{"id":6954,"date":"2014-06-11T17:01:43","date_gmt":"2014-06-11T21:01:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/?p=6954"},"modified":"2014-06-18T15:27:12","modified_gmt":"2014-06-18T19:27:12","slug":"candidates-tackle-local-issues-in-final-provincial-debate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/candidates-tackle-local-issues-in-final-provincial-debate\/","title":{"rendered":"(VIDEO) Candidates tackle local issues in final provincial debate"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>By Brock Weir<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As Provincial candidates gathered at Aurora Town Hall on Saturday afternoon for the last all-candidates\u2019 meeting before this Thursday\u2019s election, local issues came firmly into focus. <\/p>\n<p>Attended by Liberal candidate Chris Ballard, Canadians\u2019 Choice candidate Dorian Baxter, Green Party candidate Andrew Roblin, and Progressive Conservative candidate Jane Twinney, candidates tackled issues ranging from fostering local business to transit issues well beyond the oft-discussed push for improved and all-day GO service around the Greater Toronto Area. <\/p>\n<p>For many, it was the final chance to get to know their candidates and ask them the burning questions they had in mind prior to the June 12 vote and residents wanted to know how a vote for each of them would directly impact not only their bottom line, but also their quality of life. <\/p>\n<p><center><br \/>\n(Text continues below)<\/p>\n<p>The Auroran &#8212; All Candidates&#8217; Meeting (Pt. 1 of 2)<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/o6LEszRTnP4\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The Auroran &#8212; All Candidates&#8217; Meeting (Pt. 2 of 2)<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qZi5PceQrBA\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\n<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Although companies like Hallmark Cards have recently left Aurora, and local stalwart Magna International has spoken against further expansion in Ontario, questions were raised at the local level recently about the imminent arrival of Bulk Barn\u2019s headquarters to Aurora and whether this new arrival brought \u201chigh quality, well-paying jobs\u201d in Aurora.<\/p>\n<p>On Saturday, it was the candidates\u2019 turn to define what that term meant to them and what they would do to foster their definition of \u201chigh quality, well-paying\u201d opportunities in both Aurora and Newmarket. <\/p>\n<p>For Twinney, good, well-paying jobs were essential for the riding, and needed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne of the things I am hearing all the time is we don\u2019t have that and it is not accessible,\u201d she said, noting the need to cut corporate taxes by 30 per cent. \u201cLarge corporations that have well-paying jobs will be coming to Newmarket, Aurora, and Ontario, and won\u2019t be leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Another essential ingredient in coming up with a solution was the reduction of hydro rates and taxes on small business.<\/p>\n<p>Lowering payroll taxes, on the other hand, was key for Roblin. A significant slash in payroll taxes would serve as an incentive for local companies to hire locally and keep money local. He also suggested \u201cending the monopoly\u201d of the Beer Store in Ontario by allowing local craft brewers to sell their product, and encouraging the province of Ontario to purchase their electricity at a lower price from Quebec to keep local hydro rates low.<\/p>\n<p>A good paying job for Baxter was one which provided not only job security, but also benefits. Aurora needs \u201cfour or five more Magnas\u201d, he said, and that would be fostered by focusing on Canada\u2019s existing relationships with nations within the Commonwealth and Francophonie. <\/p>\n<p>95,000 \u201cgood paying jobs\u201d were created in Ontario last year, argued Ballard, stating this would continue on an upward trajectory through Ontario\u2019s Jobs and Prosperity Fund, as well as a 10-year investment in infrastructure and higher education. <\/p>\n<p>All candidates agreed, however, that there are challenges that need to be addressed to pave the way for local business growth.<\/p>\n<p>For Roblin, it was a matter of competing with larger, foreign-owned companies to maintain a worthwhile foothold. The Green Party\u2019s payroll tax deduction would go a long way to increase competition, he added. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have to make sure we keep our municipal taxes under control,\u201d argued Ballard. \u201cOur local businesses pay an inordinate percentage of tax and if Mr. Hudak is allowed to download services onto municipalities I fear municipalities will be cutting services and having to raise municipal tax, which will have a negative impact, a serious impact on local business. We would continue to work closely with the Region to help people who want to be entrepreneurs, who want to start businesses in Newmarket-Aurora.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Twinney, on the other hand, said she is hearing from local business owners that wading through red tape is currently one of their biggest challenges. Phasing it out by a third over three years, she said, would get businesses back on track. <\/p>\n<p>\u201c30 per cent corporate tax reduction for all businesses\u2026is the important part,\u201d she said. \u201cI don\u2019t believe certain companies should get grant money, and handouts. Entrepreneurs should spend time doing business and not worrying about red tape and getting caught up in all that paperwork that they have to do to try and create jobs. That doesn\u2019t create jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But, without a well-educated pool of potential job seekers, the benefits of any of these programs would likely come to naught. <\/p>\n<p><strong>EDUCATION<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When asked what they would say are the biggest challenges facing the local education systems, each candidate said there is room for improvement.