HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2015-10-14, Page 7Wednesday, October 14, 2015 • News Record 7
Goderich candidates debate a lively one
Dave Flaherty
Postmedia Network
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 tornado and the deci-
mation 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
represents 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 Canadi-
ans'; aren't happy with how Ste-
phen Harper is running the
country.
"People are tired of negativity,
cynicism and partisan politics,"
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
supports free trade and has been
supportive of the notion of the TPP.
To him, it remains to be seen if
supply management was
nrotected.
HYDRANT / BLOW -OFF FLUSHING NOTICE
Hydrant and Blow -off flushing will take place through the Day in:
➢ VANASTRA during the week of October 19th to 23rd, 2015
➢ SEAFORTH, EGMONDVILLE and BRUCEFIELD during
the weeks of October 26th to November 13th, 2015.
The water is safe, however you may notice cloudy or coloured
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until the water runs clear. It is recommended to refrain from doing
laundry, especially whites, on these dates.
You may also experience reduced water pressure.
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"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 Cana-
dian Charter of Rights and Free-
doms" and an "absolute aberration
of Canadian govemment"
Lastly, he said it is creating a soci-
ety 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 animosity
towards Canada.
The best way to combat terrorism
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.
"I think it's a joke, Creces said.
CONTINUED > PAGE 8
Bluewa
14 Mill Avenue, Box 250
ZURICH ON NOM 2T0
www.municipalityotbluewater.ca
2016 Municipal Grant Program
Applicants interested in submitting a municipal grant
request for the 2016 calendar year are to complete the
application and submit to the Manager of Finance by
November 1, 2015. Applications can be picked up at
the municipal office or downloaded from the website.
Traffic and Parking By-law
Vehicle owners must adhere to the parking
regulations as set out in by-law 4-2013. Parking
is prohibited on any street or highway between
the hours of 3:00 am and 6:00 am from
November 15 to April 15.
Fall Leaf Pick Up Program
This program will begin on October 19 and continue to
November 20.
All leaves must be in a clear plastic or brown paper
bags
• All bags must be placed at the curb for pick up
• Brush or garbage will not be picked up
• Bayfield/Hensall/Zurich — Daily Routes
• Brucefield/Dashwood/Varna — Weekly Routes
Dog Tags Available
Dog owners may now purchase or renew dog
tags for 2016. Tags must be purchased before
February 28, 2016 after which a late fee will be
charged. Applications can be picked up at the
municipal office or downloaded from the
website.
The Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) will commence the 2015 Fall flushing of watermains for the
Municipality of Bluewater Mondays to Fridays as follows:
Hensall Distribution System — October 13th — 16th
Zurich Distribution System — October 19th — 23rd
Bluewater Distribution System — Lakefront — October 26th — 30th
Bluewater Distribution System - Bayfield — November 2nd — 13th
You may experience discoloured water coming from your tap. If this happens, we suggest you try the
following:
• remove the tap aerators off your taps and flush the cold water house lines until it runs clear.
• flush out your hot water tanks. This is to remove the accumulated iron that precipitates out in the
tank; this iron may also decrease the efficiency of your water tank.
You may experience lower than normal pressure as a result of the flushing activities. We apologize for any
inconvenience this may cause. OCWA will continue to work on the flushing programs to ensure consumer
satisfaction.
Jennette Walker, Manager of Public Works Ontario Clean Water Agency
Municipality of Bluewater 519-441-0441 or 519-274-0997
519-236-4351