Provincial Election 2011 Kitchener-Centre

Candidates in this riding are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

Freedom Party of Ontario-Bugra Atsiz
No biographical information was provided to 570 News, but you can follow this link for more information on this candidate’s party.

Ontario Libertarian Party-Patrick G. Bernier
No biographical information was provided to 570 News, but you can follow this link for more information on this candidate’s party.

Independent-Mark Corbiere

NDP-Cameron Dearlove
Dearlove is a Cambridge native and B.A. graduate from Laurier University and a teaching certificate from Nipissing University.  After graduation, he taught in Korea, before moving back to Waterloo Region.  Currently, Dearlove is an employment counsellor at Kitchener’s Working Centre.  He says he’s concerned about less fortunate people falling through the cracks.
Follow this link for more information on this candidate.

We invited the candidates to each give an answer to 10 questions provided to them by 570 News.  Here are the answers (and the questions) from candidate Cameron Dearlove.

1.  For many Ontarians, particularly the elderly, health care is a hugely important issue.  In fact, a recent Nanos poll showed that health care was the issue of most concern for voters – 26.4 per cent – compared to 16 per cent who say they’re most concerned about jobs and the economy.  How important do you believe this issue is, and what assurances can you give that you will fight to safeguard hospitals and the healthcare system?

Dearlove:  I am absolutely committed to ensuring we have access to top-quality publicly-funded and publicly-delivered healthcare. We have a plan to ensure healthcare dollars are spent prudently and get to the areas that matter most – the front-lines.  To begin with, we’ll cut emergency room wait times in half. How? Working to improve bottlenecks, preventative care, more family doctors and family health teams providing round-the-clock care and preventing unnecessary emergency room visits, and people getting the homecare they need that prevents a crisis.  An NDP government has a plan to confront the challenges of an aging population by cutting the waiting list for homecare (currently at 10,000) by funding an extra million homecare hours. We currently have 16% of hospital beds taken up by people waiting for non-hospital care, at great financial cost to the public purse. We’ll cut the waiting list (which has tripled in length in the last 5 years) for long-term care for those with complex medical needs. We need to invest to ensure that Ontarians age with dignity and with the care they deserve.  Currently a fraction of a percent is spent on prevention. We believe we can help kids get a good, healthy start by providing support to new moms, expanding physical education in secondary schools, banning junk food advertising geared to children and making chain restaurants label calories on their menus. These are low-cost initiatives that will pay off in the long-run.

2.  The estimated cost of the health care system is a staggering $47-billion, and some critics have suggested it is unsustainable, as the population ages and there are increased demands placed on it.  What changes would you make to the system to maintain its effectiveness while keeping it under fiscal control?

Dearlove:  Every health dollar that is wasted is a dollar that isn’t going to keeping us healthy in our community. We will reinvest health dollars into front-line care and get rid of bloat at the top. We’ll cap public CEO compensation at twice the Premier’s salary and crack down on consulting and consultant expenses. The Ombudsman will get oversight of hospital and health spending to ensure spending is used appropriately and effectively and invest in homecare as an affordable care option.

3.  The economy never fails to be a significant issue during election campaigns, and, given the current global economic uncertainty and projections by some analysts that we will experience another recession in North America, what are your suggestions for strengthening the local economy?

Dearlove:  Ontario’s economy won’t be successful unless Ontarians are successful, and that means ensuring people have access to good jobs. That’s why we will create a tax-credit for job-creating companies that invest in hiring Ontarians. We’ll institute a Buy Ontario policy to ensure dollars are spent in Ontario first, and name a Jobs Commissioner to work to protect the jobs we already have. We’ll also give small-businesses a tax-break, as they are the engine of our economy.

4.  For younger voters, there is no issue of greater concern than finding work.  Ontario’s youth unemployment rate – at 15 per cent – is higher than the national average and twice the province’s overall rate.  Amid a rapidly changing, and increasingly knowledge based economy, how do we reduce youth unemployment?

