded to municipalities, especially in rural municipalities, where you don't have the tax base to cover some of those things."