The Lucknow Sentinel, 2015-08-19, Page 3Wednesday, August 19, 2015 • Lucknow Sentinel 3
Huron -Bruce candidates ready for Canada's historic election
Steve Goetz
Postmedia Network
With a visit to the Gover-
nor General by the prime
minister, the federal election
is now underway.
Canadians across the
country will cast ballots Oct.
19 to elect the 42nd Parlia-
ment of Canada after what
will be the longest election
period in modern times.
At the outset of the cam-
paign, polls show two-thirds
of voters want a change of
government, but Stephen
Harper's Conservatives may
once again benefit from a
split vote on the left as
Thomas Mulcair attracts his-
torically high support to the
NDP, while Justin Trudeau's
Liberals remain competitive.
With polls showing all three
parties with about 30 per cent
support, this is shaping up to
be the first true three-way
race in Canadian history.
The early election call and
new rules set out in the Fair
Elections Act passed last year
are to the Conservatives'
advantage: with more money
in the bank, the party is best
positioned to make use of
higher spending limits that
kick in for each day the cam-
paign runs over 36 days; and
with third -party advertising
banned during the official
campaign period, some of
the party's well -funded critics
-- including Unifor, Canada's
largest union -- are effectively
sidelined.
To the opposition parties'
advantage, recent economic
news -- that Canada's econ-
omy may be in recession and
a promised balanced budget
now in question -- undercuts
the Conservatives' claims of
sound economic
management.
In Huron -Bruce, Conserv-
ative Ben Lobb is seeking re-
election against three new-
comers: Allan Thompson of
the Liberals, Gerard Creces
of the NDP, and Jutta Spletts-
toesser of the Green Party.
Though many may not be
ready to put aside summer
attractions for political dis-
tractions, The Kincardine
News reached out to the
Huron -Bruce candidates
from the four major parties to
ask a few questions to intro-
duce themselves at the start
of what promises to be a long
and hard-fought campaign.
Ben Lobb, candidate for
the Conservative Party of
Canada
What will be your core
message to voters in
Huron -Bruce?
We will deliver a positive
message during this election
highlighting our govern-
ments past achievements
and visions for the future.
Our Government has man-
aged through tough eco-
nomic times, balanced the
budget, cut taxes for all
Canadians and delivered a
more efficient government.
Why is Stephen Harper the
best leader for Canada?
Over the last 10 years,
Prime Minister Stephen
Harper has demonstrated
that he is a sound economic
manager, he has delivered
on all his promises from the
last election, he is a
respected world leader and
the only leader in this elec-
tion that has a true vision for
Canada's future.
Are the Conservatives in
Huron -Bruce ready to fight
an extra long campaign?
At this point, we have been
election ready for over a year.
This is our fourth campaign in
10 years. Our team is in place,
our office is setup and operat-
ing and were fully financed to
run a long campaign. We are
ready to go whenever the writ
is dropped.
Who do people contact if
they want to volunteer with
the Cons?
They can contact the
Goderich campaign office at
321 Suncoast Drive East, call
519-612-5622 or send an
e-mail to: benlobbcpc@
hurontel.on.ca
Allan Thompson, candi-
date for the Liberal Party of
Canada
What will be your core
message to voters in
Huron -Bruce?
My core message is that it is
time for a change and that I am
the candidate best positioned
to defeat Stephen Harper in
Huron -Bruce. I will be talking
to voters about my hope to
restore integrity to politics after
a decade of cynicism and
secrecy, about making fairness
the cornerstone of all policy-
making and the importance of
our MP providing a strong,
rural voice in Ottawa.
Why is Justin Trudeau the
best leader for Canada?
I think Justin Trudeau has
demonstrated his ability to
build a remarkable team of can-
didates and to lead a political
movement that has put forward
the most comprehensive and
thoughtful policy platform out
there. I think he has also made
clear that despite months of
negative, American-style attack
ads aimed at him personally, he
is the kind of leader who is
going to stick to the high road
and put forward apositive, opti-
mistic vision for the country. He
is the reason I got into politics.
Are the Liberals in Huron -
Bruce ready to fight an extra
long campaign?
Stephen Harper will have to
explain to Canadians how he
justifies calling the longest elec-
tion campaign in modem his-
tory, a move that could double
or even triple the cost to taxpay-
ers of running an election. But
regardless, the Liberal party in
Huron -Bruce is ready to hit the
ground and bring our message
that it is time for real change in
Countywide economic development strategic
planning process launches Facebook Page
County of
Huron
Submitted
To support the countywide
collaborative economic
development strategic plan-
ning process, the County of
Huron announced on August
11 that it has created a Face -
book Page entitled "Shaping
Huron County's Economic
Development Plan, 2015-
2020': Anyone interested in
this conversation is invited to
join the page and participate!