Dearlove:  We need to ensure that our youth have access to quality post-secondary education. The McGuinty government has taken Ontario from the province with the 4th highest tuition rates to the province with the highest tuition rates. We need to say enough is enough and make sure that everyone has equal access to opportunity. That’s why we’ll freeze ALL tuition fees and stop profiting on the backs of students by removing the interest charges on student loans.

5.  Still with employment, each of the parties has its own suggestions to help immigrants find jobs and integrate into the economy.  To what extent do you believe employers should be subsidized, given tax credits, rebated, or otherwise compensated if they hire a skilled immigrant?

Dearlove:  We don’t need any more piecemeal solutions to newcomer employment. Instead we need a real review of our newcomer integration supports with systemic change to our credentialing process and a greater investment in language and settlement supports. Our plan to provide a tax credit for job-creators will be of benefit to all Ontarians, New Canadian and Canadian born alike.

6.  Part of the journey to finding employment is acquiring the necessary skills and education required to enter the workforce.  What is your assessment of the current post-secondary education system?  Are we doing enough to create skilled tradespeople in the province?  Are we churning out too many university graduates?

Dearlove:  I firmly believe that Ontario can be an international manufacturing success story if we learn from the German example, where they invested heavily – not in across the board corporate tax-cuts but in training a highly skilled, innovative workforce. We definitely need to work with our small-businesses to ensure they have the ability to train and retain skilled tradespeople while increasing access to external markets for Ontario’s innovative products.

7.  Transportation has been a very high-profile issue in our area.  What do you think needs to be done to create a more effective transportation system?  How much do you embrace investing in public transportation, including light rail in Waterloo Region?  How much do you embrace investing in roads?

Dearlove:  I wrote during the LRT debate in Waterloo Region that the twenty-first century will be about public transit. It’s important for equity, access, the environment, and for creating liveable cities that can attract and retain talent. I believe we need to invest in public transit and support our municipalities. That’s why we’ll share the operating costs of transit 50-50 with municipalities while making strong capital investments. Meanwhile, it’s important to ensure we have an excellent roadway system which will benefit the economy and reduce pollution from gridlock.

8.  Critics have suggested that mandatory smart meters, which allow suppliers to charge more for energy used during peak demand periods, are a tax grab.  To what extent do you agree with this contention?  What is your approach to energy consumption in the province?

Dearlove:  We need to work to curb our energy consumption but we can’t do it on the backs of Ontarians who are already struggling with affordability. That’s why we’ll take the HST off of heat and hydro. We’ll provide a $5000 tax credit with loans for eligible households to help Ontarians save energy and money. People should be encouraged to go green, not punished into it.

9.  How would you recommend eliminating the provincial deficit and begin paying down the debt?  Are there any areas of government expenditure that you believe can be eliminated?

Dearlove:  We have a plan to balance the budget in the 2017/18 fiscal year, but we will do so ensuring Ontarians don’t suffer through it. We need to be smart with our money – cut down on consultant spending, wasteful contracts, and exorbitant public-sector CEO salaries. We’ll also roll-back corporate tax giveaways and instead invest in job-creators to kick start our economy.

10.  What do you think makes Waterloo Region such a great place to live and work?  If you were an ambassador for the Region, how would you describe it?

Dearlove:  Generous. Intelligent. Welcoming. Home.  Waterloo Region is such an incredible place to live because the people truly believe in community. We are innovative and intelligent, generous and welcoming, and the perfect place to call home.

PC-Dave MacDonald
MacDonald is a former long-time weatherman at CTV Southwestern Ontario, where he worked in that capacity for 42 years.  Currently the general manager of Faith FM radio, this is his first foray into politics, although he was asked to run federally a few years ago.  Before joining CKCO in 1969, he worked for Environment Canada.  MacDonald supports the Waterloo Region Food Bank, the Pregnancy Crisis Centre and the Motorcycle Ride for Dad.
Follow this link for more information on this candidate.

