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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-05-01, Page 5GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 985 --PAGE 5 Smith challenges Riddell for HuronLMiddiesex vote Bouyed by endorsements from the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail and recent surveys which suggest the Con- servatives have lost as much as 14 per cent of the popular vote, Huron -Middlesex Liberal candidate Jack Riddell is realistically looking for a minority govern- ment. Which party forms that minority govern- ment is an issue that the electorate of On- tario will decide, at the. polls Thursday, but Riddell did not discount the fact the Liberals could be on the governing side of the Legislature. In a predominantly agricultural riding spring seeding takes precedence over politics and candidates Riddell, Con- servative Bryan Smith, Paul Klopp of the New Democrats and Rhinoceros candidate Carman Dawson have had to get out in the riding to meet the electorate. They debated at all -candidates meetings in Lucan and most recently in Clinton at a gathering sponsored by Women Today. The riding of Huron -Middlesex encom- passes 11 townships in an area stretching from Goderich in the north, south to Ker - wood and east to Seaforth. It is a riding where loyalties run deep and where only two candidates have represented the peo- ple of the area during the Conservative 42 - year reign. - Huron -Middlesex was served by a Con= servative member until the election of 1973 when Jack Riddell won the seat in a byelection. He has maintained a comfor- table majority in every election since and only in the 1981 did the Conservatives offer Riddell any reason for despair. Former Goderich deputy -reeve Jim Britnell. cut Riddells majority to 2,000 votes in that election and Conservative riding officials believe they have a formidable candidate in Smith. In a fiery pre-election speech before par- ty supporters in Goderich Monday, Riddell quoted extensively from a Toronto Star editorial which blatantly supported the Liberals behind leader David Peterson. While admitting that the party was not without flaws the editorial, ostensibly, sug- gested that the Liberals, under Peterson, were progressive and would provide a fresh,team with new ideas. "It's time for a change." concluded the editorial. Miller's 'refusal to debate and hisstand on several issues reflects 42 years of ar- raogance Riddell told the group adding that Peterson was the only alternative to move Ontario. Ontario Liberal leader David Peterson is surrounded by media per- sonnel during and election campaign stop at Clinton Public Hospital. Mr. Peterson, travelling with Huron -Bruce MPP Murray "There are more than half a million peo- ple out of work in this province and 175,000 young people between the ages of 15 and 24 despair for their future," he said. "They are not pursuing their education becuase there are no jobs when they graduate. "Miller closed the best psychiatric hospital and he tried to close Clinton Hospital as well. In the 1970s the province paid 60 per cent of the education costs and today they pay only 43. The burden has been shifted to the local taxpayer. It's time for a change. After. 42 years of rule the Elstone and Huron -Middlesex MPP Jack Riddell, met ad- ministrator Dan Steyn and hospital chairman Leen Reehorst. (James Friel photo) • Conservatives have lost inertia, they -have lost initiative." Change was on the minds of Canadian voters in the last federal election when Brian Mulroney led the Conservatives to an unprecedented majority government. Change and 'leadership may swing the provincial election and Riddell believes it will work in the Liberals' favor. "Our policies are designed for people and are not monuments of self esteem," he said. ' ;Peterson is a vibrant, middle-of-the- road Liberal who believes in free enter- prise and as little government involve- ment in the lives of'peopre as possible." Confidently proclaiming that a "change" is imminent Riddell suggested. - the election would' produce a minority government and that a subsequent election would produce a Liberal majority govern- ment. Riddell, a former farmer, auctioneer and graduate of Guelph University, has held the riding for almost 12 years. His stif- fest opposition will likely come from Smith, a salesman with Interbake Foods lection '85' whose only previous political experience was a term on the Lucan village council and several years service with the village's planningboard. Smith's campaign has been doing well in the southern portion of the riding near his home -town of Lucan, and party organizers admit that the towns of Goderich, Clinton