The Times Advocate, 2008-09-24, Page 54
Times—Advocate
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
OC
Editorial Opinion
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EDITORIAL
Knowing your
candidates
This weekend offers a good chance for local
voters to find out where their candidates
stand on the issues and what their respec-
tive visions are for their ridings.
While our election has been overshadowed by the
more compelling story of the election being held south
of the border, Canadian voters still have a responsibility
to turn their attention to their own election and educate
themselves on the local candidates.
Two all -candidates meetings this weekend will put
those candidates on the hot seat and give voters the
opportunity to question them on the issues most impor-
tant to them.
Once again the Huron County Federation of
Agriculture is hosting the Huron -Bruce meeting, which
goes ahead Friday night at the Holmesville Community
Centre. But that doesn't mean agriculture will be the
only topic discussed — audience questions will be taken
and each candidate will have the chance to offer his
opinion on a variety of issues.
The Lambton-Kent-Middlesex meeting goes ahead
Saturday night at Grand Bend Public School.
While that riding sees incumbent Conservative Bev
Shipley trying to hold onto his seat, Huron -Bruce voters
will have a new Member of Parliament when the dust
clears after the Oct. 14 election. Longtime Liberal MP
Paul Steckle is retiring after 15 years as the Huron -
Bruce MP, clearing the way for a new Liberal candi-
date, Greg McClinchey, who faces opposition from
Conservative Ben Lobb, who gave Steckle a run for his
money in the last federal election. Other Huron -Bruce
candidates include Dave Joslin of the Christian Heritage
Party, Tony McQuail of the New Democrats, Glen Smith
of the Green Party and Independent Dennis Valenta.
Running against Shipley in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex
are Joe Hill of the NDP, Micheal Janssens of the
Christian Heritage Party, Jim Johnston of the Green
Party and Jeff Wesley of the Liberals.
While it's disappointing to not see any female candi-
dates among the two ridings, voters at least have a
wide choice of parties to choose from. Election interest
in Canada isn't exactly at a peak right now, but there
are a variety of issues the candidates should be ques-
tioned on this weekend, such as the economy, with the
manufacturing sector in Southwestern Ontario being
hit hard by job losses. Will the financial crisis in the
U.S. make its way north? How do the local candidates
stand on environmental issues and, of great importance
to this area, agriculture?
One way to find out is by attending the all -candidates
meetings this weekend and by getting involved. Let the
candidates know what concerns you have and what
they need to do to earn your vote.
Leafs headed for a long season
With the NHL season creeping up on us, and the
uncertainty of Mats Sundin returning to the Toronto
Maple Leafs, where is the team going? Nowhere as
of right now.
The Leafs did very little in the off-season, acquir-
ing unproven potential, hoping they will have a
breakout year this year. Signing defencemen Jeff
Finger from the Colorado Avalanche for $3.5 million
a season wasn't the right salary for a guy who
scored 19 points last year. I'm not completely con-
vinced that the retro addition of Curtis
Joseph will help them on the ice anymore,
or the fans.
Niklas Hagman the speedy Finland native
has a Boyd Deveraux and Dominic Moore
playing style that will round out the fourth
line.
The good acquisitions this summer were
getting Mikhail Grabovski from the
Montreal Canadiens for Greg Pateryn and a
second round draft pick in 2010. Trading
Bryan McCabe (and a fourth round pick in
2010) ended Toronto's trading excitement
for the off-season as they got Mike Van Ryn
from the Florida Panthers. Van Ryn will bring a
solid defencemen who can put points up if the wrist
holds up. He also has a cheaper salary than
McCabe.
Although they upgraded their defencemen getting
Finger, Van Ryn, and Luke Schenn (at the 2008
draft), where's the offense? Who will carry the team
up front? Jason Blake had nowhere near the season
he had with the Islanders when he scored 40 goals.
We finally got to see Nik Antropov's potential, but
will it happen again? Matt Stajan and Alex Steen
were supposed to be the future of this club but are
acting like second and third liners.
In some instances last season the fourth line con-
sisting of Deveraux, Moore and Jeremy Williams
came through with clutch goals because of their
gritty style of play every shift they were put on.
In net the Leafs are set for the present and the
future. With Vesa Toskala in net, the Leafs should
see their goals against total drop down. There's no
doubt that Toskala will carry the team this season,
and he will determine where they stand at
the end of the season. Justin Pogge will get
to polish himself up, as he will return to the
Toronto Marlies this season and will get
more starts with Scott Clemmenson return-
ing to his former club the New Jersey
Devils.
The question is how will the team react
when the team loses? Who is going to keep
this team together and have leadership if
Sundin doesn't return? Let's face it, it's
going to be a bad season for Leaf fans to
watch, but look to the future.
Assuming that Sundin doesn't return, the
Leafs will need a foundation player to build on.
Counting on that the Leafs will finish at the bottom
of the standings, putting them in the position to
draft phenom John Tavares of the Oshawa Generals
who is projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2009
draft. Many have compared him to Sidney Crosby
and he has already broken the record for most goals
scored by a 16 year old with 72.
But the future will play out itself and even though
I am a Leafs fan, we have to realize the reality that
it is going to be rough.
T.J.
ZIELM
AN
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