Liberal-John Milloy
First elected to Queen’s Park in 2003, Milloy is currently minister of training, colleges and universities.  A former page in the legislature, he also served as a legislative assistant to former prime minister Jean Chretien.  His educational credentials include a history degree from Carleton University, a master’s from the London School of Economics and a doctorate from Oxford, where he became a Commonwealth Scholar. Prior to being first elected, Milloy was public affairs director at the Centre for International Governance Innovation in Waterloo.
Follow this link for more information on this candidate.

We invited the candidates to each give an answer to 10 questions provided to them by 570 News.  Here are the answers (and the questions) from candidate John Milloy:

1. For many Ontarians, particularly the elderly, health care is a hugely important issue.  In fact, a recent Nanos poll showed that health care was the issue of most concern for voters – 26.4 per cent -compared to 16 per cent who say they’re most concerned about jobs and the economy.  How important do you believe this issue is, and what assurances can you give that you will fight to safeguard hospitals and the healthcare system?

Milloy:  Our platform is aimed at helping make Ontario the most attractive place in the world for jobs by preparing our workers for the next economy.  We also need our people to be the healthiest, particularly as our population ages and we face increasing numbers of individuals living with chronic disease such as diabetes and heart disease. That is why I have made health care in Waterloo Region one of my top priorities as MPP over the last 8 years. We have seen a new satellite medical school and School of Pharmacy come to downtown Kitchener, as well as two family health teams and a nurse practitioner led clinic. Our plan will give improved and equitable access to the community support and home care seniors need. We’ll work to keep seniors out of emergency rooms and hospital beds by keeping them healthy, in their homes and with their loved ones.

2. The estimated cost of the health care system is a staggering $47-billion, and some critics have suggested it is unsustainable, as the population ages and there are increased demands placed on it. What changes would you make to the system to maintain its effectiveness while keeping it under fiscal control?

Milloy:  Since 2003, we have worked hard to rebuild our province’s public health system. We will continue building on our strong foundation to reach our goal of ensuring that every Ontarian who wants family care can access it. Today, too many people are in our hospitals or long-term care homes because they don’t have the support they need to stay well at home. We are redesigning Ontario’s primary care and homecare system to provide every senior with access to doctors, nurses and other health professionals who will provide better services, such as house calls and check-in by telephone and online.

3. The economy never fails to be a significant issue during election campaigns, and, given the current global economic uncertainty and projections by some analysts that we will experience another recession North America, what are your suggestions for strengthening the local?

Milloy:  Green Energy Jobs
We are committed to our government’s Green Energy Plan to become North America’s leader in clean energy production and manufacturing. Right here in Waterloo Region, we currently have over 1200 jobs in the green energy sector. So-unlike the NDP and PCs, who would kill these jobs, tear up existing contracts and drag Ontario backwards- we’re the only party committed to delivering 50,000 clean energy jobs for Ontario families.

Strengthening the Trades
Our new long-term infrastructure plan will create more jobs for our tradespeople, strengthen the economy and help communities large and small to develop and prosper as they meet the needs of Ontario families. We’ll continue to develop a strong apprenticeship system to support our growing economy by improving pathways to apprenticeship and removing barriers so apprentices complete their training.

Creating More Job Opportunities for Graduates
Our Innovation Agenda has helped create a new and strong pillar of our economy. Today’s innovative industries, like biotech and the entertainment and creative cluster, are creating jobs in exciting, new fields. We’ll triple the number of successful start-up companies in Ontario in the next five years by creating incentives to ensure innovative companies have the capital they need to grow. We’ll focus on some of our youngest and brightest minds, providing increased dedicated support to our young entrepreneurs.

New Incentives for Job Creators
We will complete our business tax reduction plan. Our tax reforms have already cut the tax rate on new business investment almost in half. When the reforms are in place, it will be below half. Likewise, in 2009, to help our small businesses compete we reduced the small business tax rate by almost 20%. We’ll reduce it further to just 4% compared to the 11% federal small business tax rate.