and Seaforth will be a key in the election. If Smith can hold his own in the northern sec- tor of the riding, then anything can hap- pen. While the appearance of Frank Miller at a dinner meeting in Lucan did much to enhance the Smith campaign, the memory of the former health minister may haunt him in the north. In 1977, Miller tried un- succesfully to close Clinton Hospital among others. "I find that the majority of people are receptive to Miller and I even had someone say they were glad he was elected leader," Smith said. "The riding has changed a lot since then. There are some bad feelings, sure, but people have confidence in Miller," Smith has been working in the riding since the announcement of the election and is optimistic about his chances in scoring what would have to be considered an upset in Huron Middlesex. "People .have con fidence in Miller and they've.-been.:recep tive tome," he said. The cornerstone -of .his , party's policy, Enterprise Ontario, is a program that could have an impact on the employment picture of the riding Smith contends ad -1 ding that young people are seriously con- cerned for their future. The southern portion of the riding has produced all four candidates in the elec- tion and the New Democrats are pinning hopes on a young Zurich area farmer, Paul K1K1 pp, a regional director with the On- tario Federation of Agriculture, has ex- pressed concern over the plight of farmers in the riding'and is opposed to the usage of valuable farmland in the area for a propos- ed Ontario Hydro transmission line. Klopp takes over the NDP reigns from Bayfield resident Gwen Pemberton who also ran a low-key campaign in the 1981 election when she polled 1,170 votes. Farm related issues will be the key in the riding,of Huron -Middlesex and all can- didates have expressed a desire to fight for the preservation of farm land and make provisions for . financially-trc,buled farmers;. . Elston should get another close fight in Huron- Bruce • After four weeks of shaking hands, tour- ing businesses, mainstreeting, attending 'candidates' meetings and meeting anyone and everyone, Murray Elston, Mike Snotielen and Norma Peterson are ready to hear from the voters. Tomorrow (Thursday) is Ontario election day, and • in the Huron -Bruce riding, in- terested onlookers are waiting to see if the 1985 race is as close as the final result in 1981 when Mr. Elston, the Wingham lawyer replacing the retired Liberal Murray Gaunt, squeezed by Progressive Conservative can- didate Gary Harron by 224 votes. Only the ridings of Hamilton Mountain t NDP 197 ), Wentworth (PC 160), Windsor Sandwich (Iiberal 134 ), Hamilton Centre ( NDP 63 ) and Parry Sound (PC 6) Saturday's Gallup poll showed the Con- servatives holding 43 per cent of the vote, 10 ahead of the Liberals, with the New Democratic Party trailing at 24 per cent. • The three candidates told The News in separate interviews held from Friday to Monday that the Huron -Bruce campaign has been run in "clean fashion", free of ver- bal attacks on each other. Mr. Snobelen said Sunday he has "enjoyed having a gentleman and a lady. as my opponents". Mr. Elston told The News Friday he was "very pleased with the style of campaign run by Mike and Norma". Mrs. Peterson said Monday she prefers to stay away from "political mudslinging". "I don't think it benefits a person who does it," said Mrs. Petersen. "Some people don't like it when politicians attack too much." Mr. Elston is hoping to return to Queen's Park after picking up 12,164 votes in 1981. Provincially. he said Liberal leader David Peterson's performance has been the story -of.the rarnpaifin in his ridinn Mr Piston_ said he feels he has picked up support with his campaign and will be working this week to get the workers out. Running in a second. campaign and es HERUC ON -BRE_ PROGRESSI\ E_ Con- servative candidate MikeSSSnobelen spent most of .April 10 campaigning with Ontario Premier Frank Miller. Mr. Snobelen defeated CKNX broadcaster Rill Thompson for the PC nomination nn April upset.