We asked the candidates in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex what they feel is the biggest issue during this Federal Election, and here are their responses.
Ken Filson, Liberal
“The most important issue is job creation. There is no doubt about that. We need more jobs in rural southwestern Ontario. Another one of the ways that we address that is by investing in innovations and business accelerators. So we are going to put money into innovation funds so that our businesses can become more innovative because that’s where the new jobs are going to come from.
We are also going to create 40,000 more jobs for our youth. It’s so important that our youth get jobs and get experience because that is the one thing that holds them back from actually getting a job is that experience. So we will work with employers to create more co-op positions and we will provide employers with an employment insurance holiday. No premiums will be paid for a full year if they hire a student or a youth between the ages of 18-24 to a full time position. That’s on top of actually across the board to cut employment insurance premiums to all businesses.”
Rex Isaac, NDP
“One of the things that I think is most important is that people need to have confidence in their government. There has been a lot of things that have been happening over the last 150 years with Liberal and Conservative governments and I hear a lot of negative attitudes towards politicians and the political system as a whole because there hasn’t been a lot of accountability. There hasn’t been a lot of trust and there hasn’t been a lot of transparency.
The NDP, and I just read this recently, one of the things that they are going to do, Tom Mulcair just made an announcement, that he is going to give more powers to the Secretariat of Information. They are going to make it easier for people to access the Freedom of Information Act. Rather than having to go through these long processes in order to access information and having to pay these high fees. What we are putting forward, what Tom is putting forward is that the fees will be nominal. I believe the amount was like $5, so that anybody has access to whatever they want to that is public information through their government.
The other thing to is to look at our government system. To make sure that it is efficient, it’s working and that if there is anything that needs to be looked at, that we address it and we make sure it’s working properly.”
Jim Johnston, Green Party
“I think the most important issue has to deal with trust. Stephen Harper says that this election is about leadership, and in part he is right, but an important part of leadership is trust. I don’t trust the Conservatives to do what they say they are going to do. I don’t trust them to have my best interests at heart. I don’t think they have the best interest of most people at heart. I think they take care of large business and very little else.
So I will say trust and there is a need for real change. I think we need to send the Conservatives to the penalty box for this election.”
Bev Shipley, Conservative
“We really can’t avoid the jobs and economy because those are the two key issues. I think what is important obviously, we just signed and negotiated an agreement, The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) which gives Canada access to 800 million people… the largest, 40% of the global economy. That is a critical agreement for Canada in terms of job creation for our employees. Particularly in our areas, look at agriculture is a big winner. It’s always in every trade agreement, but also obviously the opportunity for our manufacturing across the country.”
Election day is Oct. 19.
