Candidated debate issues in Stratton

By Ken Johnston
Editor

With the Ontario provincial elections this Thursday, Oct. 6th, four of the five candidates for the Kenora-Rainy River Riding attended the last of the local debates in Stratton last Thursday.
About 60 citizens were in attendance to hear what Anthony Leek (Liberal), Charmaine Romaniuk (Northern Ontario Heritage Party), Sarah Campbell (NDP) and Rod McKay (Progressive Conservative) had to say on issues raised by the audience.
After each candidate briefly introduced themselves, the floor was opened up to questions.
The first question was from Kevin Kennedy of Pinewood. He asked what candidates views were on the fact that a person has to pay separate health benefit premiums on every vehicle they drive.
Answering honestly, all four did not know enough about the issue, but said they would, if elected, do their best to learn about it and see what could be done about it.
Kim-Jo Bliss of Emo asked an agricultural question. She pointed out that farmers and especially the new abattoir in Emo, need more financial help with marketing of locally produced foods and wondered what the candidates would do about this issue.
Campbell said her party would help with marketing. “I feel we need to extend markets and the government needs to “Buy Ontario” where possible.”
Romaniuk said her party would promote local produce and agreed with buying local.
Leek pointed to past investments by the Liberal government and said he would work for more of that.
McKay said his party supports jobs and economic growth and that this is one of those areas where his party could help.
Gary Judson of Emo said he does not believe any of the candidates have a chance of exacting much change because of too many bureaucrats in the government. He wanted to know what the candidates thought of that.
Romaniuk said she understands why votes are apathetic. “We as candidates are committed to bettering the North.”
Leek said that he will work hard to get Southern Ontario to “Believe in us” so that they will invest in the North.
McKay said, “We believe in reducing government by 2% a year through attrition. It is bloated and overgrown. Get rid of red tape and make electricity affordable.” He added the only way this is going to be good for the people of this riding is to elect a candidate tied to power, not in opposition.
Campbell countered with, “In this economy getting rid of good paying jobs is not the answer now.” She said her party would create a “Northern Table” and get rid of the HST on essentials such as power.
Another question was raised concerning electrical production in the region.
McKay said he was quite shocked when he heard that coal-fired electricity was being shut down in Ontario. “60% of our power comes from it and the government has no plans to replace it. We need to better interconnect with Manitoba and Quebec.”
Campbell agreed, “There needs to be a plan in place before getting rid of coal. The Liberals have made hydro bills very expensive. Besides coal plants can be made cleaner by installing scrubbers and make them greener.”
Romaniuk said “Green” is just a buzz word.
Leek said that McKay’s figures were off and that in fact 50% of electricity is from nuclear in Ont. He also pointed to Campbell’s stance that us closing the plants here has little impact when the US is building more and more coal plants. “I don’t think that we should do this just because the US is doing it. We need to lead by example and wind and solar prices will come down. This is for the future and our kids.”
Energy was again in the next question when a citizen asked for views on the solar panel generation and why they were so expensive and only allowed to generate small amounts of power.
Campbell said the NDP will not keep the MicroFit program but she feels hydro generation is cleaner. She pointed to the MicroFit program paying out 80¢/kwh and then only charging citizens 10¢/kwh as unsustainable.
Romaniuk said solar and wind need more investment from government.
Leek said, “The 80¢/kwh was a must. In order to get people to invest in it, the costs were high and they needed return on their investment. Other sources of power will continue to go up. This is sustainable in the long run.”
McKay has a problem with the MicroFit program. “It is a very expensive experiment. People shouldn’t have to give up food or heat in their barn because electricity is so expensive. I don’t think anyone would invest 80¢ to only get 10¢ back. We need something that makes more sense.”
On the heels of McKay’s comment about people giving things up to pay for power, another citizen asked what the candidates would do to ease the financial pressures being experienced by people here due to more and more expenses being tacked onto the average person’s household but yet their incomes or jobs have not improved.
Romaniuk said her party really wants to focus on jobs for Northern Ontario.
Leek said that his party would provide more investment in the North. “The floor came out from under us in forestry and agriculture. We need investments here and the government needs to invest here.”
McKay replied to Leek and the question by saying, “No one will invest here with the high electricity rates here.” He also noted that he currently manages a shut down mill in Kenora. It is shut down because it can not secure any fibre bases. He said he would work hard to improve conditions for investment in industry here by creating stable and affordable electric rates and securing fibre bases for area mills. He would also support removing the HST and debt reduction charges from hydro bills.
Campbell said she can support removal of the HST from hydro bills, “But we still have to pay our bills. The debt must be paid for.” She added that Northwestern Ontario produces more power and cheaply, than it can use. “We need a not for profit electric system in NWO. Manitoba does it, I think we can here.”