Southwestern Ontario Economic Development Fund
We recognize the value and unique nature of the regional economies across Ontario. Through the Northern Ontario Development we’ve helped create and retain over 27,000 jobs in those parts of the province. We’ll make those funds permanent and create a new Southwestern Ontario Economic Development Fund to help communities like Waterloo Region attract the jobs of tomorrow.

4. For younger voters, there is no issue of greater concern than finding work.  Ontario’s youth unemployment rate – at 15 per cent – is higher than the national average and twice the province’s overall rate. Amid a rapidly changing, and increasingly knowledge based economy, how do we reduce youth unemployment?

Milloy:  When you graduate you feel like you’re ready to take on the world. Many grads go on to do just that- starting new companies from garages and basements that go on to take the world by storm, and provide jobs here at home. If re-elected, our government will triple the number of successful start-up companies in Ontario in the next five years by creating incentives to ensure innovative companies have the capital they need to grow. We’ll focus on some of our youngest and brightest mind, providing increased dedicated support to our young entrepreneurs.

5. Still with employment, each of the parties has its own suggestions to help immigrants find jobs and integrate into the economy.  To what extent do you believe employers should be subsidized, given tax credits, rebated, or otherwise compensated if they hire a skilled immigrant?

Milloy:  Immigration is an Ontario advantage and we need to make sure we help newcomers be at their best. The quicker we engage the skills newcomers have when they arrive, the quicker they will succeed. We’ll create a tax credit for business to give our highly skilled new citizens, up to 1,200 annually, get the Canadian work experience they need to become certified in their professions such as: engineers, accountants and architects.

6. Part of the journey to finding employment is acquiring the necessary skills and education required to enter the workforce.  What is your assessment of the current post-secondary education system?  Are we doing enough to create skilled tradespeople in the province?  Are we churning out too many university graduates?

Milloy:  Since taking office in 2003, our government has doubled student assistance and added a $150 grant for technology and textbooks. We also invested in our post-secondary institutions. Our plan is working. We have 200,000 more students in post-secondary education. We invested $4 billion in building new classrooms, libraries, labs and other buildings on campuses all across Ontario. We doubled apprenticeships to 120,000. But there’s still more to do.
Experts say 70% of the jobs created in the future will need workers with a post-secondary education. That’s why we’ll create 60,000 more spaces in addition to the 200,000 new spaces we already created. We’re going to build three new, leading-edge undergraduate campuses. To reduce post-secondary costs, we’re taking the next step to build on grants already accessible to low-income students, and we’re going to support middle-class families with a 30% across the board post-secondary undergraduate tuition grant. We will also continue to develop a strong apprenticeship system to support our growing economy by improving pathways to apprenticeship and remove barriers so apprentices complete their training.

7. Transportation has been a very high-profile issue in our area. What do you think needs to be done to create a more effective transportation system?  How much do you embrace investing in public transportation, including light rail in Waterloo Region?  How much do you embrace investing in roads?

Milloy:  Over the past year, I am proud to say that we have seen the single largest investment in transportation in Waterloo Region’s history with our government’s commitment to provide $300 million towards LRT. Next, we announced that GO Trains will be coming to Kitchener by the end of this year. I am proud of our government’s investments in public transportation and roads in the province and in Waterloo Region and we will continue to build on that. Over the coming years, we will see the 4 lane expansion of Highway 8 be completed, the expansion of Highway 7/8 between Courtland and Fisher-Hallman and we will take the next steps to ensure that the expansion of Highway 7 to Guelph continues to move forward.

8. Critics have suggested that mandatory smart meters, which allow suppliers to charge more for energy used during peak demand periods, are a tax grab.  To what extent do you agree with this contention? What is your approach to energy consumption in the province?

Milloy:  With regard to smart meters, over 4.6 million smart meters are now providing Ontarians with more precise hourly readings of energy consumption instead of just estimates. You only pay for what you use. It has always been clear that the net costs of implementing Smart Meters would be recovered through the rate base. In fact, all of the costs for the implementation of Smart Meters were included in the price projections in the Long Term Energy Plan. PC Leader, Tim Hudak, has refused to answer the simple question of how much more he plans to charge electricity ratepayers as a result of his “optional” Smart Meter policy, yet he has hypocritically attached the very infrastructure needed to implement this.

