Candidates Debate Local Concerns

Provincial candidates took the hot seat at an all candidates debate.

About 90 people witnesses a slightly heated debate among PC, NDP, Northern Ontario Party, Liberal and Libertarian candidates tonight night at O’Gorman High School.

Candidates had the opportunity to state their platforms and answer questions from the business, student and residential community. One of the questions asked was how the candidates would improve the region’s highways. 

NOP candidate Gary Schaap says more pull offs need to be added to the highways. Schaap says this will ensure that transport drivers have areas to pull off and rest. He says more rumble strips should be added to the sides of the roads to ensure traveler’s safety. Schaap says that he also wants would like to see the province switch from road salt to beet juice. He says this may be more expensive, but it’s safer for animals, provides the same amount of traction and doesn’t change to ice as fast. 

PC Yvan Genier says he wants to open up the Ontario Northlander again. He says this is a much safer option for travelers. Genier adds that he would fight for more funding to improve highway infrastructure.

Liberal candidate Mickey Auger says he would like to see snowplow operations handed back to the provincial government. Auger says having it run by private contractors means that the companies can deploy plows whenever they want in the winter. He says having it run under the province would mandate a a schedule that would have to be followed.

NDP Gilles Bisson says privatization of the winter road maintenance would be a disaster. Bisson says road maintenance needs to be brought back under public control. He adds that it’s not just highways that need to be worked on, but funding is also needed for city streets.

Libertarian Jozef Bauer echoed a few thoughts on revitalizing the Ontario Northlander and adding more rumble strips. Bauer says there should also be more lighting added to the highways.

Another question asked to all the candidates was “if you were elected, what private members bill would you bring forward?”.

Bauer says he would bring forward a bill that would allow all indigenous people living on reserves the ability to own that property. He says this way families on reserves could gain credit and work towards getting jobs and owning businesses.

Auger echoed this response saying this could help them get on their feet to get some training for new jobs or to open home businesses. He says there is a lot of talent on the reserves for making items that can be sold. He adds that it would also give families the sense of freedom.

Genier agreed with both Bauer and Auger, but added having increased training and education so indigenous communities can become more self-sustaining.

Bisson says this is a great idea, but unfortunately having first nation’s on reserves own their own property falls under Federal Indian Act. Bisson says this something that he and MP Charlie Angus are currently working on. He adds that in terms of this question there are two bills that have already been brought forward that he would like to do again. Bisson says one of them is gas price regulation across the province. He says we pay too much at the pump in the north and prices need to be regulated across Ontario. He says the second one would be to form a Northern Committee so all bills brought to Queen’s Park that would impact the region in any way would go to this committee. He says this way the government can hear about how they would affect the people in the area.

Schaap says he would bring something forward to enhance our natural resources. He says steps can be taken to ensure all medicinal plants in the region are harvested and make forestry more profitable.

Candidates also discussed small business taxes, how to help stop racism and hospital funding shortages.

Click here for a video of the full debate. Below are some pictures from the event.