While the federal election campaign has heated up between the three main party leaders, the local candidates are managing to remain calm and civil—even in debate.
Last Wednesday’s all-candidates’ debate at the Civic Centre here drew a crowd of only about 20 people, most of them involved with the campaign of one party or another, but Liberal Ken Boshcoff, Conservative David Leskowski, and NDP John Rafferty still made an effort to get their parties’ messages across in the limited time they had.
Russ Aegard (Green Party) and Johannes Scheibler (Christian Heritage Party) did not attend the debate.
The three discussed their views on taxation, transportation and infrastructure, health care, border crossing issues, and economic development, with questions coming from representatives of local media.
During their opening remarks, the candidates identified what they considered to be at stake in this election.
“You’ve made it very clear that what you expect from a federal Member of Parliament is someone who is accessible, approachable, and accountable,” Boshcoff said.
“The new riding will require a lot more work and effective time management. And this I can do,” he vowed.
Boshcoff also promised to open a constituency office in Fort Frances, should he win the June 28 election.
“Elections should be about ideas,” countered Rafferty. “That’s what I’m going to talk about tonight. Practical, innovative solutions to create jobs and opportunities for a prosperous Northern Ontario.”
Rafferty promised to hold regular town hall meetings in each community, if elected, and said he would have constituency offices in Fort Frances, Atikokan, and Thunder Bay.
“This election is about accountability,” said Leskowski. “This election is about another term of a tired, corrupt Liberal government.
“Watching the waste and the scandal, you have to ask yourself if there are any other greater issues than the credibility of a politician making promises to you.”
Following the other two candidates’ promises to open constituency offices in Rainy River District, Leskowski quipped, “Of course, we’ll open offices, and we’ll pay 10 cents higher.”
The first question came from Fort Frances Living regarding what citizens can expect by way of tax relief.
“Taxes have to be cut, and they have to be cut broadly and deeply,” said Leskowski, noting the Conservative party plans to take $4 billion out of the current $18 billion in corporate tax cuts and “put them into different kinds of incentives, research, and development.”
“Don’t trust Paul Martin,” Leskowski added, arguing the former finance minister has increased taxes 15 times since 1993.
If elected, the Conservative party would audit all social programs, as well as institute an Office of the Comptroller to keep track of how taxpayers’ money is spent.
“By funding programs properly, taxes will be able to be decreased,” he noted.
“I believe broad-based tax cuts do not work because essentially what happens is the loss of revenues is downloaded to provinces, downloaded to municipalities, and we all pay in the end with extra use fees,” countered Rafferty.
The NDP would “remove the GST from family essentials like children’s clothing, medicine, and school supplies.”
Rafferty also said his party would freeze Employment Insurance premiums, “a measure that will directly help businesses right here in Fort Frances.”
“How will we pay for it? By reversing corporate tax reductions, recognizing Canadian corporate taxes are now well below U.S. corporate tax levels,” he remarked.
“The goal is to have a sustainable level of taxation so we can have a standard of living and deliver the types of programs we want,” said Boshcoff. “The best way to minimize taxation is to grow a strong economy.”
He noted municipalities “have already reached the wall,” and no longer could raise property taxes to raise money for poorly-funded programs.
Next, the candidates tackled the issue of transportation and infrastructure in a question posed by the Westend Weekly.
Boshcoff said the Liberals’ plan to share 5¢/L of the gas tax with municipalities would raise $2 billion a year for communities large and small to help pay for infrastructure programs.
Leskowski took aim at the federal Liberals for the region’s current problems. “Provinces have downloaded onto municipalities because of what federal government has done,” he charged.
The Conservatives have promised to share 3¢/L of the gas tax with municipalities. Leskowski defended the party’s rate, which is 2¢/L lower than the Liberals’ promise.
“Be very, very careful in asking the federal government to be involved in municipalities,” he warned, saying it only would encourage the provinces to cut back funding.
“You won’t be any farther ahead.”
Leskowski also noted the state of the highways in this riding. “Our party stands for a seamless, high-quality Trans-Canada highway system,” he pledged.
“We will immediately share half the federal gas tax for roads and public transit,” Rafferty countered, adding his party also is committed to implementing a permanent national infrastructure program for water and sewage, and ensuring all municipalities would receive a full GST rebate.
Rafferty also supported the construction of passing lanes, or twinnings, on stretches of highway that required it, including Highway 17 near Kenora where four people were killed in an accident last month.
Next, B93 FM asked the three candidates how they felt about the recent re-introduction of health care premiums in Ontario.
“It clearly shows what happens when a Conservative government cuts back,” said Boshcoff.
He also cited his experience in lobbying to get the government to approve the Northern Ontario Medical School, among other health-care related projects, and promised to continue those efforts.
“We must protect public health care,” Rafferty stressed, noting the federal government now pays about 16 percent of health care costs while it used to share the costs 50/50 with the provinces.
The NDP would start a national pharmacare program as well as implement the Romanov report in full, he added.
“It’s much more expensive to put people in hospital than to provide community-based home care,” Rafferty noted.
Leskowski said his party supports a pharmacare program and the Romanov Report, and was highly critical of health care premiums resurrected by the McGuinty government at Queen’s Park.
“I think Canadians should have equal access to health care regardless of their ability to pay,” he noted.
Next, the candidates were asked by the Fort Frances Times how their parties would attract more American visitors to this area, especially in light of complaints there is too much red tape at the border.
“Fort Frances has practically unlimited tourism potential,” Rafferty said, adding “minor or old law infractions” sometimes prevent potential visitors from crossing the border.
“We must use reason, common sense, and judgment,” he said, adding he would like to see more Customs officers added to the local staff—particularly during peak season—to minimize wait times.
Rafferty also said there are problems on the U.S. side when local farmers want to haul their cattle to Winnipeg and take the short cut through Minnesota.
“I will work to keep the border open and moving,” he pledged.
Leskowski identified the national gun registry as a main problem at border crossings.
“We will scrap the gun registry,” he promised. “I’ve heard from a lot of outfitters that it may be their worst problem.”
“I have to admit, the gun registry could have been handled better,” Boshcoff said. “But we know it’s going to be handled better.”
Boshcoff also referred to his party’s contribution to the local “gateway” project here, assisted by funding through FedNor.
He added the new riding boundaries presented new opportunities in terms of tourism.
“The new riding encompasses all the way to Pigeon River. We have the opportunity to pull the two parts of the riding together,” he Boshcoff remarked.
The last question of the evening, asked by the local Chamber of Commerce, centered around economic development, and how to diversify and grow the local economy.
Leskowski said he recently completed work on a bio gas project in this region. “We can generate natural gas cheaper than in Alberta,” he remarked.
He said he also has been working with local farmers to start a mushroom-growing operation.
“The biggest need in the northwest is for capital finance,” Boshcoff said, adding FedNor is an essential part of development in the north and that its work must continue.
“Let’s be very clear. The Conservatives will pull the plug on FedNor,” he charged. “Their leader has said it time and time again.”
Leskowski denied the charge. “The party that I represent likes FedNor,” he said. “FedNor is an excellent program and I intend to support it 100 percent.”
“Jobs and economy are the most important elements of living in a prosperous north,” Rafferty said, adding the NDP would create opportunities for youth to access skills training to address the current and anticipated skills shortages here in the north.
He also said his party is committed to cutting red tape for small businesses.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