9. How would you recommend eliminating the provincial deficit and begin paying down the debt?  Are there any areas of government expenditure that you believe can be eliminated?

Milloy:  Based on our current budget plan, we are well prepared to respond further to global economic challenges, should they arise. We’ll return Ontario to a balanced budget by 2017-18. We’ll do this carefully, but steadily by protecting public services while getting the best value from tax dollars. We’ll reform the way public services are delivered, protecting vital services, while creating a smaller, more efficient government. Ontario Liberals reject the failed approach of slash-and-burn arbitrary-across-the-board cuts. We believe that tax dollars should go toward investing in the vital services that matter most to our fellow citizens. Since 2003, we have worked hard to achieve better value for money and, as a result, Ontario government spending per capita is the second lowest of all Canadian provinces. We committed to reduce the Ontario Public Service by 5% by March 2012. By further reducing the size of the Ontario Public Service by an additional 1,500 employees by 2014, we’ll save over $500 million in total. And we’ll find $200 million in savings at our major agencies by 2014.

10. What do you think makes Waterloo Region such a great place to live and work?  If you were an ambassador for the Region, how would you describe it?

Milloy:  Waterloo Region is a caring community known for its creativity and innovation. Its resilience and ability to re-invent itself with the times is one of the many reasons this region is such a great place to live and work.

Green-Mark Vercouteren
Saying he was inspired to run for election over concern about the future of our fossil fuel economy, Vercouteren, who grew up on a farm in Chatham-Kent, says he wants to preserve local agriculture.  A resident of downtown Kitchener for the past ten years, he is employed as a customer service representative, but also has information technology experience.  He holds bachelor’s degrees in math and physics from the University of Waterloo.
Follow this link for more information on this candidate.

We invited the candidates to each give an answer to 10 questions provided to them by 570 News.  Here are the answers (and the questions) from candidate Mark Vercouteren.

1.  For many Ontarians, particularly the elderly, health care is a hugely important issue.  In fact, a recent Nanos poll showed that health care was the issue of most concern for voters – 26.4 per cent – compared to 16 per cent who say they’re most concerned about jobs and the economy.  How important do you believe this issue is, and what assurances can you give that you will fight to safeguard hospitals and the healthcare system?

Vercouteren:  Our focus for health care is on prevention. Ontario does not spend enough on prevention and heather communities and healthier lifestyles reduce the need for people to use hospitals.  We will also invest money for healthier local food in hospitals and work with communities to improve hospitals.  Finally we will increase money for health care and improve the use of stay at home care.

2.  The estimated cost of the health care system is a staggering $47-billion, and some critics have suggested it is unsustainable, as the population ages and there are increased demands placed on it.  What changes would you make to the system to maintain its effectiveness while keeping it under fiscal control?

Vercouteren:  We will put more effort on supporting local food, heather communities and prevention.  By focusing on actions and areas that lead to illness we will save money in the long term as it cost less to prevent an illness then to cure it.  Also by improving access to local food and nutrition training we improve peoples health which reduce health care costs and help local farmers.
 
3.  The economy never fails to be a significant issue during election campaigns, and, given the current global economic uncertainty and projections by some analysts that we will experience another recession in North America, what are your suggestions for strengthening the local economy?

Vercouteren:  We will lower small business payroll taxes by raising the exemption level for the Employer Health tax from $400,000 to $800,000 in payroll making it easier for businesses to create more jobs.  We will provide $1.6 billing over 4 years in refundable tax credits for home owners, tenants and business to invest in energy efficiency and building retrofits.  This will provide more work for construction and the developing business in the energy sector.
 
