The three candidates vying to capture the Kenora-Rainy River riding in the provincial election Oct. 2 duked it out in a debate Friday night at the Civic Centre.
But the debate nearly didn’t happen as PC candidate Cathe Hoszowski had a family emergency just minutes before it was to start.
Her daughter, Ashleigh, was in a car accident at the corner of Church Street and Portage Avenue—resulting in a trip to the hospital and a delay in the start of the debate with the blessing of the other two candidates, NDP incumbent Howard Hampton and Liberal Geoff McClain.
After about a half-hour delay, the debate got underway.
Each candidate was tentative out of the blocks during their opening statements, sticking to their election rhetoric and shying away from making derogatory remarks about their opponents.
Hoszowski received the largest support from the crowd early on as people responded to her “Northern Ontario first” platform—and her admission that no government makes the right decision all the time.
“If any candidate tells you their party does this right [or that right]24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, they’re misleading you,” said Hoszowski, adding she doesn’t believe her party has always done the right thing nor does she agree with every policy on its platform.
As the local MPP, she vowed, “when they get it wrong, I’ll say, ‘This doesn’t work for the north, but this does.’” As the candidates then fielded questions from a media panel, things became more heated, especially when the issue of Ontario’s hydro system came up.
Both Hampton and McClain used their time to berate the other parties’ stance on the power issue or track record while in government while Hoszowski tried to convince the crowd she could come up with a northern strategy that works.
McClain argued the NDP had cost taxpayers plenty—$150 million— while in government when they cancelled a power transmission project with Manitoba.
He also was adamant that the Liberals would keep the public power system public—to Hampton’s surprise.
“Read the speeches of your leader,” shot back Hampton when he got his turn to speak. “Unless this is another McGuinty flip-flop, he’s been the biggest hawk to deregulation.”^As the debate moved on, Hampton’s experience as MPP for the riding over the last 16 years began to show through.
Hoszowski failed to do an effective job when describing her party’s fiscal plan, including giving the planned tax cuts only a glossing over. She had a “list” outlining her party’s fiscal plan that she suggested people discuss with her after the debate.
McClain did a better job outlining his party’s fiscal plan, including making sure people were aware they were the only party that had received an independent review of their fiscal plan.
“Our plan is a fiscally responsible plan,” he said. “It’s validated by experts.”^But then he gave Hampton the advantage by attacking the NDP record while they were in government, pointing out the massive debt the party accumulated and that the party had raised taxes $4 billion while in power.
He asked Hampton about the $6.1 billion in campaign promises he’d made. “Where will it come from?” he wondered.
“I’m glad you asked that question,” Hampton said, with a smile on his face.
Hampton went on to describe in detail where the excess money would come from, including the implementation of a new tax for higher income earners—three percent on anything over $100,000— and the immediate repeal of the private school tax credit.
Hampton got the momentum from this point forward, being interrupted by the crowd several times with applause. Like a long distance runner, he had saved some power in reserve for the end of the race—experience being the deciding factor.
For those who missed the debate, Shaw Cable (channel 10) will be airing it again often between now and Oct. 2.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
