Picton debate puts focus on environment, agriculture, economy and more

The federal election campaign has been going on for a few weeks and with a lot of the focus on the national leaders, some of the local issues started to come out at Wednesday night’s Bay of Quinte debate in Picton.

Questions from members of the Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Agriculture and members of the public centred on the environment, farming, supporting small businesses, addressing the affordable housing issue and more, over the course of the two hour debate at the Regent Theatre.

All five candidates in the riding took part including incumbent Liberal Neil Ellis, Conservative Tim Durkin, the NDP’s Stephanie Bell, Dan Celovsky of the Green Party and Paul Bordonaro of the People’s Party of Canada.

Below are some of the questions posed and how the candidates responded:

How would your government increase investment in rural infrastructure?

Durkin was first to answer and told the crowd that outside of gas tax money there isn’t much infrastructure money being directed to our area and without that, he says “we’re going to be in a world of hurt”.

Bordonaro said that when infrastructure money is handed out, his party would make sure there are programs to expedite the construction process, to get projects done faster.

Celovsky noted that we need lots of investment in infrastructure but it has to go into the “green economy” of focusing on environmentally friendly initiatives and businesses. He says that will create opportunity for people in the area.

Bell says her party is looking to expand rural access to broadband internet and public transit and told the crowd “I know exactly how you feel”.

Meanwhile, Ellis defended his government’s current infrastructure spend, saying the federal government gave $33 billion to the provinces for infrastructure projects, but it was up to them to decide how to hand it out.

He added that if re-elected, he’d be happy to support any local projects that are put forward.

Liberal Candidate for Bay of Quinte Neil Ellis speaks at an all candidates debate, at the Regent Theatre in Picton, on September 25, 2019. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)

Where does your party fall when it comes to supply management?

Bordonaro began the supply management discussion with a solid stance that his party plans to abolish the practice to make products like meat and dairy cheaper for consumers.

He says supply management only benefits a small percentage of farmers and that doesn’t fit with the party’s policy of fairness for all Canadians.

Celovsky says if the practice is working there’s no need to change it. He says one thing he’d like to see is more focus on local farmers getting product to local consumers, instead of feeding into the supply chain.

Bell says the NDP is committed to fully protecting supply management and feels it’s the best way to keep Canadian products available.

Ellis says if re-elected the Liberals will continue to support supply management through control and provincial quotas and would be willing to form a working group with farmers to find ways to improve the practice.

Durkin called supply management “absolutely vital” and says the government also needs to support farmers who lose out in trade deals.

People’s Party of Canada Candidate for Bay of Quinte Paul Bordonaro speaks at an all candidates debate, at the Regent Theatre in Picton, on September 25, 2019. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)

How would you ensure you support small businesses?

Ellis says that as a former businessman he knows how vital small businesses are. He says the Liberals have already lowered small business taxes and would eliminate “swipe fees” on HST and GST for merchants, which would save over $500 million a year, among other strategies.

Durkin countered that the Liberals only lowered taxes on small businesses after raising them first.

He noted that 80% of employees work for small businesses and “if small businesses don’t succeed, we don’t succeed as a country”.

Bordonaro says the PPC would lower taxes across the board, which would give people more money, in turn driving small businesses and the economy as a whole.

Celovsky told the crowd that corporate consolidation has ruined the economy and removed opportunities for local businesses.

Bell says the NDP would support workers through affordable housing, a national pharmacare plan and other initiatives, taking some of the weight off employers, while also implementing a “super wealth tax” of 1% on the country’s highest earners.

Conservative Party of Canada Candidate for Bay of Quinte Tim Durkin speaks at an all candidates debate, at the Regent Theatre in Picton, on September 25, 2019. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)

How would you get more young people into farming?

Bell kicked off this discussion by saying she tried to get into farming about 10 years ago but it was tough to make ends meet. She says an NDP government would look for ways to make farming more appealing to young people.

She says her party’s plan for more affordable housing and pharmacare would also help young farmers keep more of their money.

Ellis again pushed the policies and programs the Liberals already have in place to get youth into farming and says they would continue those. He also told the crowd there needs to be more done to make it easier for temporary foreign workers to be able to come to Canada and work on farms.

Durkin noted that manual labour is extremely difficult and says the local farmers he has spoken to say it’s tough to get people to stick around once they’ve been hired. But he said the issue isn’t just specific to farming and that the same problems exist in the industrial sector.

Celovsky countered that point and says the problem is that young people don’t have enough exposure to farming and if they’re not exposed to it, the won’t seek careers in the field.

Bordonaro says agriculture is essential to the well being of the nation and the PPC would look at programs to increase interest in farming, potentially something similar to ongoing doctor recruitment programs around the region.

Federal New Democratic Party Candidate for Bay of Quinte Stephanie Bell speaks at an all candidates debate, at the Regent Theatre in Picton, on September 25, 2019. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)

How serious do you think the climate emergency is and how would you encourage people to deal with it?

Ellis says the Liberals just put out a policy to give a corporate tax cut to zero emission businesses, as well as a home renovation credit of up to $40,000 for energy efficient renovations.

Durkin pointed to the miscues in the carbon tax saying that the biggest emitters aren’t paying enough. He says the onus is on the private sector to make changes and the government needs to support them to do that.

Bordonaro says he does believe there is a climate emergency and that people need to stop pointing fingers. He says it’s the government’s job to put policies in place but those policies go into effect too slowly. He also said there needs to be a focus on figuring out how to manufacture things with less CO2 emissions.

Celovsky says the issue can’t be left up to businesses to solve themselves, because that hasn’t worked so far.

He says his party leader Elizabeth May would put a “war cabinet” into effect bringing in an impartial group of politicians, the private sector and others, to address the issue and get make a real difference on climate change.

Federal Green Party Candidate for Bay of Quinte Dan Celovsky speaks at an all candidates debate, at the Regent Theatre in Picton, on September 25, 2019. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)

The candidates also addressed the need to control water levels on the Great Lakes to prevent flooding and were even quizzed on how to get more youth involved in politics, including their thoughts on lowering the voting age to 16.

On that question, Ellis, Bell and Celovsky all said they would be in favour, while Durkin and Bordonaro were not.

If you’re interested in hearing more from the candidates, debates are being hosted in Quinte West on October 1 and in Belleville on October 2.

We’ll also have more information on the candidates when our federal election website goes live this week.

Residents line up to ask questions to candidates in the Bay of Quinte Riding, at an all candidates debate at Regent Theatre in Picton, on September 25, 2019. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)