Archie Wiersema of Rainy River brought the issue of not enough full time doctors threatening to close down Rainy River’s Emergency Room at times. He asked, “What are you going to do to help us find doctors and our locum house project needs (Provincial) funding?
Leek said he has received many emails on this issue. “It is really important to have an ER in Rainy River. If Rainy River is not there people are going to die.” He commended people for coming together to try and deal with the problem. “Doctor retention and recruitment has been a big issue for years. Trying to do something about it together speaks volumes about who we are.”
McKay said, “I know this is a serious issue. Maybe we could look at hiring a nurse practitioner.” He also wondered if the current M.P.P. Howard Hampton has been involved. “We will invest $330 million in front line health care. Something in the system is broken when we have to locally raise money for attracting doctors.”
Campbell said, “It is absurd to say that an M.P.P. has to be on the side of government to have the government provide services it is supposed to.” She called for getting rid of the Local Health Integration Networks and to forgive student debts for doctors that practise in rural areas. “What’s not to love here!”
Romaniuk echoed Campbell saying, “The government should be responsible for it. Government passes the blame. We need doctors and ones that are not overworked. We need more than one doctor.”
A question on what strategies the candidates would have for problems facing aboriginal youths was then asked.
McKay said he would have to look at what the problem is. “Kids in the far North have despair. We need to find a way to make them see there is a better world and opportunities out there.”
Campbell agreed that, “We need to provide opportunities and hope and create a level playing field when it comes to education funding.” She also said investing in Native communities by building facilities like arenas also have very positive spin-offs.
Romaniuk, who is Metis, said that the problem is 150 years of culture shock, “The healing needs to come from within first.”
Leek said, “We need to get past consulting and engage First Nations. We all deserve the same opportunities.”
Tom Morrish of Devlin explained to the candidates that since 9/11 the border at Rainy River and Warroad has forced goods, such as cattle, bound for Winnipeg, to go around the lake. He wanted to know what the candidates will do to fix this.
Leek said the issue is a big one affecting not only agriculture but tourism. “I would work to engage our federal government to sit down at the table and work on this issue.”
McKay agreed that having the right people sit down and discuss it can lead to a positive solution.
Campbell echoed that saying a good relationship with our neighbours is key to resolving this.
Why should a person vote for the candidates?
Campbell said that people should vote for her because she will work hard to raise the issues for the riding. “It doesn’t matter if we are elected as part of the party in power. Do you think that had we had a Liberal candidate the HST would not have been on your power bills? No they would have just thrown you under the bus faster. They have ignored us for eight years. What do you think will be different if elected?”
Romaniuk said she knows that her candidacy is a baby step. “There are only three of us running in the entire province. If elected we will pave the way for the future of our party and will fight for you.”
Leek said he feels the Liberals have done great things, but that our M.P.P. (an NDP member) has chosen not to tell people about them. He said that if elected he will lead and work hard for the people here. “We had him (Howard Hampton) in power from 1990-95 as our M.P.P.. They promised public auto insurance. Did not get it. Tuition went up 40% under his government. As an individual I am disappointed with him not doing his job.”
McKay feels, “We can not afford eight more years of the McGinty (Liberal) government. We have higher taxes, more surcharges and there is nothing going on here. We were promised no tax increases (by McGinty) but they came anyways. The NDP had their chance (90-95) but they did not deliver. The best choice is Rod McKay. A PC government will create jobs and the environment to have jobs; good paying jobs here!”
He noted that the debt on the hydro bills was paid off recently but the Liberals are still collecting it from us.
Closing remarks
McKay
“Consider the Liberal record. There have been thousands of jobs lost here. We have out of control hydro rates which are expected to go up by 56% over the next 5-6 years. Our mining sector was #1 in the world in 2002. Now it is 19th.”
He feels the riding needs a change to an M.P.P. that is on the side of government. “I think I have the experience and knowledge a real desire to make a change.”
Campbell
“The Liberals have created a real disaster in NWO and they do not deserve your vote. Remember the PCs will say anything to get your vote. Under Mike Harris they waged war on schools/teachers and privatized the electric system. They cut thousands of jobs and they have no plan to deal with doctor shortages. I have tried to show you what is possible. We have small numbers and big geography but I think we can do it!”
Romaniuk
She said her party is about Northern Ontario. “We should run our own economic development, control our resources and start taking care of ourselves.”
Leek
“The debt was paid on the hydro bills, but the interest is still to be paid. Once it is the charge will be removed from the bills. On August 4th I was also in a meeting involving the Liberal government allotting wood (fibre bases) including Mr. McKay’s mill.”
“Other parties have created chaos while in government. We have provided stability and invested in education and health care. We will continue uploading services that the PCs downloaded (to municipalities). We want provincial responsibilities to be provincial responsibilities.”
“I want to be a positive voice for you.”