Community News

Q-AND-A

FLAMBOROUGH-GLANBROOK CANDIDATES WEIGH IN ON SUPPORTS IN LIGHT OF INCREASED COST OF LIVING

Seven candidates are vying for the Flamborough-Glanbrook seat in the June 2 provincial election.

They include Allison Cillis (NDP), Dean Lyon (NOTA), Mario Portak (Green), Nikita Mahood (Independent) Paul Simoes (New Blue), incumbent Donna Skelly (PC) and Melisse Willems (Liberal).

As part of its comprehensive coverage of the provincial election, the Review invited candidates to weigh in on a particular issue. This is the first in a series of questions and answers with your FlamboroughGlanbrook candidates. Responses are featured in alphabetical order.

COST OF LIVING:

Rising inflation is impacting all of us, but even the smallest rise in the cost of living is devastating for the most vulnerable in our community. What support for these members of our community would you advocate for?

ALLISON CILLIS | ONTARIO NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY

This is a very important question. The cost of living is rising every day. For too many families in Flamborough-Glanbrook it is getting harder and harder to pay the bills and make ends meet.

An Ontario NDP government would bring prescription drugs, dental care and mental health care into the public health system. Ontarians should be able to access those services free with their OHIP card, and not have to pay with their credit card.

We will also build more affordable housing and give financial support to 311,000 tenants across the province.

We will raise the minimum wage to $20

in 2026 with stable, predictable $1-an-hour increases annually. To help small businesses achieve this, New Democrats will bring in targeted supports for those that need help increasing wages as our economy is rebuilt.

Finally, an Ontario NDP government would end price gouging at the gas pumps.

PAUL SIMOES | NEW BLUE PARTY OF ONTARIO

I have five children and understand the disastrous effect inflation is having on the households and how this is negatively affecting the most vulnerable in our community. A few years ago, our family's groceries cost $250 per week. Now, the total is over $400.

The cost of living keeps rising. The New Blue Party has a plan to provide quick relief to Ontarians. We will axe the carbon tax. The tax means higher transportation costs for companies, which are passed on to consumers. Eliminating the tax will result in lower prices on the goods families count on.

We also plan to reduce the HST (harmonized sales tax) to 10 per cent, which will put hundreds of dollars back into your pocket every month — money families need to afford necessities.

I will also advocate for lower taxes and tax credits for low-income earners so they have more disposable income, as well as evaluate options to help lower the cost of living.

DONNA SKELLY | PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE

Our government promises to give the most vulnerable more support by increasing Ontario Disability Support Program payments by five per cent — the largest in a decade. We will also introduce legislation to increase ODSP payments annually, tied to the rate of inflation.

I have advocated for $20 million in provincial funding for Indwell to build supportive housing for the homeless. I helped the city receive a ministerial zoning order to fast-track a housing project that needed to be completed in 12 months to secure federal funding.

I've been advocating for residents throughout the pandemic. The city received more than $15 million from the province to deliver critical services and unlock affordable housing for the most needy in our community.

In Flamborough-Glanbrook, a car is a necessity. Our government is cutting the

gas tax and it has eliminated licence plate renewal fees because drivers need a break.

I am committed to keeping and putting more money in people's pockets and working to ensure residents have an affordable place to live.

MELISSE WILLEMS | ONTARIO LIBERAL PARTY

The Ontario Liberals have committed to ensuring that all Ontarians live in dignity. In a province as wealthy as Ontario, no one should struggle to meet their basic needs.

To support our most vulnerable to meet the rising costs of living, we will increase ODSP benefits by 20 per cent over the next two years, bring back the basic income program, reduce all transit fares to $1 a ride, expand $10 daycare to before- and after-school care, increase the minimum wage to a living wage that people can actually live on, double the maximum monthly payment through the Guaranteed Annual Income System, increase the support for home and community care for seniors to age at home, ban underpaid and unfair gig and contract work, provide 10 paid sick days to workers, and create a package of high-quality and affordable benefits that everyone can use, including self-employed, gig, contract and creative workers.

PROVINCIAL ELECTION

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2022-05-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

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