Bay of Quinte Riding

Stephanie Bell – New Democratic Party of Canada

PERSONAL BACKGROUND:

I am Stephanie Bell, and I am the NDP Candidate for the Bay of Quinte. I have been working in the service industry for the past ten years and work as a bike attendant. I am educated in agriculture and have worked as a farmer/gardener promoting organic farming and biodiversity.  I have been a strong advocate for social justice issues that affect us locally and have been working hard to lead my life in a sustainable manner.  I am a normal everyday working-class person in the Bay of Quinte who has seen firsthand – personally and through speaking to so many people throughout our area – the struggle to afford to live.

REASONS FOR ENTERING THE RACE:

I entered this race because I recognize change that needs to happen in our country. I relate to the everyday struggles of the working class because I live them and I’m running for a better Canada where regular people can afford to live. I also believe that we need diverse representation in Ottawa and we need people like me to bring that diversity.

I believe in change this election and the NDP are offering this change through our New Deal for the People; look up our plan if you haven’t already, we have a plan that will work for people like you; a plan where we take care of one another, where we address issues like income inequality so every Canadian can afford to live, one where we address social justice while tackling climate change head on and create jobs in the process. We are committed to a better future for all Canadians.

WHICH NATIONAL ISSUES ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU?:

Climate Action, Affordable Housing, Pharmacare, and Electoral Reform. Climate action because we cannot afford to wait any longer to act, it’s time to fight like our future depends on it, because it does. I have been a strong advocate for climate action since I was around 11 years old. The NDP have a New Deal for Climate Action that will create jobs, provide a sustainable economy and a better future for generations to come.

Affordable Housing is an issue across the nation, people simply can’t afford to live. Housing prices have been skyrocketing but pay cheques have not; no one should have to choose between buying groceries or paying rent. We will end artificially high prices with a Foreign Buyers’ tax, and we plan to create half a million units of quality, affordable housing across the country, including affordable rentals, co-op housing, and social housing.

It’s time for us to have Pharmacare. Around one in five Canadians have trouble paying for medication. Canadians shouldn’t have to worry about being able to afford to pay for prescriptions or go to the dentist; the NDP will begin to expand medicare to include dental, vision and hearing care. Canada is the only country with universal health care that does not have universal drug coverage – it’s time for that to change.

We deserve Electoral Reform. Our current first-past-the-post system is outdated and no longer working for Canadians. It’s time to make our voting system fair and to make sure that EVERYONE’S VOTE COUNTS. We will bring in mixed-member proportional representation so that each Canadian voice is represented in Ottawa.

WHAT PRIORITIES WOULD YOU ADVOCATE FOR IN OUR LOCAL RIDING?:

Affordable housing is one of the first local issues I will advocate for. This is a HUGE issue in our area, we can’t afford rental and housing prices in the Bay of Quinte. We need to work with Municipalities to make sure our local residents can afford to live. This is one of the many reasons I’m excited about our New Deal for the People. We have a strong plan to make life more affordable for you.

Other important local issues are local flooding, affordable childcare, broadband for all, affordable internet and cell phone service, supporting small businesses, providing security to seniors and protecting pensions, and addressing homelessness and poverty in our area.  I look forward to addressing these issues for you, in Ottawa.

Website: https://stephaniebell.ndp.ca/
Twitter: @StephBellBofQ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bayofquintendp/

Paul Bordonaro – People’s Party of Canada

PERSONAL BACKGROUND:

REASONS FOR ENTERING THE RACE?:

WHICH NATIONAL ISSUES ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU?:

WHAT PRIORITIES WOULD YOU ADVOCATE FOR IN OUR LOCAL RIDING?:

Website: https://www.peoplespartyofcanada.ca/
Twitter: @PBordonaroPPC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PBordonaroPPC/

Danny Celovsky – Green Party of Canada

PERSONAL BACKGROUND:

Danny Celovsky resides and works in Picton, Ontario, and finds himself constantly in awe of the sense of community this town provides. With three grown children and a grandchild, he believes that fostering and enhancing that sense of community and ensuring a clean healthy environment is their right, and our obligation to provide, in order that they can experience a positive and healthy life.

Danny holds a Bachelor of Science from Trent University and a Masters degree from the University of Saskatchewan. He remains active as a technology entrepreneur focusing on increasing efficiencies in the commercial transportation sector. He has worked in the computing technology sector for three decades. His passion rests in astrophysics, which defines the environment that has created us and sustains us a species. His awareness of the natural habitat and global ecosystem serves him well in pursuing common-sense solutions to these current critical challenges.

REASONS FOR ENTERING THE RACE:

Danny was driven to run for the Green Party of Canada by his firm belief that the future of his children and grandchildren is our responsibility to provide and secure in the same form and condition as it was provided to past generations. A clean, healthy and sustainable future is critical for our overall community at the local, national and global levels. He believes that significant changes have to be made to confront the climate crisis, and that current leadership has not led us in that direction.

