https://www.niagarathisweek.com/news-story/4562003-a-healthy-debate/
St. Catharines candidates tackle issues during televised forum
ST. CATHARINES — Improving the economy and job creation dominated the first all-candidates forum held for those hoping to serve as the next MPP of St. Catharines.
TVCOGECO Niagara hosted an all-candidates debate last Tuesday night, bringing together four of the six candidates on the ballot in the St. Catharines riding. Liberal incumbent Jim Bradley, Green Party candidate Karen Fraser, NDP candidate Jennie Stevens, PC candidate Mathew Siscoe and Communist Party candidate Saleh Waziruddin tackled a wide variety of issues during the Behind the ballot debate. Libertarian candidate Nicholas Dushko and Freedom Party of Ontario candidate Dave Unrau are also on the ballot but did not attend the forum.
The candidates tackled numerous questions on the economy and job creation during the 90-minute forum, sharing their party’s plan to help stimulate the economy. Other issues also included full GO Transit service, reducing the deficit, social services issues and more.
BOOSTING THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR IN NIAGARA AND STIMULATING JOB CREATION
Stevens said the NDP is committed to ensuring manufacturing jobs stay in St. Catharines. The party, she said, is looking at cutting HST off hydro bills, and establishing incentives and tax credits to make doing business more affordable.
“Incentives so manufacturing companies can buy the equipment they need. It’s something we need to look into to keep our jobs in the City of St. Catharines,” said Stevens.
Bradley said the Liberals, as part of this year’s budget, included $2.5 billion in incentives to try and lure new business to Ontario. He said he would fight to bring some of that investment to Niagara. He noted the Liberals are committed to ensuring the success of existing manufacturing, noting they helped save jobs at General Motors when it was in need of bailout funds.
“There are people who try to dismiss it as something of the past, but it continues to be exceedingly important,” said Bradley, adding manufacturing is a “big asset to the community.”
Siscoe said skyrocketing employment and 38,000 manufacturing jobs lost in the region are proof that it’s time for change. He said the province needs to provide a competitive advantage so industries don’t relocate.
“The better way to build jobs is look at ways to decrease the input costs for all companies across the board,” adding decreasing energy rates and lowering tax rates for business will in turn boost employment.
Siscoe noted a key to stimulating the economy is also balancing the budget in two years.
It’s hard to inspire confidence in the economy when the province can’t get its fiscal house in order,” he said.
Waziruddin, however, said Ontario already has the lowest corporate tax rate in the industrialized world, and it isn’t working.
“The biggest thing we can do is keep our jobs,” said Waziruddin, noting the Communist Party would try to run businesses that want to relocate their manufacturing facilities to maintain the jobs in the community.
Fraser said the Green Party believes in all jobs in Niagara, but noted in particular that there is a “big future in green jobs” and Niagara needs them. She also preached the benefits of supporting small business, saying the party would lower deductions to small business owners with the aim of giving them the resources to hire more employees.
“If we could help them just get their business going enough to hire one more person, that would be 26,000 more people employed in Niagara,” she said.
FULL GO TRANSIT SERVICE
Bradley committed to making full GO service within the next year. Investments are already being made to see that happen, he said.
“The work is already being done in that section between Burlington and Toronto to allow for more people to use those tracks,” he said. “My commitment is to see that happen, and see that happen this year.”
Siscoe said he believes in expansion of full-service GO Transit to the community and noted that the Liberals haven’t even delivered a permanent parking lot for the GO Bus services in St. Catharines. He said a PC government would prioritize transit and set funds aside for expansion, including GO Transit expansion.
“If the current government were seriously committed to GO Transit they would say so, with a clear outline of their plans of when it will come,” said Siscoe. “I am committed personally to being the advocate the City of St. Catharines requires to have an actual expansion of GO Transit which serves all of the members of our community.”
Waziruddin said he is supportive of a fully funded transit system, including GO Transit. He said funding would also include municipal transit systems that are still feeling the pinch of cutbacks from the Mike Harris governments.
Fraser also expressed her support for GO Transit expansion, but also the need for integrated transportation and more bike lanes in communities.
“We also support other kinds of transportation so we aren’t clogging up the highway so much,” she said. “We spend, on average, seven years of our life on highways waiting in gridlock.”
