ABERFOYLE – While the virtual debate hosted by the Wellington Federation of Agriculture on Feb. 18 focused on farming, the event held by the Optimist Club of Puslinch on Feb. 20 gave voters the opportunity to see candidates in the flesh and ask their own questions.
And attendees wanted to know about health care, growth and planning decisions, and to determine just how much the candidates know about the riding in which they are running.
Only five of the seven Wellington-Halton Hills candidates attended the debate: New Blue candidate Stephen Kitras, NDP candidate Simone Kent, Liberal Alex Hilson, the Green Party’s Bronwynne Wilton, and Ontario Party candidate Jason Medland.
PC candidate Joseph Racinsky and independent candidate Ron Patava did not attend.
Local issues
The first question asked candidates to identify three unique issues in the riding and what they would do about it.
Kitras identified the long-promised but yet to materialize Morriston bypass as a local issue with province-wide implications, as well as affordable housing and a lack of doctors.
“Local issues are provincial issues,” said Hilton, stating that 46,000 residents in the riding don’t have a family doctor.
He also noted the Morriston bypass and a Fergus bypass are pressing concerns, and in Halton Hills people are advocating for a new hospital.
Wilton said the loss of farmland to development is a big concern in the riding and one the Green Party will protect. She also noted autism services for youth and long wait lists for long-term care beds as pressing issues.
Kent said crime is on the rise and the way to address that is to look at the root cause.
She said mental health is a concern that would be aided by creating community hubs. And she said the NDP would cancel Highway 413 and make the Morriston bypass its number one priority.
Medland called property tax rates in rural areas “absurd” and lobbied for healthier lifestyles to curb the need for doctors.
And he said crime was largely “people from the GTA rampaging through town.”
Agriculture, environment
Another resident talked about Minister’s Zoning Orders and how they allow the minister of housing to override municipal planning decisions.
“Will you prioritize agriculture and the environment over business?” was her question.
Wilton said the Green Party would re-establish the ability of conservation authorities to comment on development proposals and develop a province-wide wetland system. And the party would freeze urban boundaries pending a review.
Hilson said the Liberals would protect the Greenbelt, cancel Highway 413 and reinstate conservation authorities’ ability to comment on development applications.
“Ford is not a friend to farmers,” said Kent, adding the NDP would reinstate powers to conservation authorities and open dialogue with municipalities.
Kitras said the New Blue party believes in property rights and not expropriation.
“We need to protect wetlands,” he said, adding he also has concerns about overtilling.
Medland said “this is not a new issue.” He said water runoff is another environmental concern.
Community input
Candidates were asked how they would fit into the community once elected and how they would receive input from constituents.
Hilson, a councillor in Halton Hills, said he would continue to attend events, albeit over a larger territory. He’s also happy to take calls and answer emails, he said.
Wilton said Green Party candidates “are not beholden to our leader.
“Mike Schreiner will not be my boss and I will champion the people of Wellington-Halton Hills.”
Medland said he wishes people would vote on the policies the parties represent and not necessarily the people who are running.
He said the Ontario Party believes in holding referendums on broad issues, “so we (taxpayers) put our tax dollars where we choose,” he said.
Kent said she would have an open-door policy and she values constituent comments and concerns.
“If I go to Queen’s Park, I will speak on your behalf, and that starts with listening,” she said.
Kitras said the party is not as important as the person you elect.
“I’m a gritty guy and I defend my people,” he said.
“You will hear promises here today. If I am elected, I will meet with every community and create a plan for the legislature.”
Roads
Another resident asked about roads, noting, “Roads aren’t working; how do we think out of the box?”
Kitras said roads are economic corridors and they need to be planned as carefully as the economy.
The Morriston bypass is a critical corridor that needs to be built, he said, but disagreed with the decision to install bike lanes on Highway 6 through Fergus.
“The province can’t always bail out when municipalities make bad decisions,” he said.
Kent said the NDP is prepared to fund expanded Go trains and buses and other public transit up to 50%.
Hilson noted there is limited public transit in Wellington County and Halton Hills and that’s because the funding formula doesn’t work. That would get a review by the Liberals, he said.
Wilton said the Green Party supports public transit as a solution to car congestion and sees a need for intercity buses from smaller towns to nearby urban centres like Guelph, Kitchener, Hamilton and Brampton.
“It should be easier to travel by transit. That’s when people will leave their cars at home,” she said.
Medland agreed that expanding bus and train corridors will give people more options for their daily commute.
Voter turnout
Another resident expressed concern at the low voter turnout in the 2022 election – 48% in Wellington-Halton Hills – and wondered how to get more people voting on election day.
“Young people don’t see themselves reflected in the candidates,” Hilson answered.
He said he was annoyed Premier Doug Ford called the election, at a cost of $189 million, in the dead of winter, a year before he had to.
“In some ways it was designed to limit voter turnout,” he said. He noted that ranked ballots were repealed by Ford.
“We need to send a message to Doug Ford that we need a change in government,” Kent said.
She suggested gathering some friends and voting together, to make it an event rather than just something you have to do.
Wilton said she’s very concerned about low voter turnout.
“We need to be good stewards of democracy,” she said. “That’s where we are falling down.”
She said the Green Party would form a citizen’s assembly to discuss voting reform.
Kitras said the New Blue Party is dedicated to internal party reform, including the ability to call early elections.
“People say it doesn’t really change anything if they vote. But if it’s less than 50% turnout, we need to look at that,” he said.
Medland said many voters feel disenfranchised, although there are people who are engaged and that should be encouraged.
Health care, long-term care
There were many questions about the doctor shortage, waits for health care and long-term care.
Hilson said the Liberals would form family health teams that would help keep people out of hospital. They will bring in 3,100 doctors and build health teams that offer wrap-around care by allied health professionals.
“It will cost $3.1 billion – about the same as those $200 checks,” he said, referring to the $200 rebate cheques the Ford government is issuing to citizens in Ontario.
The Liberals will also cut the HST, hydro costs and income tax for those who earn less than $75,000.
Medland said technology and AI could help with diagnoses and speed access to diagnostic equipment.
“I think there’s a place for privatization, for elective surgery,” he added. “People are already travelling out of the country because services are not offered here.”
Medland said there’s a “demographic problem” as baby boomers are becoming seniors.
“We need to get youth into co-op programs in long-term care homes. This will help,” he added.
Wilton said public health care “is under attack,” as private nursing agencies are being used to supplement staffing at hospitals.
But private nurses are paid more than those hired by the hospital, driving up hospital costs.
She said the Green Party would hire 3,500 more doctors, and increase enrolment for nurses, nurse practitioners and PSWs at schools.
Wilton added her party would also address social determinants of health such as poverty, housing and clean water.
She mentioned co-housing and new builds with seniors in mind could enable seniors to age at home and in better health.
Kent said the NDP is against private health care and has a plan to hire more nurses in the public system.
The party would hire 3,500 more doctors in the next four years, and have doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners work together as care teams.
She said the NDP has a plan to help seniors age in their own homes, such as offering caregiver benefits, monthly grocery rebates for low income earners, make it more affordable to renovate their existing homes, and eliminate parking fees at hospitals.
Kitras was dismayed by the pledges of other parties to hire more doctors.
“Where are they magically getting doctors?” he asked.
He pointed out Germany has the best health care system in the world and Canada’s system is bloated with bureaucrats.
“We’re bleeding money,” he said.
Kitras added private health care “should be used to relieve the system, but we need to develop a system, to develop a fix …
“With the spending these parties want to do, we’ll never have public health.”
The election is on Feb. 27.
Check elections.ontario.ca to learn about voting locations and other election matters.