` Tie _feeds it . i` tipbrmit__t�' get - representation at Queen's Park from so- meone with a background in agriculture. (Steve McAllister Photo ) 2 in a 'Id periencing four years in the role of MPP has allowed Mr. Elston to keep more touch with the issues and the policies of his party. Hav- ing more recognition has made things easier, he admits, and he said he was more relaxed in the '81 election as some "nervous energy" has accompanied keeping up on constituency duties and campaigning. Some observers felt Mr.. Peterson's stop in Kincardine last Wednesday may have been made out of fear regarding Mr. Elston's re- election. Mr. Elston said the leader was on- ly affirming his interest in the riding. "David's swing through the area was to tell supporters. he doesn't take them for granted and to (tell again) his position on the Bruce Energy Centre. • We have a commitment to the people in this area." Mr. Elston is confident that hard work by himself and area Liberal supporters will result in a victory tomorrow. "The numbers are available for us if we keep working hard and get the people out to vote)," he said: Learning to understand riding Mr. Snobelen created a stir within the PC's in the riding when he decided a week before the party's nomination meeting to run against CKNX broadcaster Bill Thomp- son for • the Tory ticket. The farmer - businessman received 26 more votes than Mr. Thompson and while some feel the Con- servative association was split over the decision, Mr. Snobelen said Sunday his cam- paign is "on a definite rise". "A lot of them healed overnight (after the <nomination meeting )," said Mr. Snobelen after hosting a beef barbecue which at- tracted approximately 800 supporters. "You're going to hurt when you've work hard on behalf of a person and I'm well- pleased.with_tbe, wad this group has come together. Mr. Snobelen sal(' campaigning has'allow- ed him to "really understand the riding" and has affirmed his thoughts on issues such as agriculture, one being the need for farmers to "unite their thinking". While the media have been critical of Con- servative leader Frank Miller's campaign in recent (weeks, Mr. Snobelen said "I don't think it's a big issue in this riding". He said ,the 10 per cent gap between the Con- servatives and the Liberals (according to the poll) translates.into "two to three extra" seats for the Tories in Southwestern On- tario, saying that it's a positive note for him heading into Thursday. NDP will make gains Mrs. Peterson, who replaced Tony Mac - Quail as the NDP candidate in Huron -Bruce, said Monday her campaigning as the NDP candidate in last fall's federal election has given her some exposure. "It's a plus that I have gained some type of reputation in the northern part of the riding," said Mrs. Peterson. "Part of the battle is recognition and now I hope they'll listen to my ideas." The Kincardine town councillor thought the threat of a strike at the Bruce Nuclear Power Development by Hydro union employees may have become a large issue during the campaign. She said that union meetings may have prevented the workers from being more involved in the election. While Mr. Miller, Mr. Peterson and . Minister of Education Keith Norton provid- ed Mr. Elston and Mr. Snobelen with a little more exposure with visits here during the campaign, Mrs. Peterson has been trying to attract votes without visits from her party's leading politicians. That hasn't bothered her. "I would hope the members of the elec- torate would see through Mr. Miller and Mr. Norton's visits," she said. est -out -the possibility of "slipping through the middle" in tomor- row's vote, Mrs. Peterson said the final results are "so unpredictable". Cand.idatesarguon basicwanienTh issues in Clinton BY SUSAN HUNDERTMARK All three provincial election candidates in the Huron -Middlesex riding agreed with the basic principles of daycare, affir- mative action and equal pay for work of equal value at an all -candidates meeting in Clinton on Thursday. But, the particular ways to achieve these principles often re- mained a mystery for the over 60 voters in attendance. "Women's issues receive a fair share in the Progressive Conservatives. We're tak- ing great strides to achieving full equality between women and men and these achievements are not unheeded by women of Ontario," said Progressive Con- servative candidate Bryan Smith who cited Bette Stephenson as an example that women have 'full access _to, any position they work and strive for the Conservative government. New Democratic Party candidate Paul Klopp said the NDP has been fighting for women for years and has a proven record on women's issues. He said the Conservatives let the private members' bill on equal pay for work of equal value die in 1981 while the Liberals paid lip service to the Economic Equality Act in 1983 but ensured the defeat of the act when 13 Liberals left the Legislature before the vote. Women's issues mean different things to different people, said Liberal candidate, Jack Riddell. b r - •I, 'e' re proud of our record. We'cnnsuler «omen's ISSUE'S a hip% priority. Rut we're not proud of the 42 -year-old record of the Conservatives or something would have been, done years ago." he said. HEALTH CARE When asked if his party would ensure all major partners in health care incluclirrg consumers had an equal