High water and pot issues at all-candidates meeting

From high water levels to cannabis, a number of issues were covered at the Bay of Quinte all-candidates meeting sponsored by the Belleville Chamber of Commerce Wednesday night.

It was held at the Empire Theatre in Belleville.

The question about the high water levels noted that over the past two years high water levels have cost Belleville $750,000.

It asked if Plan 2014 should be repealed and members of the International Joint Commission, which regulates Lake Ontario water levels, be replaced.

This drew strong messages from all five candidates.

Liberal candidate Neil Ellis said he hopes to meet with the Commission soon, and “it is a non-partisan issue, and all parties are together on it.”

Peoples Party of Canada candidate Paul Bordonaro called for the repeal of Plan 2014 and said, “The members of the IJC should be named personally and have their day in court.”

Green Party candidate Danny Celovsky called for a “strong veto position, otherwise sue them.”

Tim Durkin of the Conservative Party said “We have to do something. This plan (Plan 2014) has to go.”

NDP candidate Stephanie Bell wants a public forum to find out what happened.

All five  candidates were on side with a question about the legalization of cannabis and the regulatory hurdles to come.

Bell called for the removal of any regulatory hurdles.

Ellis noted the good-paying jobs that were being created and pointed to Hexo coming to Belleville.

Bordinaro said years of incarceration (of people on cannabis charges) had been wasted.

Durkin indicated the focus should be on making sure it is healthy.

And Green candidate Celovsky agreed with the others on what he called “wacky tobaccy.”

Celovsky said he’d “been waiting 45 years for the changes.”

Celia Holter mentioned climate control.

Wendy Ward had just one question for anyone in power.

Norm McWaters said “We need new leadership in this country.”

Then there was the mother, who declined to give her name, with two daughters she had brought to the all-candidates meeting, as a lesson in politics.

The candidates answered a long list of questions on which they did not agree, but when it came to investing in indigenous post-secondary education, they were once more in agreement.

Bell mentioned reconciliation as well as the money investment. Durkin agreed, saying money was just a “component of that.” Ellis pointed to the $5 million the government had provided for pilot training at Tyendinaga Territory. Celovsky mentioned the “enormous potential” of such investment and Bordonaro agreed with such a move.