Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak wants Wellington County residents to have their say.
Though official provincial election campaigns do not start until later this year, it seems the Progressive Conservatives are out of the gate seeking input for their election campaign.
Hudak was in Arthur on Jan. 13 to speak to the Arthur and District Chamber of Commerce about the economic issues facing families and businesses and also to participate in Have Your Say, Ontario.
Responses will make up part of the campaign as the PCs gear up for an Oct. 6 provincial election, said Hudak.
Wellingon-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott considered the meeting an important opportunity for the business community to have a dialogue with party representatives.
“I’m delighted to be here with my leader Tim Hudak,” Arnott said, noting Hudak, like himself, was first elected at age 27.
“I really look forward to seeing Tim as Premier of Ontario after Oct. 6 – assuming that we generate the kind of support we will need over the course of the next 10 months or so.”
Arnott described Hudak as principled and straight forward; “a visionary leader, who will give Ontario the kind of hope and opportunity for the future that this province has been lacking since 2003.”
As the meeting began, Hudak said, “I find the best thing, in meetings like these is just to get involved in a discussion, let it flow frankly and candidly in a relaxed manner.”
In addition to the printed surveys, Hudak added “we also have a corresponding website www.haveyoursayontario.ca.
“We want to have the advice from moms and dads, small business owners, students, the kind of hard working people in our province who play by the rules, who pay the bills, but are last on the list of the current government’s priorities.
“I find that’s where I get my best advice, whether I’m here in Arthur, in Ottawa or back home in Niagara.”
He noted of the meeting, “This is going to help us build our platform for the October 2011 election campaign.”
Hudak said, “First and foremost, people are looking for change in Ontario. They want to go down a different path than the one we’re on today.”
He added, “I don’t think any of us ever imagined Ontario … to actually be a have-not province – that it would have its hand out to the other provinces for equalization payments.”
He commented that his grandparents came from Czechoslovakia just prior to World War II “because Ontario in their view was the best place to provide a better future for their children and grandchildren. Now, as the father of a young little girl who’s just turned three, I’m worried that she is not going to have the same opportunities in this next generation.”
“I’d love your ideas on job creation and getting our economy moving again – with a particular focus on private sector job creation.
“If we don’t have people in the private sector, creating wealth, we won’t be able to afford the kind of investments we need for things like the best in health care, classroom education, and safe communities.
Hudak said “It just seems that every time people turn around,, they are getting nickle-and-dimed to death by the current government – whether it is the HST, hydro bills going through the roof, tuition rates that are the highest in Canada, auto insurance … it goes on and on.
“I believe that fundamentally, that if folks had the chance to catch their breath and get their own household budget back in order, they’ll start spending again on their priorities, cherished family vacations saving for the future, or fixing up their homes.” He noted the survey offers a number of options regarding various issues.
Hudak used the example of ways to reduce the HST – whether it was lowering the rate; removing it from heat, hydro, gas; income tax reduction; and that “basically all the options are on the table – providing it gives families relief and helps to create jobs.
“We need to start setting priorities in government spending and focus on what is important to the people who pay the bills,” Hudak said. But he offered caution that not every program may be funded in the future.
“We can no longer try to throw money at every problem under the sun. That has actually taken us to the biggest deficit in our province.”
“You can’t run a business like that, you can’t run your household, we can’t run the province like that.”
Health Care
Hudak said he intended to focus on things like frontline health care and what areas can be reduced in spending.
“… so we can focus on what is truly important and not mortgage our future, or that of our children and grandchildren with mountains of debt.
Hudak said one idea that he, Arnott and Pettapiece have suggested “is closing the doors to these regional health bureaucracies, the LHINs [Local Health Care Integration Networks].
“They’ve taken $250 million out of what could have been frontline health care – to feed a big bureaucracy for people who don’t see a single patient.”
He contended that local mayors, councillors and county councillors are far more accountable to the public.
Hudak said that even he and Arnott are accountable.
“The LHINs – nobody knows who they are. They are unaccountable, unelectable, and they are making crucial decisions about health care – without interacting with the people who pay the bills.
Wayne Baker, president of the Arthur & District Chamber of Commerce, commented this was the third in a series of meet and greets.
“It’s probably the best attended that we’ve had.” Baker added this was intended to be the first such forum and invitations would be extended to other political leaders as well.
Perth-Wellington PC Candidate at meeting
Also at the meeting was Randy Pettapiece, who is the PC candidate for Perth-Wellington in the upcoming Oct. 6 election.
Pettapiece considered himself was fortunate to be named the candidate for Perth-Wellington. The Monkton area resident served as a councillor for two terms in North Perth and was president of the local PC association for a number of years. Like Hudak, he was at the meeting to learn more about the wishes of local residents.
Arnott has known Pettapiece for about a decade.
“We’ve had many chats in my constituency office about various political issues that face our area – not just Perth County, but Wellington County as well,” Arnott said.
“I’m really looking forward to working with Randy in the Legislature after Oct. 6, because I think we need his kind of steady determination and integrity, and his commitment to the community within the Ontario Legislature.
