HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 2015-10-14, Page 66 Lucknow Sentinel • Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Goderich candidates debate a lively one
Dave Flaherty
Goderich Signal Star
An opinionated crowd of over
100 people settled into Lakeshore
United Church for Goderich's can-
didate debate on Tuesday night.
The debate, hosted by the Huron
County Chamber of Commerce,
featured written and oral questions
from the crowd.
In his opening remarks, Con-
servative candidate Ben Lobb said
his government has lowered taxes
and raised benefits for Canadians.
The number of Canada's free
trade agreements has increased
from five to 51 under the Harper
government, Lobb said.
"Our record remains strong," the
incumbent MP told the crowd.
NDP candidate Gerard Creces
said Goderich has "been hit hard" by
the 2011 tomado and the decimation
of the local manufacturing industry.
"Through it all Goderich has
rebuilt, rallied and prevailed," Cre-
ces said, noting that Ottawa should
take notice.
"I don't want to see our home-
towns fade away. We need to invest
in people again:'
He believes the next generation
of voters feels ostracized and Cana-
dians feel afraid.
"Canada's arms are closing and
so is its mind," he said.
Kincardine native and Green
Party candidate Jutta Splettstoesser
said her party is one that "really rep-
resents my values and principles."
She said the Green Party was the
first to have its members post their
expenses and oppose the contro-
versial Bill C-51.
If the government has "commit-
ment and real interest" in the peo-
ple of Canada, the country will
have "good progress; Splettstoesser
said.
Liberal candidate Allan Thomp-
son said he, "like a lot of Canadians';
aren't happy with how Stephen
Harper is running the country.
"People are tired of negativity,
cynicism and partisan politics,"
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Thompson said.
"Positive ideas,' both at the lead-
ership level and locally, are what
people are looking for, he believes.
"A member of Parliament should
be the voice for Huron -Bruce in
Ottawa, not Ottawa's voice in
Huron -Bruce:'
The first question posed to can-
didates was whether they sup-
ported the Supreme Court's ruling
on physician -assisted "dying':
Thompson said with more peo-
ple above the age of 65 in Canada
than ever, it is an important issue.
"The Supreme Court has been
very clear that we need to confront
this issue," he said.
The former journalist believes
there needs to be a "national con-
versation" on the matter.
Lobb said when the next govern-
ment is elected, it needs to consult
with Canadians and legal system
about the "very serious issue':
During his time a hospice volun-
teer, Creces said he met a number of
people that this issue would affect.
"I'd sit beside them and provide
some comfort. This is a similar situ-
ation," Creces said. "I do believe I
don't have the right to tell anyone
they can't pass on without dignity
and on their own terms."
Splettstoesser said her party
would support physician -assisted
deaths if the decision is made by
the person affected.
The recently passed Transpacific
Partnership (TPP), specifically its
potential affect on farmers, was
addressed next.
Splettstoesser estimated that the
affects of the TPP, if any, won't be
clear for some time.
However, she said the TPP has
"traded off part of supply
management"
She said there was "lots of
secrecy" surrounding the develop-
ment pact.
"I'm not sure what the benefits
will be she added, noting that the
Green Party believes in "fair trade"
not "free trade':
Thompson said the Liberal Party
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supports free trade and has been
supportive of the notion of the TPP.
To him, it remains to be seen if
supply management was protected.
"It will take a long-time for the
details to be known," he said, add-
ing that the Harper government
was very "secretive" about the TPP.
Lobb said the TPP is an "abso-
lutely transformational deal" and
Canada is now the only G7 nation
with trade connections to all of
Europe, Asia and the Americas.
Calling the past decade a "golden
age for agriculture'; he proclaimed
there are "good times ahead" for
farmers.
Creces said the markets that
"have been sold" by the TPP would
never be recovered.
"We don't think it should have ever
been negotiated," Creces said. "It's an
abuse of power, abuse of privilege:'
He said the TPP might be good
for foreign-owned industries, but
will kill Canadian markets and
drive down wages.
On June 11, Bill C-24 came into
existence, granting the government
the power to strip dual citizens of
their Canadian citizenship if they
are convicted of terrorism, high
treason and several other serious
offenses.
Candidates were asked if they
believe this law to be fair.
Thompson said, "the simple
answer is a Canadian is a Canadian."
He called Bill C-24 an "abuse of
the Canadian Constitution and
Canadian Charter of Rights and
Freedoms" and an "absolute aber-
ration of Canadian government"
Lastly, he said it is creating a
society where some Canadians are
"worth more than others".
