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The Citizen, 1990-09-05, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1990. Education, government spending explored bg candidates KEN CAMPBELL P.C. CANDIDATE Continued from page 10 agricultural industry. By doing this we not only attract new business, but we can do something to support a very important part of our local economy. CLARK -1 do not believe we should need to diversify our economy. Huron County is blessed with prime agricultural land, scenic Lake Huron, good climate, and a good diversity of industry. We need, rather than diversifying our economy, to work to make our economy healthy again. This would involve less government, less inter­ ference in business by bureaucrats, reduced taxes, and incentives to encourage small business. I would propose that we eliminate many of the 580 boards and commissions established by the PC and Liberal governments which are really just an excuse to funnel tax dollars to the party faithful and patronage appointments to party faithful. 1 would also move to cut the power of several boards such as the work­ mans’ compensation board. I be­ lieve business people across Huron County are tired of government interference in their businesses. The economy is in recession at the present time brought on by high interest rates and an overvalued Canadian dollar which makes Can­ ada unable to compete with U.S. industry on a level playing field. DETTWEILER - The Libertarians would cut down on government and bureaucracy. This would reduce taxes. Less taxation would stimu­ late the economy and help create jobs. Huron county would receive some of these jobs no doubt. As mentioned previously, Libertarians would not permit marketing boards to control where farm products are used. Thus if a farmer wished to produce flour or bread or pasta, or cheese on his farm this would be permissible. This would help the Huron economy. The only way a government should help to diversi­ fy the economy is by working to create favourable economic condi­ tions so that the private sector creates more jobs. A Libertarian government will not use grants or handouts to lure business. Using taxpayer money for this purpose is theft from the public purse. FITZGERALD - To help diversify Huron’s economy we need to develop, in concert with county and municipal governments, a pragma- tic, realistic strategy to attract compatible small business and industry from the large, expensive urban areas. I believe there are many opportunities out there by many who are unaware of Huron’s great attributes. KLOPP - If Huron County had a ealthy economic base for farmers, diversification” would take care of itself. Small business would flourish and industry would be attracted to the area. Our policy of supporting ethanol production in this province coupled with a posi­ tive attitude about small business and agriculture would create a diverse Huron County economy. In recent years provincial contribu­ tion to the cost of education has dropped, putting more of education costs onto local property taxes. How do you feel about this policy and if you were to make changes what would they be? CAMPBELL - I am totally against the course the provincial govern­ ment has taken that has seen a greater burden placed on local property taxes. The first thing that I would do is develop a totally new education funding program. Dur­ ing the process of developing a new funding program I would encour­ age input from local school boards and special interest groups to ensure that a new system would be fair and equitable. One of the things I would like to see eliminat­ ed is local school boards being forced to provide programs, whe­ ther the local board feels that the program is of any value to them or not, without meaningful funding from the province. CLARK -1 believe the Liberals are shirking their responsibilities in education as well as other areas such as transfer payments to municipalities, hospitals, pensions to municipal retirees, etc. Provin­ cial cutbacks to education have resulted in large increases on our property taxes. Since taking power, the Liberals have added 33 separ­ ate tax increases, increasing their revenue by 132 per cent (If you were paying $1,000 in provincial taxes in 1985 when the Liberals took power, you are now paying $2,320.00) but we have seen a reduction in funding for education in this province. If elected to Queen’s Park I would re-instate provincial funding for education to its previous level, thereby reducing your education portion of the municipal tax bill. At the same time I believe spending in education is out of control and would take steps to rectify this. DETTWEILER - Provincial contri­ bution to the cost of education has been INCREASED not decreased. These provincial contributions have increased at a rate far above the cost of inflation. Provincial contri­ butions to education have decreas­ ed only as a percentage of the total Ontario government budget. At the present time the province collects the largest part of the educational dollars through its taxes, then turns these funds to the Boards of Education. Libertarians would eliminate the Ministry of Education as it now exists. This is unnecessary bureaucracy. The re­ sult would be reduced provincial taxes for education. Libertarians advocate that