<br \/>\nFor Twinney, the current education system is falling short and a beneficial change would be \u201cgetting rid of some of the bureaucrats\u201d in the education system \u201ctelling teachers how to teach.\u201d Principals and teachers should be given more authority in how they teach their students. <\/p>\n<p>As a former educator, Baxter said he was concerned a Hudak government will bring larger class sizes through cuts, but those cuts would be unnecessary if the Feds\u2019 feet were held to the fire on equalization payments. <\/p>\n<p>Quality education begins at kindergarten, for Ballard, and all-day kindergarten provides a good foundation, he said. Access to post-secondary too was \u201ccritical\u201d and he said he was \u201cdelighted\u201d with the Liberal plan to make post-secondary \u201cmore affordable to middle class families.\u201d He too said PC cuts would lead to losing teachers\u2019 aides, teaching assistants, and others that would result in a hit to the system.<\/p>\n<p>Affordable education in the short term and long term is vital to quality of education, said Roblin. Merging the public and Catholic school boards could result in more money being directed to the classrooms. Other important components of a well-run education system included bringing a post-secondary institution to the riding, as well as improving access to transit. <\/p>\n<p><strong>TRANSIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Transit issues, however, are more complex in York Region than just the GO System and Metrolinx. These issues include accessibility issues ranging from limited bus routes and service areas, and lack of options for those who are physically challenged. For others, a standard fare of $4 for the YRT might be beyond their means. <\/p>\n<p>Addressing broader transit challenges, Ballard said one needed to take a \u201cstep back\u201d and look at a \u201cfinal mile solution\u201d to your commute. From his perspective, working with the municipalities on mobility transit is important as they are the ultimate authority in licensing taxis and working with people faced with mobility challenges. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt all starts in my mind with the east-west, north-south routes the government has funded and will continue to fund,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Transit would also be a top priority for the PCs, said Ms. Twinney, and additional capital dollars towards it would come from \u201csurpluses coming from our aggressive plan to balance the budget.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe need to demand better service and value from our current operators and we also need to make sure that all-day, two-way GO Train service does happen now. We have been waiting 10 years.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Additional priorities of a PC government would include expanding highways to fix bottlenecks and rush hour issues.<\/p>\n<p>Bottlenecks, for Mr. Roblin, could be a solution to itself suggesting congestion charges, gas taxes and parking fees as \u201cone of the ways we can raise $3 billion a year to dedicate towards a transit fund.\u201d The parties say they are going to tackle transit, but they \u201caren\u2019t willing to say how they were going to do it,\u201d he added.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>AFFORDABLE HOUSING<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>At the end of a long commute, however, what exactly are you going to be coming home to? Many see affordable housing as a key component to the continued vitality of a community but this is often something in short supply. When asked what each would do to increase the availability of affordable housing in the riding, Mr. Roblin said it was about working with developers to ensure affordable housing.<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Baxter said redistribution of gas tax and equalization payments would provide the means to incentivise the affordable housing market, while Ballard stressed the importance of working with other levels of government to make it a reality.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is important that as development moves ahead in both our communities that [we work with the Region and Developers] to set aside a certain number of units to seniors and young families, so they can have a place to live in a facility that is geared to their income,\u201d he said, noting he would like to see a revival of the co-op housing movement.<\/p>\n<p>Ms. Twinney, on the other hand, said York Region currently has the lowest number of apartment and rental units per capita, and she would work with developers to ensure \u201cpurpose built apartments are affordable, homes are available for young people who are moving in and can\u2019t afford homes to purchase, as well as for seniors who are downsizing.\u201d<\/p>\n<a class=\"synved-social-button synved-social-button-share synved-social-size-24 synved-social-resolution-single synved-social-provider-facebook nolightbox\" data-provider=\"facebook\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"Share on Facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newspapers-online.com%2Fauroran%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F6954&amp;t=%28VIDEO%29%20Candidates%20tackle%20local%20issues%20in%20final%20provincial%20debate&amp;s=100&amp;p[url]=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newspapers-online.com%2Fauroran%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F6954&amp;p[images][0]=&amp;p[title]=%28VIDEO%29%20Candidates%20tackle%20local%20issues%20in%20final%20provincial%20debate\" style=\"font-size: 0px;width:24px;height:24px;margin:0;margin-bottom:5px;margin-right:5px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" 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