Defending his party's legislation,
Lobb said most Canadians are in
favour of Bill C-24 - eliciting groans
from the crowd.
"We are talking about terrorists
and acts of terrorism," Lobb said
firmly.
Creces said if those convicted are
deported back to their countries of
origin, which may be "breeding
grounds" of terrorism, it could lead
to them having even more animos-
ity towards Canada.
The best way to combat terror-
ism is to address where radicalism
starts, Creces said.
He believes legislation such as Bill
C-51 and Bill C-24 are being used to
try and make Canadians afraid.
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"I think it's a joke," Creces said.
Under a Green Party govern-
ment, Bill C-24 would be repealed,
Splettstoesser said.
She said the Conservatives' anti-
terrorism legislation have not had
"much debate" and "90 per cent of
amendments were not accepted':
Splettstoesser asked, "Why are we
constantly trying to fear monger."
"We need to be more inclusive;'
she added.
Candidates were then asked why
their party leaders have not visited
Huron-Burce during this campaign.
Lobb said Stephen Harper vis-
ited Goderich a few years, knows
the area well and they often have
discussions about issues faced in
Huron -Bruce
Creces said the Huron -Bruce rid-
ing is "vitally important" to the
NDP and he is proud to represent
the party to local constituents.
In response to the query, Spletts-
toesser said her leader Elizabeth
May has connected with 1 million
followers on Twitter but has not
been allow to participate in a num-
ber of debates.
"Every Canadian is important to
our leader," she said.
"The election isn't over yet,"
Thompson said, adding that he
feels "every riding is important to
all of the parties".
Thompson noted that Justin
Trudeau has come to the riding in
the past.
Lobb later said that Thompson
failed to mention that Trudeau had
charged $10,000 for his appearance.
Thompson retorted by asking
how much it would cost to have
Mike Duffy come here.
Candidates were asked what
their parties would do to address
the 1,200 Aboriginal woman that
are currently missing in Canada.
The question struck a nerve with
Creces.
"It's a travesty, he said.
He questioned why the death of
two men in Ottawa last year could
constitute "a war'; but 1,200 women
don't justify an inquiry.
He criticized the Harper govern-
ment for its record on Aboriginal
issues.
"There are 50 communities in the
north that are getting no help
because it's not the federal govern-
ment's problem."
Splettstoesser said there has
been "no action" from the current
government.
She suggested there should be
regular meetings between all levels
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of government and Aboriginal,
Inuit and Metis leaders.
Thompson called the treatment
of Aboriginal people as a "scar" on
the country's identity.
However, he said former Prime
Minister Paul Martin had made pro-
gress with the Kelowna Accord, but
it was wiped out by Stephen Harper.
Thompson said the Liberals
would commission a national
inquiry into the 1,200 missing Abo-
riginal women.
Lobb said such an inquiry could
potentially cost $15 million.
He claimed there have already
been 30 studies completed on the
matter.
"Law enforcement agencies will tell
you what the issues are, they just have
to keep working at it, Lobb said.
The first oral question was
whether the candidates would vote
for their constituents' wishes or
stick with their party's line.
Splettstoesser said there are less
and less "town hall" meetings
where MPs discuss issues with
their local constituents.
"It is very important to consult
citizens," she said. "I'm only candi-
date who has freedom to say, "I
truly work for you first and the
party comes last".
Creces said his party allows for can-
didates to have differing opinions.
"One size doesn't fit all;" he said.
However, he explained that if
there something his party sup-
ported that constituents had con-
cerns about, he would look to
address them.
The incumbent Lobb said candi-
dates are voted in to vote with party
legislation but noted in the past he
has voted for NDP private member
bills and voted against Conserva-
tive bills.
"There is no monopoly on good
ideas," Lobb said. "You have to vote in
the best interest of your community:'
Thompson said politicians need
to be allowed to be "more valua-
ble" to their constituents and that
Liberal MPs are allowed "free will"
in their voting.
"We have to find a way to open
our political system."
He said MPs should not be
judged just by their voting record,
how what when the cameras are
turned off.
Lieut. David Hickman of the Sal-
vation Army asked candidates how
they would address poverty and
increasing costs for utilities and
housing.
"What is your party planning to
help the most vulnerable," Hick-
man said.
"Poverty is one of the reasons
I've gotten into this campaign,"
Creces said.
"Rural poverty is killing us," he
added.
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