Wellington-Halton Hills candidates covered a wide range of local and provincial issues on May 24 at a meeting sponsored by the Puslinch Optimist Club.
With seating set out for 140 to 160, the room was only three-quarters full.
Candidates on stage included Wellington-Halton Hills incumbent MPP Ted Arnott (PC), Diane Ballantyne (NDP), Jon Hurst (Liberal) and Dave Rodgers (Green).
Rodgers told those gathered the Green Party offered “a choice outside of the three-ring political circus.”
Having lived in Puslinch for more than 35 years, Rodgers said he has even more years experience as a scientist in the fields of energy, toxicology and the environment.
In the past four years, Rodgers served as the township representative on the Hamilton Conservation Authority and now sits as part of the Hamilton-Halton Sourcewater Protection Committee.
Rodgers said the Green platform is based on the themes of people, jobs and planet – and offering real solutions to real problems.
Hurst is a Halton Hills councillor, but is on leave to take part in the provincial election campaign. He said he is running against the policies of Doug Ford, which he believes will negatively affect the lives of those living in Wellington County.
He said Ford could not be trusted to preserve the programs important to rural residents.
He said investments have been made in local transportation systems, citing as a local example the Morriston bypass, which is in the design stage with work to begin next year to relieve traffic congestion.
Hurst said for the Conservatives, this election is about cuts; for the Liberals, it is about the people and creating conditions where they can thrive.
Ballantyne said for the past 15 years the Ontario Liberals have violated labour rights, mismanaged education and continue to allow one billion litres … and counting … of water to be bottled in plastic … for pennies … on expired permits.
Ballantyne contended she is running for the NDP because Kathleen Wynne’s party promises the moon – but only at election time.
“It is clear we cannot trust the Ontario Liberals … but there is no reason why we should trust the Progressive Conservatives under Doug Ford,” said Ballantyne.
“Life continues to get harder and families are feeling the pinch. We need a government that works for us.”
Arnott said, “While as candidates we may differ in terms of philosophy, policy or personality, all of the candidates share an interest in the communities, and we all have a desire to serve.”
He told the crowd it has been his honour to represent the interests of Puslinch Township at Queen’s Park.
“Through all these years, I have sought to work cooperatively with local councillors, community organizations and individual residents to make sure our collective voice was heard at Queen’s Park.”
Arnott said he is known for being willing to work across party lines to get things done.
“I am more interested in making progress on issues for you, than try to score cheap political points.”
Audience questions
What are the parties doing to get more people interested in skilled trades and apprenticeships?
Arnott agreed the number of skilled tradespersons is decreasing.
“There is a tremendous opportunity out there for young people in the skilled trades,” he said, adding that for years the PC caucus has pushed for improvements to the apprenticeship system.
“We want to do all we can to encourage young people in those careers.”
Arnott said that given the fact the economy and technology are rapidly changing, and transforming the job market, “we need to encourage the culture of life-long learning and more effective education business and post secondary education to prepare our young people for the jobs of the future.”
Ballantyne agreed this is an important question, considering the average age of a tradesperson in Ontario is 55-plus.
As a coach with Skills Ontario, she said she sees companies have trouble filling these skilled positions.
She said NDP policies refer to investment in apprenticeship programs and creating new jobs to encourage young people to enter these fields.
“We know in the NDP that small business represent 98 per cent of the employment base in the province.”
Hurst said he went through the apprenticeship system 50-some years ago.
“Apprenticing is an opportunity for our young people to get good, well-paid, satisfying jobs in so many trades.”
Hurst said the Liberal government is obviously interested in providing the best setup moving forward.
Rodgers said the Green Party is also looking to expand and invest in this area. Green policies include incentives for businesses to engage in apprenticeship and mentoring.
“Green MPPs are looking to build a bridge to a green economy, steering today’s and tomorrow’s businesses to good sustainable jobs,” he said.
“We want to redirect $3.1-billion in existing business support programs … to clean-tech innovation and bioproducts. We will stop subsidizing companies that pollute.”
Should companies be required to pay realistic rates to use/sell local natural resources?
Rodgers said one of Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner’s favourite sayings is that if Ontario raised its water fees to those of Saskatchewan, it would bring several billion dollars to the economy.
Hurst pointed out when this issue first came out, the Liberal government moved quickly in its implementation of a two-year moratorium (regarding issuing new or expanding permits to take water for the purpose of bottling and selling water).
That moratorium remains in effect until January 2019.
Hurst said the ministry is committed to ensuring water quality and supply in Ontario is strongly protected.
“Ontario has some of the strongest water protection legislation in Canada, and the Liberal government is making them even stronger,” said Hurst, adding the new fee imposed for water bottling is now among the highest in Canada.
Hurst understood that Nestlé Waters is a respected company within the Puslinch community that employs quite a few area residents.
He said the Liberal government is looking at the science to make the right decision.
Ballantyne said the answer to the question depends on what is considered a natural resource.
“We could be talking about water, or gravel, or soil,” said Ballantyne, who added she is proud of Andrea Horwath for making a strong commitment to a provincial food and water policy to ensure water is a public trust. She said the food policy also ensures the protection of prime agricultural lands.
“Our policy’s focus is on putting people first – balancing both use, and protection of the environment for the use of future generations.”
Arnott said he believes a science-based review is needed for all permits to take water to guarantee the aquifer will not be depleted and neighbouring wells will not be impacted.
He said future growth plans and cumulative impacts along the watershed should be considered by the Ministry of the Environment.
In addition, Arnott agreed much more needs to be done to recycle plastic beverage containers.
As to fees paid by water bottlers, Arnott said up until a few years ago the rate was very low. He said the government added an arbitrary number – $500 – to create a new fee.
“Is that enough?” Arnott agreed that is a matter of some debate.
He said the other issue to consider is permit fees must in some way be proportional to the cost for the government to provide the service.
Greenbelt protection – why allow a Highway 401 interchange and other road projects to be built over the Paris Moraine and wetland areas?
Hurst admitted to having no knowledge of this particular issue.
Rodgers said that in Puslinch, the Ministry of Transport is planning a major expansion of Highways 401, 6 and 7 – on top of the Paris/Galt moraine complex.
“I fully support the (Morriston) bypass on the south side of Highway 401,” he said.
However, he sees serious environmental concerns regarding the projects on the north side of the 401 – particularly when those properties are encompassed by the projected expansion of the Greenbelt.
Rodgers said aggregate operations and the MTO appear to trump environmental considerations. He also questioned the need for 10 lanes on Highway 401.
Arnott said in March 2016, with the announcement of the Morriston bypass, it was stated that in conjunction with that work, Highway 401 would be widened from six to 10 lanes – including future high occupancy vehicle lanes and three interchanges and a local connection road.
He said there has been an extensive environmental assessment of the Morriston bypass project over the years.
“All of us are sensitive to the environmental concerns … but we all understand in this community that we need the Morriston bypass to be built,” said Arnott.
Ballantyne said she did not know why the construction is being allowed by the government.
“That is a question for the Liberal candidate,” she said.
Ballantyne said continuing to build massive highways is a move in the wrong direction.
She said the NDP is ready to invest in mass transit to reduce the number of cars on the road, which in turn will reduce the carbon footprint.
