Northumberland News
COBOURG — Sitting before a capacity crowd in Cobourg, the provincial candidates in Northumberland-Quinte West weighed in on a variety of issues at the Best Western Inn leading up to election day.
In addition to addressing the rising cost of energy in Ontario, the four local candidates spoke to ways of attracting business to small towns, their plans to deal with infrastructure costs and energy during the all-candidates debate in Cobourg on June 5.
Hosted by the Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce and the Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce, the event featured Progressive Conservative incumbent Rob Milligan, Liberal candidate Lou Rinaldi, the New Democratic Party’s Kira Mees and Green Party candidate Gudrun Ludorf-Weaver.
Asked about ways in which he would create a more favourable climate for business investment in Port Hope and Cobourg, while preserving the integrity and quality of life enjoyed by small communities, Mr. Milligan said the cost of energy would have to be addressed.
“When I go around and I listen to small business owners, one of the first concerns they express to me is the cost of energy,” he said, adding that it is making running a business unaffordable. “They spend too much time not trying to sell their wares or produce goods.”
Pointing to existing programs which help communities revitalize their downtowns, Mr. Rinaldi said the Eastern Ontario Development Fund has been in existence from 2007.
“From a business perspective, I take great pride in it being developed right here at my Cobourg office,” he said, adding that it assists businesses to grow while attracting others to move to the area.
The Green Party candidate said that the province’s economy has fared better during the latest economic downturn, simply because of those small businesses.
“This province is actually made up of small towns just as the economy is made up of small businesses, which are the drivers to help us deal with the incredible global recession,” she said.
Ms. Mees said that entrepreneurs who are willing to take on the risks of business need to be supported by having their taxes lowered.
“We know those folks out there who own small businesses really need that help,” she said.
Asked about her plan to deal with the growing costs of road maintenance and infrastructure, Ms. Mees said that governments often deal with this by providing short-term solutions “which is not a smart way to plan,” leaving a debt for future generations to address.
“We need to change this and the province needs to work with the Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus,” she said, adding that the funding structure of how municipalities are funded needs to be reviewed. “They need to know long-term what they can expect in terms of funding. It’s the only way that they can plan.”
Pointing out that her party would first promote carpooling, Ms. Ludorf-Weaver said that those who avoid using their cars should be rewarded with a tax credit.
“The Green Party would like to see green infrastructure, rail and not so much traffic on highways, because we’re concerned about fossil fuels and the greenhouse gas emissions they create,” she said.
While Mr. Rinaldi said the province is still feeling the effects of the previous government downloading highways to municipalities, he said the Liberal platform would invest in infrastructure.
“There is some $14.5 billion over 10 years to help rural Ontario deal with infrastructure needs. It’s something that’s greatly needed,” he said.
The solution for Mr. Milligan comes in the form of a dedicated gas tax revenue stream, which he envisions to be permanently in place.
“Infrastructure is a massive issue facing the province of Ontario … and this way communities will actually be able to forecast long-term how much revenue they will receive.”
Ontario’s Green Energy Act took centre stage during a debate on ways to deal with growing energy costs.
Calling the act “one of the greatest and devastating impacts on manufacturing in the province’s history,” Mr. Milligan said that the current government has already invested $46 billion in wind and solar, which has only resulted in the creation of less than three per cent of Ontario’s energy.
“Usually when you invest in something you get a return on it,” he said. “Mr. Rinaldi will go on about the Green Energy Act creating 31,000 jobs here in the province of Ontario, and I would like to see where those jobs are. We need reliable energy.”
He said the Tories are proposing to create 37 hydro sites that could be developed locally and would produce enough electricity for 15,000 households.
In response, Mr. Rinaldi said that the facts must be set straight.
“There is 31,000 jobs roughly created from the Green Energy Act and there is a couple of plants here in Cobourg that make parts for solar panels,” he said, adding that jobs are being created. “We are investing in our future.
While he admitted that there is a cost involved with green energy, Mr. Rinaldi said that enough damage has been done to planet.
“We need to start thinking about it,” he added.
In addition to halting the consolidation of local electricity distribution companies by Hydro One, Ms. Ludorf-Weaver said her party would also eliminate the Ontario Power Authority and combine it with the Independent Electricity Supply Operator, which is a Crown corporation that is responsible for operating the electrical market in Ontario.
“Green energy is the way of the future and renewables account for three per cent of your electricity bill,” she said. “Nuclear is 46 per cent and the Greens would not support the refurbishment of the Darlington nuclear plant.”
The NDP plan on energy would include a revolving fund that would allow the public to purchase solar panels for their homes to realize energy savings, Ms. Mees said.
“This has probably been one of “the” questions of the election,” she added. “We can’t have people making a choice between paying their hydro and paying for food. It’s crucial and the NDP has a multi-faceted approach to making your hydro more affordable.”
Candidates address energy, infrastructure costs and health care during debate in Cobourg
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