DEBATE ATTRACTS 50-PLUS TO HEAR CANDIDATES

THREE OUT OF SIX PARRY SOUND-MUSKOKA HOPEFULS WERE PRESENT

Only three out of six invited candidates for the 2022 provincial election attended the all-candidates' debate on May 11 at the Sundridge Strong Joly Arena.

Bill Atkinson, a member of the Retired Teacher's Organization, thanked the candidates that did show up for the event and noted the Liberal candidate would not be in attendance and the Progressive Conservative candidate, Graydon Smith, chose not to participate.

"He was given an opportunity to send a representative on his behalf (and) he chose not to do that. They were given an opportunity to send a message to be read by us and they chose not to do that either," said Atkinson to the crowd, to which a few individuals booed.

Over 50 residents of Almaguin were in the audience to hear what

Matt Richter, Green Party of Ontario, Doug Maynard, New Blue Party, and Erin Horvath, New Democratic Party of Ontario, had

to say on key topics.

HOUSING

" ... I'm going to fight for reducing the bureaucratic red tape, cutting some of the fees developers and builders have to pay because they are passing those fees onto the buyers," said Maynard.

" ... We have to crack down on speculators and shift that money to kick start the affordable housing that we need," said Richter, stating the Green Party's plan calls for 100,000 housing units and 60,000 units with wraparound mental health services to be built over the next 10 years.

" ... The NDP would remove the exclusionary zoning practices which would make it so there could be in every community duplexes, triplexes, granny suits ... all the things that allow us to house different types of people," said Horvath.

FUEL/TRANSPORTATION

"The NDP would look at a gas equalization strategy ... as a short term measure as how we're going to take this down to an affordable rate ... reintroduce cap and trade but specific to Ontario," said Horvath. "At least 25 per cent of that revenue can go to offsetting the costs for those who are more impacted."

" ... Tax reductions need to be happening now. Not in October,

Class 1 highways.

"We absolutely have to improve the state of (road) repair and snow plowing on northern roads," said Schreiner. "Highway 11 and 17 need to be upgraded and widened to make it safer for passing."

"It can be terrifying going down those roads, especially in winter," said Ford reiterating his promise to "complete the widening between Parry Sound and Sudbury."

"We're going to make sure the roads are cleared of snow in winter," Ford said.

"Road maintenance is literally a death trap for people," Horwath said.

Referring to highway conditions under the past term of government, Del Duca said "(Ford) should be embarrassed to be here today talking about northern highways."

• ABOUT CERTIFICATION FOR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS

"Last time I checked I haven't seen any 40-storey buildings in the North," said Ford. "If (training) is putting additional burden on the backs of municipalities, we'll take care of the firefighters."

"We absolutely have to make sure firefighters are safe," said Schreiner. "I fought against the closure of the fire college in Gravenhurst and I know now privatization of fire training is costing more and may be discouraging volunteers."

"This is another cookie cutter approach that doesn't work in northern communities," said Horwath. "There should be an acknowledgement of specific northern community needs." • ON MENTAL HEALTH CARE: Del Dua, Horwath and Schreiner all spoke to the need to have mental health covered under OHIP.

"Kids shouldn't have to wait 18 months for mental health care," Horwath said, adding "we need to fix the Northern Travel Grant," calling the program intended to help with travel costs "not properly administered. It's time to fix northern health care."

• HOLDING FEET TO THE FIRE:

All of the leaders espoused rail travel, broadband and affordable housing for Northern Ontario, though details were glossed over.

In concluding the leaders' debate, FONOM president Danny Whalen said to each candidate: "The day you are sworn in, I will be in your face to work with you to unleash the full power of Northern Ontario."