The Facebook page will
provide access to information,
dates and material related to
the strategic planning process
that is currently underway.
This spring, the Huron
County Economic Develop-
ment Board and Huron County
Council agreed to support a
truly countywide strategic plan-
ning process. The process will
ultimately allow all ten munici-
pal partners in Huron County
to develop, implement and
measure economic develop-
ment priorities, goals and activ-
ities in a consistent and coordi-
nated manner. Each
municipalitywill appoint a five -
person team to work through
the process on their behalf.
this riding and across Canada.
I've been travelling to every cor-
ner of the riding for close to a
year now, listening, talking to
voters and building a campaign
team, so we're ready to go.
Who do people contact if
they want to volunteer with
the Liberals?
Those who use computers
can visit my website at www.
allanthompson.ca and click
the Get Involved tab. But peo-
ple can also call our volunteer
centres toll free at 1-844-396-
7880. And of course, they're
welcome to drop in in person
at 969 Queen St. in downtown
Kincardine (near Tim Hor-
ton's) or at 43 West St. in
Goderich, just off the square.
Gerard Creces, candidate
for the New Democratic
Party of Canada
What will be your core mes-
sage to voters in Huron -Bruce?
My personal message
from day one has been: Let's
take the power back
Never before has a govern-
ment abused its power and
privilege as much as the
Harper government - so much
so that even people who voted
Conservative in 2011 have
been shut out and ignored.
We as an electorate can't keep
giving power to people who
use it solely for their own ben-
efit - in the house, in the sen-
ate, in corporate welfare.
That's why we're ready for
change. Real power comes
from communities, not back
room dealings.
Why is Thomas Mulcair the
best leader for Canada?
Put simply, he's an honest
man who has left his ego at the
door. His main policies are all
people -centric as opposed to
hyper -partisan - better Long
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7
Term Care for seniors, $15 -a -
day childcare, increasing the
federal minimum wage. These
policies won't make the one
per -cent much money, but they
will increase the health and
wellbeing of Canadians and a
confident, healthypopulationis
the single greatest tool to kick-
start
ickstart the economy that Harper
has run into the red again.
Are the NDP in Huron -
Bruce ready to fight an extra
long campaign?
The Huron -Bruce NDP has
never been more ready to
enter into campaign mode.
Our office will be up and nm-
ning by the time this goes to
print and our volunteer team is
strong and growing every day.
Ultimately, the length of the
campaign may have been
increased but there are still the
same number of days left until
the election itself. Harper can
rig the game but he can't buy
substance. We will use each
and every day from now until
the second the polls close to
reach out to everyone in the
riding who wants change.
Who do people contact if
they want to volunteer with
the NDP?
People can contactWilli Lau-
rie at 519-482-9265 or John Rich
at 519-386-9935. Our campaign
office is located at 32 West
Street in Goderich. The phone
number is 519-612-2200.
You can also contact us
through Facebook - either
through the Huron -Bruce
NDP page or through face-
book.com/GC4NDP. The
more volunteers the better
because Huron -Bruce is ready
for change and it will take all
of our efforts to bring it about.
Jutta Splettstoesser, can-
didate for the Green Party
of Canada
What will be your core mes-
sage to voters inHuron-Bruce?
Vision Green 2015 is the
only comprehensive policy
document that offers practical
tools and the political direction
for Canada. A bright and
promising future for Huron -
Bruce depends on a smart
economy with thriving small
businesses, innovative oppor-
tunities for young people and
local jobs suited to the 21st
Century. Protecting and using
our resources under a national
program that results in carbon
and poverty reduction at the
same time is key to success.
Why is Elizabeth May the
best leader for Canada?
Elizabeth May has been
named 2012's parliamentar-
ian of the year, honoured as
Canada's hardest working MP
of 2013 and best orator 2014
based on votes by all MPs.
Our leader of the Green Party
of Canada is well respected
by the public for her contri-
butions. Mrs. May is commit-
ted to work for all Canadians
and society as a whole where
everybody can be a winner.
Are the Greens in Huron -
Bruce ready to fight an extra
long campaign?
The Green Party of Canada
is ready to run a successful
campaign in Huron -Bruce. [I
think] that an unnecessary
long campaign period will
use up resources that could
benefit our communities in a
more productive way.
Who do people contact if
they want to volunteer with
the Greens?
Volunteers are very impor-
tant to us. Please contact our
campaign office by phone at:
519-386-5803 or email jutta.
splettstoesser@gmail.com
arians King -Murray & K'enii'eth:Gregory.
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