voict' in. health care policy. Riddell said his party has recognized the cost sayings of providing health services at home. "We support the Town and Country Homemakers to the fullest degree Far too many beds are taken up by chronic care patients in hospitals." he said. He blasted the ('onsertlittive government for the 2.8 per cent increase given to On- •tari s hospitals- in- 498 -- ':s• a *fie--the- way they're underfunded. inflation is run- ning higher than that... he said. Klopp saidthe NDP supports more com- munity involvement in health care concen- trating on preventative and pre -natal hearth care. "There's a great need for midwives to be funded through OHIP to allow people who can to have babies at home."' he said. Smith said he supported health care. "Minister of Health Alan Pope is from a small town and he's concerned with small hospitals," he said. CHILD CARE The candidates were asked what they would do to prevent the closure of Tuckersrnith Day Nurserand to ensure all parents had equal a' gess to quality childcare. Daycare that is affordal,le. flexible and accessible particularly to rural parents is supported by the NDP, said Klopp. "We're pushing for realistic capital for start-up assistance and shifting the burden for funding to the province so you'll know the money is going to he there for fun- ding," he said. The Conservatives -gill commit $4 million to opening 15 rural ' hildcare cen- tres and 100,000 new spots. said Smith. "In Tuckersmith. you can be assured you won't lose any sub'idized daycare spaces. This is very important for the mother who wants to go out and get a job," he_ said. . Riddell said the Conser:,+tives continue to treat childcare as a welfare issue by allocating less than four per cent of their budget to childcare. He pledged a $10 million . fund in start up grants and guaranteed spaces for all children in need ofSubsidized daycare. • ."Our goal is universal childcare," he said. EQUALITY FOR WOMEN IN FARMING Because married women are expected to prove their eligibility ,for farm assistance programs under existing legislation, the candidates were asked if their parties would legislate equality for all women. "1 firmly believe a wife should he able to apply for and receive these programs. We don't have a definite policy on it; it's something that has to be thoroughly reviewed," said Riddell. The Conservative government looks at a farm as a family unit irstead of looking at who farms the land and aren't prepared to deviate from that policy, he said. "I have no doubt the programs have loopholes and you can be assured I'll be lookinginto it," said Smith. Klopp said if a government would allow farmers to have an income, equality would work out in the long run. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION The NDP will support mandatory affir- mative action in all sectors, initiate com- • plaints against companies and provide protection against employer reprisals, 'gad -IC -kw Under the Conservative government; the gap between men and women's wages has decreased from 63 to 77 per cent, said Smith. He added that women have to be en- couraged to enter non-traditional fields which the Conservatives will do with train- ing programs. It's not something you can change overnight," he said. Riddell said job retraining in non- traditional fields for women was the answer along with television programs serving as role models for young girls choosing careers. He also said more women should run for 4 office. "I would dearly love to see more women come into the legislature. We need \more like Sheila Copps, the girl who in- troduced the bill for equal pay for work of equal value," he said. FUNDING FOR WOMEN'S GROUPS Smith said the Conservatives did not fund organizations because it would put a massive burden on the province. By reducing residential property taxes, municipalities would have more money, to fund local groups such as women's groups, said Klopps. "It's not uncommon for the Ontario Federation of Agriculture to receive fun- ding so I don't see why organizations like Women Today couldn't be funded," he said. If women's groups were doing the work supposed to • be done by the Ministry of Women's Affairs, they should be paid for it; 'said Riddell. "Thank God for organizations like Women Today or we wouldn't be debating women's issues in the legislature today," he said. PORNOGRAPHY All the candidates agreed that there should be a crackdown on pornograpffy, particularly violent and child por- nography. - Riddellsaid-Project P, a task force on pornography in Toronto should be given jurisdiction over all of Ontario while Klopp said videos should be licenced to ensure no child pornography is shown.