Huron Heights provincial election debate far from compelling

Several Grades 7 and 8 students at Huron Heights Public School, Kincardine, attempted to convince the electorate (fellow students) to vote for them, as they represented four Huron-Bruce candidates during a provincial election debate, Thursday afternoon.

It's part of the student vote, organized by teacher Sylvia Leigh, to heighten awareness of the importance of an election and being an informed voter.

“We've held the student vote at all levels – municipal, provincial and federal,” said Leigh. “Each party has to do its research and then present its platform as a way to get the voters to vote for that party.”

She then showed students how to fill out a ballot which they will do during the actual student vote, slated for Wednesday, June 6.

Moderated by students Harleen Randhawa and Wyatt Norman, the debate began with opening remarks by each party.

The New Democratic Party, represented by local candidate Jan Johnstone, offered a change for the better. “We will piece back together this province and protect middle-class families.”

The Liberals, represented by local candidate Don Matheson, said a Liberal vote means continued progress on schools and hospitals.

The Progressive Conservatives (PCs), represented by incumbent MPP Lisa Thompson, intoned that the Liberals' days are numbered. “We don't support the carbon tax. If elected, we would clean up the energy file, cut taxes by 20 per cent, and bring jobs to Ontario. Relief is on its way!”

The Green Party, represented by local candidate Nicholas Wendler, wants to minimize the carbon footprint in the province, by supporting clean energy and reliable energy sources. It would also create jobs that are needed in Ontario.

When asked about high-quality health care, the PCs said they would invest $1.9-billion into the health-care system and decrease hospital and emergency-room wait times. They would provide 15,000 long-term care beds over five years, and 30,000 over 10 years.

The NDP said the current health-care system needs to be changed. It would help people be healthier and make life more affordable by ensuring that everyone can go to the dentist.

The Liberals said they would put more resources into health care in Ontario.

The Green Party's goal is to reduce wait times at hospitals by 20 per cent by the year 2020 and invest $1.3-billion in the health-care system.

With regard to high-quality education, the Green Party would give free tuition to all students, and provide loans to foreign students.

The Liberals would try to make education easier to obtain for everyone.

The NDP wants to ensure all children have access to schooling, providing scholarships and making school fees more affordable. The party would leave the sex education curriculum alone, and wants to improve the quality of elementary and secondary education.

The PCs would increase education funding by $2-billion over four years, and would allow teachers more freedom to do the programming in the classroom.

In response to the question about supporting nuclear energy, all four parties responded affirmatively. And all parties supported ways to improve the environment.

When asked how to get Ontario out of debt, the Green Party said that the Liberals have sold off most of the provincial assets, so there is no hope of getting out of debt. “We would just work with the assets we have left.”

The Liberals would lower taxes for the middle class, and increase taxes on the wealthy.

The NDP would have the wealthy corporations pay their fair share of taxes, and increase taxes by 13 per cent on those making $220,000 or more.

The PCs said Ontario is still getting money from the asset that the Liberals didn't sell.

In closing remarks, the Liberals simply urged the electorate to vote Liberal.

The NDP said the future is bright with the New Democrats in charge, providing equality, lower hydro bills, and improved health care and education.

The Green Party said Ontario is the most beautiful province in Canada and we have to work to minimize our footprint. “We must work together to fix the mess the Liberals have left us with. We do carbon cuts, not job cuts.”

The PCs urged voters to vote for the better party. “We need tax cuts and hydro cuts, and you need more money in your pocketbook. The Liberals and NDP say let's make Ontario great again – that sounds familiar!”

While all four parties were long on promises, they were short on solutions and details. Now, it's up to the students to decide who will win the provincial election in Wednesday's student vote.