M’CHIGEENG—Candidates from the three main parties vying for the legislative seat of the provincial riding of Algoma-Manitoulin gathered at Manitoulin Secondary School (MSS) on Wednesday, May 21 for what is likely to prove to be the only all candidates’ debate anywhere in the riding before the June 12, 2014 election.
The all candidates’ night was hosted by The Manitoulin Expositor, as is tradition. This article contains the second half of the questions asked that evening. The first half of the evening’s questions were contained in an article published in the May 28 edition of The Expositor.
The questions were put to Liberal candidate Craig Hughson, NDP candidate (and incumbent) Mike Mantha and Progressive Conservative candidate Jib Turner under the close guidance of moderator Carolyn Lane-Rock.
A question from Jan McQuay noted her concerns about fracking, but highlighted concerns about pollution, particularly air pollution from coal-fired plants. She noted that while the Island does not have any coal-fired electricity generating plants, she said she would like to know how the various parties would go about reducing hydro costs while still reducing the pollution that comes from creating low cost energy.
Mr. Mantha noted that his party would hopefully change the current approach to energy production, eliminating the poor management practices at the province’s energy companies. “We will stop wasting it,” he said. Noting that during his last trip to Toronto he saw “many, many, large apartment buildings and grocery stores lit up brightly through the night,” even though there was no one in the stores. “Why?” he asked. He noted that people have trained themselves to recycle through the blue box program and that has proven that people can learn to conserve.
Mr. Turner said that in his opinion, a lot of the solution lies in education. “Make the public aware,” he said. The solution does not lie in creating ever-increasing hydro bills.
Mr. Hughson noted that there is now a good balance of supply and demand for electricity in the province. But added that “conservation is the key” and that the solution is not in building more energy supply. He then turned the challenge onto his opponents saying that neither of the other two parties have a program to deal with the issue.
Mr. Mantha countered that the Progressive Conservatives had begun the process of driving up energy costs with their plan to privatize the industry and that the Liberals had continued the process. He said that the NDP plan to eliminate the Ontario Power Generation and bring the many parts of Ontario Hydro back together would solve many of the problems.
“Our plan is to look at affordable energy options,” said Mr. Turner. He pointed out that energy from Hydro Quebec is a lot less expensive as an option for the province.
“I am a firm believer in energy investments,” said Mr. Hughson. “I will work with you to help reduce energy costs.”
Heather Jefkins asked Mr. Turner what a Progressive Conservative would do to protect collective bargaining rights in the province.
Mr. Turner noted that his party’s plan is to tackle reductions in the public service through attrition, asserting that there is currently a natural five percent turnover in the sector and that the 10 percent reduction could be achieved over two years. The majority of the positions slated for elimination would be in management, he added. “There are three levels of manager to get a paycheque to a PSW (personal support worker).”
Ray Beaudry of Little Current noted that elections “cost a lot” and challenged the candidates on their positions regarding abstaining from votes in the legislature.
Mr. Mantha said that his party had negotiated the best deal they could with the Liberal government when it came to the previous budget (which the NDP had allowed to pass by abstaining their votes). He maintained that his actions remained true to the charge given to him by the people of Algoma-Manitoulin. “We rolled up our sleeves and in the first round we were successful with what we got into the budget,” he said. The gamesmanship of politics meant that his party chose to take the actions it did to avoid being “backed into a corner.”
Liberal candidate Hughson said that “if you send me to Queen’s Park, I will not sit on my hands and abstain from votes.” He took a shot at the Progressive Conservative Party’s commitment to reduce the public service by 100,000 jobs.
The Progressive Conservative candidate said that he did not agree with abstaining from votes, adding his own shot that the last Liberal government budget was “more of a wish list than a budget.”
Mary Wilson asked if the 1,400 added long term care beds promised by the NDP platform were to be added in the North.
Mr. Mantha replied that the added positions were to be across the entire province.
Vince Belenson asked if the candidates were aware of “comtrails” and their impact.
All of the candidates admitted to not being aware of what Mr. Belenson was referring to. Mr. Turner adding that he was open to the questioner enlightening him on the subject.
Stu Lanktree noted that 90 percent of his hydro bill was made up of delivery charges and asked what the parties would do to alleviate those costs.
Mr. Turner replied that with $1 billion spent to cancel gas plants, his party would seek a judicial review and attempt to recover that money from the Ontario Liberal Party.
Mr. Hughson said “you are right, energy bills are too high. But for 20 years our infrastructure was left to rot. That is how we ended up with a blackout in 2001-2002.”
Mr. Mantha noted that electricity costs were 4.3 cents a kilowatt hour in 2002. “Now they are 13.5 cents, that is a 343 percent increase over 2002.” He said an NDP government would ensure that energy charges would change to “something that makes sense.”
Mr. Beaudry returned to the microphone to assert that the Green Energy Act has not only implemented unaffordable high energy costs, but brought about serious health issues for those living in close proximity to wind turbines. He asked what the parties would do to protect citizens from those health issues.
Mr. Mantha said that his party would rely on the most up-to-date information on the impacts of the generation. “We are going to rely on the doctors” to inform the politicians, he said. That would ensure that people suffering health impacts would get the health benefits they need.
Mr. Turner said that his party’s plan was to “stop the feed-in tariff program” and import affordable energy from other jurisdictions and return local control to municipalities over the proliferation of wind turbines, “bringing local control back to the people.”
“Mistakes have been made,” admitted Mr. Hughson. “The premier has admitted that.” But he said that the Progressive Conservative plan amounted to “20 or 30 gas plant fiascos.”
