Four strong federal election candidates for Huron-Bruce face off in Underwood

All four candidates in the race to become Huron-Bruce MP, presented their platforms and answered questions at the all-candidates meeting held last night (Sept. 14) at the Underwood Community Centre.

Incumbent MP Ben Lobb (Progressive Conservative - PC) is being challenged by Liberal candidate Allan Thompson, New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate Gerard Creces, and Green Party candidate Jutta Splettstoesser.



About 100 people attend the Huron-Bruce federal election all-candidates meeting Monday night (Sept. 14) at the Underwood Community Centre

Creces was the first to address the audience of about 100, stressing the need for change. He said there are many programs to improve the plight of Canadians, but the other parties claim these proposals are too expensive. "But none of them have tried," he said.

"The NDP is the best choice to beat (Conservative prime minister Stephen) Harper," said Creces. "The NDP leader fights for unity, equality and peace, as well as love, hope and optimism."

He said Harper has been dismantling the country at an alarming rate in the past four years. "People could have stopped it, but none of them tried."

Lobb stood on the PC government's record of increasing jobs and economic growth since taking power in 2006. He cited lower taxes and a balanced budget as the Conservatives' accomplishments.

"We have brought in one of the largest infrastructure funding programs in history," he said. "This funds roads, bridges, transit, and community centres. The Municipality of Kincardine has received $340,000 in federal government gas tax revenue this year, that's up from $143,000 in 2008. Bruce County has received $2-million this year, up from $800,000 in 2008. We have invested locally, and we have balanced the budget. Our plan is working - taxes are down and benefits are up."

Splettstoesser said she is proud to be a candidate in the federal election, representing a party that believes in a strong economy and a healthy environment.

Born and raised in Germany, she came to Canada and "settled in this wonderful part of the world."

Her priority in this election is the safety and well-being of the community. To that end, the Green Party is the only party that calls for no nuclear waste buried in the Great Lakes basin, (as proposed by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and its Deep Geologic Repository (DGR) for low-level and intermediate-level nuclear waste at the Bruce site in the Municipality of Kincardine).

Thompson said he was born and raised about 10 miles from Underwood in the Hamlet of Glammis and went to school at Bruce Township Central Public School, about 100 yards north of the Underwood hall. Like other young people, he left the community to pursue higher education and then worked for 17 years at the Toronto Star and later taught journalism at Carleton University in Ottawa.

"I came back home to run for MP in Huron-Bruce," he said. "I want to provide a strong voice in Ottawa for the people of this riding." His main objectives are integrity, fairness and the need for a strong rural voice representing Huron-Bruce.

During the question-and-answer portion, numerous subjects were addressed.

Stan Franklin of Kincardine asked Thompson if he supports the Liberal party's plan to add to the federal debt which already sits at $1.2-trillion.

Thompson said the Liberals have a plan to invest $125-billion in infrastructure across Canada, in communities like Kincardine. In addition, the plan includes $20-billion for such things as affordable housing for seniors.

The other candidates disagreed with escalating the deficit.

When asked about the Conservative government's attempt to make it harder for young people to vote, Lobb countered that all the government is asking people to do is bring identification in order to vote. "It's how things are done in provincial and municipal elections," he said. "We're holding the federal election to the same standard."

The other candidates said the Fair Elections Act is anything but, and said it's ridiculous and a real mess.

Questions were also asked about nuclear energy, the Old Age Pension age restriction, immigration and refugees, and the Right to Die with Dignity. In most cases, Lobb defended his government's strategies and programs, while the other three agreed there was room for improvement, and their parties were the ones to bring it forward.

Glenn Sutton of Kincardine asked whether the candidates would support research and development into the reprocessing of high-level nuclear fuel waste, and if it could be done at the Bruce Energy Centre or the old Bruce Heavy Water Plant site at Bruce Nuclear.

Splettstoesser was the only candidate to object to such a proposal, even though she agreed the nuclear industry is important to the community. The others support nuclear energy and would pursue Sutton's proposal.

Thompson said the Liberal party has made its position clear and straightforward in support of nuclear power as a safe, clean, emissions-free source of energy.  Meanwhile, he said, "the Green Party's position is clear (against nuclear), the NDP leader is unclear on the subject, and the Conservatives have dismantled AECL (Atomic Energy of Canada Limited) and sold it off."

In their closing statements, each candidate thanked the organizers of the event and urged people to make an informed decision when they cast their ballots in the federal election on Oct. 19.



Running for Huron-Bruce MP, are Gerard Creces (L) of the NDP; incumbent Ben Lobb (PC); Jutta Splettstoesser of the Green Party; and Allan Thompson of the Liberals

There are seven more all-candidates meetings in the riding:
 

• Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. – in Hensall at Queensway Retirement Home, 100 Queen Street
• Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. - Bayfield
• Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. - in Walkerton at Victoria Jubilee Hall
• Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. – in Holmesville at the Community Centre - Organizer: Huron County Federation of Agriculture
• Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. – in Teeswater at the Community Centre - Organizer: Bruce County Federation of Agriculture
• Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. – in Goderich at Legion Hall, 56 Kingston St. - Organizer: Huron County Chamber of Commerce
• Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. – Port Elgin, at the Plex, 600 Tomlinson Dr.