Stevens said “GO is a go” for the NDPs. She said a commitment needs to be made to follow through.
“It’s time we have GO Train so our students can get back and forth from other communities… imagine our economy we’d be vibrant,” said Stevens. “We’d have people shopping, dining and staying in St. Catharines overnight.”
PUTTING AN END TO POVERTY
Waziruddin noted demands have gone through the roof for agencies such as the YWCA and local food banks. He said more has to be done to support residents beyond what charitable resources can.
“Charity doesn’t cut it. It’s great, but it’s not the solution. The problem is a lot bigger,” said Waziruddin. “We need to fully fund public services, double the (social assistance) rates and have everyone with a minimum guaranteed income where they can live with dignity.”
Fraser said the Green Party is also looking at having a guaranteed annual income for all citizens. A major focus, however, she said, has to be on preventing child poverty in communities.
“The most important part is we make life affordable for the residents of St. Catharines,” said Stevens, noting that can be achieved with a commitment to open school funds to allow for community-based use of school for activities such as breakfast programs, and dinners. “Just putting money back into residents of St. Catharines pockets (will help). Cut the HST, create jobs.”
Bradley said the 2014 budget would have increased child benefits, according to cost of living. Minimum wage was raised to $11 and would also be indexed to inflation. The Liberals also committed to additional funding for breakfast programs, increased benefits to those on Ontario Works and disability, 30 per cent tuition grants and continuation of the full-day kindergarten.
“We need to make sure those in our community have the opportunity to find work,” stressed Siscoe. “We need to make sure that the private investment, which is so sorely needed at this point, follows the public dollars spent. A livable city is really the most important thing to the PC party.”
RETURNING TO FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
Asked about reducing the deficit, Stevens stressed the need to balance the books and look after stimulating the economy.
“We have a plan to create jobs, a plan to look after middle-class people,” she said, noting the NDPs would make St. Catharines a vibrant place.
Bradley cautioned that the province shouldn’t try to reach a position of no deficit too quickly. He warned cuts could lead to a slowdown in the economy.
“What can happen is we can push ourselves into a recession,” he warned.
Siscoe argued however, said it is “incumbent on the next government to balance the books as quickly as possible.”
“We need to make serious changes,” he said, noting that includes a pay freeze for the public service, and reducing public service jobs to 2009 staff levels through attrition, retirement and by looking at opportunities to contract out services. “This would allow us to balance the budget in two years.”
Waziruddin said the province needs to stop looking at how to cut back, and instead focus on raising revenue. That would include possibly doubling corporate income tax, he said.
“Governments can go into deficit for a while, and then make the money back,” said Waziruddin. “It’s 2014, we have 2014 needs. 2009 levels wont cut it.”
Fraser, meanwhile, said that the residents of Ontario need to hold the sitting government accountable and ensure transparency when it comes to balancing the budget.
AROUND THE TABLE
During opening and closing statements, each candidate made their pitch as to why they, or their party, should be elected.
Fraser said the Green Party is going to bring integrity and honesty to Queen’s Park and encouraged voters to “think big, expect bigger.”
“You’re going to keep getting, if you keep voting what you’ve been voting,” she warned.
Stevens said she has heard from residents that they want a change.
“We are tired of job losses, tired of manufacturing businesses moving out of our community. It’s time for you, St. Catharines, to bring a voice to Toronto … I am your voice.”
Bradley, meanwhile, spoke to the many success stories St. Catharines has experienced in terms of funding, boasting that he has been able to bring more than $1 billion in provincial investment to the community.
“In doing so, (we’ve) seen the creation of thousands of jobs and the transformation of our health, education, transportation, education and cultural sectors,” said Bradley. “There’s much more to be done and I am determined to deliver more improvements… and protect all vital services.”
Siscoe said he wants to see St. Catharines become a place where the next generation can raise its families, and not see the emerging generation find homes and employment in other communities or provinces.
“I’m focused on creating jobs and growing our economy. I will focus on the future of our city, not protect Liberal jobs in Toronto,” Siscoe said. “Do you believe the last 10 years are good enough? Or do you believe we deserve better?”
Waziruddin, meanwhile, said that the needs of working people need to be put first.
“We need someone who is going to stand up for most of us who have to work every day to survive, most of us who have been conscripted into poverty and unemployment,” he said.
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