Danny wants to foster changes in our approach to solving the climate crisis, enhance overall equality and opportunity for Canadians, and ensure personal freedoms and individual opportunities are protected within our democratic system. He recognizes that open dialogue is the foundation of any solution – but action will be the catalyst to achieving the required results to the serious challenges we face. He believes his infectious attitude to action, clear understanding of our natural environment, and strong sense of community engagement provides him a solid foundation to serve this community.

WHICH NATIONAL ISSUES ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU?:

We are in a crisis. The science community has presented us with the facts. That is acknowledged with the declaration of a Climate Emergency on June 17. But we fail to act. Our emissions continue to go up. Words and declarations are not action. We have to act to protect the lives and futures of our kids and grandkids. This inaction has now resulted in us being out of time. We have to act.

Affordable Housing is also a top-of-mind issue. Addressing affordability across all demographics, this is needed both for our younger generations trying to start out in their adult lives as well as for our aging population to ensure dignity in retirement.

There are others. Pharmacare. The burden of student debt. Income Inequality. Social equality. Indigenous Rights. We also need to restore our democracy so that our governments work for its citizens and not for corporate and moneyed interests.

WHAT PRIORITIES WOULD YOU ADVOCATE FOR OUR LOCAL REGION?:

I believe the solutions to greening our local economy brings us the opportunities to create hundreds of local jobs, to deliver affordable housing (targeting 1-bedroom homes for $500 per month which I believe can be done), and to provide a higher quality of community across the Bay of Quinte.

We can lead in the Bay of Quinte. The problems we face are national and global, and I advocate acting on them right here. Leaders lead, followers follow. I believe we are capable of leading.

Locally, providing the ability for everyone to share in our open free markets has numerous local possibilities. We just need to have the courage to act and to remove our focus on advocating solely for corporate interests.

Website: https://www.greenparty.ca/en/riding/2013-35006
Twitter: @CelovskyDanny

Tim Durkin – Conservative Party of Canada

PERSONAL BACKGROUND:

I grew up in Read (Tyendinaga Township) to Lori & Ross Durkin. I have an older brother James.

I went to high school at St Theresa Catholic Secondary Belleville and received diplomas in Broadcast Journalism and Radio Broadcast (with honours) from Loyalist College. After spending 18 months in Yellowknife, I returned to the area to work in both Belleville and Kingston.

I have been the television play-by-play host for the Belleville Bulls, Wellington Dukes, and Trenton Golden Hawks, and currently I serve as Arena-Host for the Belleville Senators. I am also the Co-Host of the Morning Buzz on Rock 107, and am a News Anchor/Reporter for CJBQ, Mix 97, Rock 107, and Quinte News (on leave).

REASONS FOR ENTERING THE RACE:

My daughter Elizabeth. When my wife told me we were expecting, my father told me my new focus is to make her life better than mine.

I also love my community. Living in this area most of my life, I understand the area, the people, the issues, and truly care about making it a better place.

My wife and I plan to stay here, raise our family, and retire.

WHICH NATIONAL ISSUES ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU?:

Affordability, agriculture, veterans/the military, small business concerns, seniors, and health care.

WHAT PRIORITIES WOULD YOU ADVOCATE FOR OUR LOCAL REGION?:

We have talked to tens of thousands of people around Prince Edward County, Quinte West, and Belleville, and the same issue keeps coming up… people are getting by, but they are not getting ahead. 50 percent of households say they are $200 a month (or less) away from not being able to pay their bills.

INFRASTRUCTURE is a huge concern. The only infrastructure money that has come to this riding from the federal government in the last four years, is gas tax money. That is completely unacceptable.

There is also a major concern about water levels in our region. We need to ensure that property owners are protected.

PLEASE PROVIDE A LINK TO YOUR OR YOUR PARTY’S WEBSITE/FACEBOOK PAGE:

Website: https://www.boqconservative.ca/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/TimDurkinBayOfQuinte/
Twitter: @QuinteDurkin

 

 

Neil Ellis – Liberal Party of Canada

PERSONAL BACKGROUND

28 year small business owner, two term Mayor, and one term Member of Parliament

REASONS FOR ENTERING THE RACE:

After serving as Member of Parliament for the Bay of Quinte for four years, I know there is more work to be done. I want the opportunity to continue working with our community, and advocating for them in Ottawa.

WHICH NATIONAL ISSUES ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU?:

Veterans issues and homelessness, family doctors, health care, pharmacare, infrastructure, economy/job creation, environment and Climate Change, affordable housing

WHAT PRIORITIES WOULD YOU ADVOCATE FOR IN OUR LOCAL RIDING?:

Infrastructure funding, affordable housing projects, doctor recruitment, climate action, flooding issues and mitigation

Website: https://neilellis.liberal.ca/
Twitter: @NeilREllis
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neilrellis/?ref=br_rs