the education system should, for the most part, be run by the local Board co-operating with principals, teachers and parents. The local Boards should then collect their own taxes. Total educational costs for taxpayers should decrease because of the eliminated bureaucracy in Toronto as well as increased accountability of local boards to the taxpayers. At the present time much of our educational dollars are wasted by uncaring people within the system. They feel they must use up the dollars budgetted to them or they will not get as much in the next budget. This type of attitude must change! FITZGERALD - The province’s share of education funding has remained at 56.9 percent of approv­ ed expenditures, * and in the last five years, the Liberal Government has increased spending on educa­ tion by 66 percent. New polling legislation to bring in taxes from highly industrial areas, coupled JIM FITZGERALD LIBERAL CANDIDATE with the widening of the industrial assessment base from new industry will ease the property tax load. KLOPP - Education tax has been a political football every election. The Tories and Liberals have repeatedly said they would put it back to 60 per cent. Each time they got a majority, it was dropped. We are committed to putting it back to 60 percent (it is now 40 percent). It will cost $1.5 billion over the next two years to right the wrong but, on the other side, that will be $1.5 billion in property tax relief to the benefit of seniors and low-income people. In recent years there has been a constant difficulty for government revenues to keep up with govern­ ment expenses. What approach do you feel government should take to overcome this problem? The platform of the Ontario Libertarian Party rests on the philosophy, that the freedoms we enjoy can only be preserved and enhanced by limiting government bureaucracy and its intrusion into our lives. We believe the rights of individuals to peacefully pursue their own lives without oppressive interference must be respected. Allan Dettweiler will work for •less taxes by reducing and eliminating government bureaucracy •fair share taxation for individuals and companies •the repealing of no-fault auto insurance •giving the poor and needy a hand - not a handout •making polluters pay for the damage they do •giving parents a choice of where they educate their children with equal government support for all •elimination of grants, subsidies and giveaway to everyone •eliminating the threat of country reform Libertarian On Sept. 6 r consider Allan Dettweiler Libertarian —j for less government FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 887-6098 OR 236-4645 CAMPBELL - To better balance government revenues and expendi­ tures I believe is where common sense comes into government. The demand for increased services is driving up the rate of expenditure and all too often the only source of revenue is taxation. The approach that I would take is to encourage both the local and provincial governments to set priorities for their programs realizing that funds are not unlimited and that we must sometimes say no to the provision of certain services. It seems to me that we have created a system whereby many groups can now demand certain services at the expense of others and this is creating a financial nightmare that is eventually passed down to the taxpayer. I would also encourage the evaluation of programs to ensure that they are doing the job they were intended to do and that we are getting the best value for the money that we are spending. None of these things will come easy, it will take a commitment from the provincial government, the local governments and the taxpayer. CLARK -1 believe strongly that we must reduce the size of govern­ ment. Since 1985, the Liberals have increased the civil service by 9,000 employees. David Peterson has tried to solve the unemployment problem all by himself, adding a cost of approximately $1 billion a year. The Family Coalition Party has called for an immediate freeze on all civil service hiring with a five per cent cut in personnel in the first two years of this coming mandate to be achieved through attrition. DETTWEILER - The solution to over spending is simple and yet government and the people, make ALLAN DETTWEILER YourChoicein Huron for Responsible Government it so difficult. The solution is simply to cut down subsidies, programs and giveaways. But our industries demand funds to create jobs. Our farmers demand subsidies. Inefficient business de­ mands bailout money to stay afloat. Churches take money to do the work of the Lord. Municipalities ask for money so they can build an arena as nice as the larger munici­ pality up the road has. And the list goes on and on. The provincial government complies with all these requests simply to stay in power. Bureaucrats create programs to give themselves jobs. Wake Up People, There is No Free Lunch! Libertarians are telling tax- Continued on page 13 How to get your financial life in shape. •protection for mortgage, business, family income, disability or estate; •retirement planning, RRSP's, RRIF’s, and annuities: •employee benefits and pension plans. •Investment, GIC’s, Mutual Funds and Registered Education Savings Plan •Term Deposits Call me: Tony G. Arts 107 Main St. N. Seaforth, Ont. Seaforth: 527-0794 London: 432-1841 O SunLife