Provincial election candidates weigh in on the issues
By Lavinia Kerr Orangeville Citizen

With the provincial election campaign entering the final stretch, local candidates have been busy knocking on doors, attending all-candidates' meetings and greeting voters to discuss the issues.

The four candidates were asked what the number one issue for them was, provincially and locally, and what advice they have for voters on the electoral reform referendum. Following are their responses, in the order in which their names will appear on the ballots Oct. 10.

Betsy Hall, the Liberal candidate, says she never loses sight of the needs in the local area especially concerning agriculture and transportation.

"Those are the two areas locally that I know first-hand are a high priority," she said.

Health care and the lack of family doctors is also a concern both provincially and locally.

"The Liberals have worked hard to improve the doctor shortage in the area. And I will continue to work with the the family heath team (FHT). Four years ago, 2,800 residents didn't have a doctor and we have improved that."

Hall believes that under a Progressive Conservative government the province would see private clinics introduced and she says that since they would attract doctors because of the potential for making more money, public health care would suffer.

According to Hall, the Liberals, in the four years of being the government, have made progress improving health care and education.

"We need to continue on the path we have started," she said. "Under Dalton McGuinty we have put more money into education, reduced class sizes and we must continue with our plans."

She said the Liberals' education plan includes providing for a full day of junior and senior kindergarten, continuing to work toward the goal of reduced class sizes for primary grades and launching an online homework assistance program.

As for the issue of funding faith-based schools, "We can't afford another generation of disruption in the education system. Both the Tory and Green parties have a recipe for disruption."

The Liberal candidate says the referendum on the electoral system "is exciting because it's the first time (for this generation) to consider the fundamentals of the democratic process. Everyone has a chance for their say and I hope voters take advantage and express their choices."

Sylvia Jones, the Progressive Conservative candidate, says health care still tops all others both provincially and locally, "perhaps because it affects us in so many ways.

"With Dufferin- Caledon's population growing faster than other parts of Ontario, it's important that we have a well-funded public health care system that will be able to keep up."

She says the party's platform, Leadership Matters, sets out some specific ways to deal with these pressures, including health care budget by $8.5 billion per year by year four of its mandate. Specifically for this area, she says, there is good news because the PCs under the leadership of John Tory has committed to increase spending in high growth areas like Dufferin-Caledon, where funding hasn't kept up with population growth.

"We also have a plan to recruit and retain more family physicians by opening up more spaces in medical school, retaining physicians who are set to retire and loan deferral payments for physicians in residency programs," Jones said. "Far too many people in this riding and across the province remain without doctors, which causes a ripple effect throughout the entire health care system."

Asked about the referendum, Jones said she has some concerns with the proposed mixed-member proportional (MMP) system because it calls for an increase in seats from the current 107 to 129. She believes a list member may feel obligated to support the leader and party more than the local member, who must defend and explain their decision to voters in between elections.

NDP candidate Lynda McDougall says the needs of working families is a priority for Ontario.

"I know it covers a wide range of issues but 75% of Ontarians are working families and we need to make sure their issues are addressed," she said.

McDougall says working families are struggling and need a minimum wage of $10 an hour, a break on taxes, improved child care services, education spending and affordable post secondary costs.

"Every family is hurt when health care doesn't get the money it needs to improve services, especially in the local area, we are already underfunded and it's a problem."

Locally, the NDP candidate says agriculture is still high on the list of concerns and the NDP strategy Grow Ontario would guarantee farmers a reliable, bankable level of income based on a formula derived from the cost of production, production averages and input costs taken at the county level.

"Parts of Dufferin- Caledon may be looking a lot more urban than rural but it is still an agricultural region and farmers are struggling and they need help," she said.

As for the referendum, McDougall sees the MMP system as a popular choice. She says during the last election in 2005, she received 4,000 votes and in a mixed member proportional system, those voters would have had a voice at the table.

"I think the MMP system goes a long way to stopping critics who think their vote doesn't count under the current system," she said.

Rob Strang, candidate for the Green Party, says the top priority in Ontario should be to ensure that politicians clearly represent the public and not be in conflict of interest when making decisions that affect the public.

He thinks it's wrong that it is still legal for municipal politicians to accept campaign donations from a development corporation and then vote on zoning changes or official plan amendments that will potentially make that same corporation a lot of money.

"If this were changed, the government would be less concerned about endless unsustainable growth and concern itself more with preserving our high quality of life and building a sustainable economy."

The Green Party is intending to change this by introducing an Ontario Accountability Act, similar to the federal Act.

He believes the other parties are too addicted to corporate and union campaign donations to do what is best for the citizens of Ontario, and fixing democracy is Strang's top priority.

Locally, he said the Green Party has a long-term vision for Dufferin-Caledon.

"We are in a beautiful area with small urban centres surrounded by a vibrant rural community. As green businesses flourish, we have the potential to develop into an area that is truly sustainable," he said.

Strang said the high quality of life enjoyed by Dufferin-Caledon residents, coupled with the close proximity to the GTA, can attract people of exceptional skill to enhance and diversify the economy, without damaging the natural environment.