4.  For younger voters, there is no issue of greater concern than finding work.  Ontario’s youth unemployment rate – at 15 per cent – is higher than the national average and twice the province’s overall rate.  Amid a rapidly changing, and increasingly knowledge based economy, how do we reduce youth unemployment?

Vercouteren:  We will support job creation with a $150 milling fund for research and development in emerging sectors of the economy, and expanding programs for training, apprenticeships and co-ops.

5.  Still with employment, each of the parties has its own suggestions to help immigrants find jobs and integrate into the economy.  To what extent do you believe employers should be subsidized, given tax credits, rebated, or otherwise compensated if they hire a skilled immigrant?

Vercouteren:  Our focus is to reduce payroll taxes for small and medium-sized businesses, enabling them to create more jobs.  Also we will offer tax credits for businesses to train the next generation of workers in jobs that will be in demand in the future.  In regard to the issue of the subsidizing employers for hiring skilled immigrants we believe this issue is one designed to encourage division in Ontario and we need to focus on policies that help us work together.

6.  Part of the journey to finding employment is acquiring the necessary skills and education required to enter the workforce.  What is your assessment of the current post-secondary education system?  Are we doing enough to create skilled trades people in the province?  Are we churning out too many university graduates?

Vercouteren:  Our economy is a knowledge based economy which requires a more educated population.  We are going to freeze tuition for the 2012-13 school year and revise the tax system credit system.  We also need to focus on where the jobs will be and make sure that our youth see the paths necessary.  
 
7.  Transportation has been a very high-profile issue in our area.  What do you think needs to be done to create a more effective transportation system?  How much do you embrace investing in public transportation, including light rail in Waterloo Region?  How much do you embrace investing in roads?

Vercouteren:  The LRT is a smart step that will help the region grow in the right direction.  We also need more bike lanes and look on new developments that help our public transportation.  We will still need buses and there are ways we can make them less scary.  Roads should have more room for bikes and we need to develop communities the rely less on cars.  People need to walk more because not only is walking healthier but it causes less stress that improves our health.  The Green Party also supports efforts to encourage car sharing and help people be willing to drive less.  The fewer cars we have on the road the less traffic we have and the faster people can get to work.

8.  Critics have suggested that mandatory smart meters, which allow suppliers to charge more for energy used during peak demand periods, are a tax grab.  To what extent do you agree with this contention?  What is your approach to energy consumption in the province?

Vercouteren:  Smart meters were not implemented correctly and we believe there is a better way to use them. Not in a way to make people who are home during peak hours have to pay more.  Our policy on energy consumption is that we need to approach it in 2 directions, help people reduce the needs and provide smarter sustainable energy growth.  By providing incentives for helping people and business conserve more energy, particularly in regard to heating, we help them save more then just cutting taxes.  Not only will this save money it will this will also reduce the energy use, which reduces demand and that reduces cost.  We will also focus on efforts on developing local and renewable energy sources.  By having more people benefit by creating energy we provide more jobs and more money for the average person.  We will also remove pressure on the grid by having more energy generated in the northern communities which will also help us save money.
 
9.  How would you recommend eliminating the provincial deficit and begin paying down the debt?  Are there any areas of government expenditure that you believe can be eliminated?

Vercouteren:  Our plan is to balance the budget by 2015 and maintain expenditures for all ministries except health care until it is balanced.  Health care will be increased at 2% a year each year, more after the budget is balanced.  We will also delay any tax cuts for large corporations until after the budget is balanced.  In regard to government expenditures that can be eliminated we will work with the public employees to find areas that we can improve on and reduce cost.  We will find the least productive 1% of every ministry budget that can be removed.  Also we will eliminate any subsidies that reward the wasteful use of energy.

10. What do you think makes Waterloo Region such a great place to live and work?  If you were an ambassador for the Region, how would you describe it?

Vercouteren:  I would describe it as a place where people have a tradition of seeing the future and work to maintain that tradition.  We see the need to build healthier communities, support local food and a smarter transportation system with the LRT.  We see what we need to build a future for our children and will always have an eye on the future.