JOBS, HOUSING DOMINATE EARLY GOING IN DEBATE

Trisha Cowie, Gord Miller, Scott Aitchison and Tom Young agreed on many questions, like the environment and abortion rights, but distinguished themselves more in style than substance, which will probably separate them more on Oct. 21.

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — What’s a job without housing?

Trisha Cowie says jobs are going begging in Parry Sound-Muskoka, but there aren’t enough attainable, let alone affordable, living spaces to accommodate those who want to work, live, contribute and raise a family in the riding.

The federal Liberal candidate told a large audience of close to 300 at the Gravenhurst Opera House Tuesday night that there’s also not enough transportation locally to get to jobs.

Gord Miller and Tom Young, the respective Green and NDP runners, said it’s “clean jobs” that are needed.

Young suggested an electric car parts factory and more training.

Conservative Scott Aitchison said “incentivising” the private sector to build affordable housing and co-ops in partnership with municipal governments is key. And his party would lower the banking “stress test” to make it easier to obtain a mortgage.

Young says New Democrats have a plan for 500,000 new housing starts and he would fight for a “fair share,” including more seniors and smaller homes.

He said Liberals and Tories haven’t done anything so far.

Cowie countered that the government has a housing strategy that is working.

Miller called for more rental units.

On the question of how each candidate is different, Young said “I’ve lived your life. I never had a silver spoon.”

Aitchison stressed his 25 year of town council experience, the last five as Huntsville mayor, and said municipal leaders make good MPs.

He said he had the support of several Muskoka politicians, including Bracebridge Mayor Graydon Smith, with whom he partnered to save the two hospitals.

Miller spoke of running businesses and working in government for 15 years, as Ontario’s environmental commissioner under four premiers.

“I have the government experience that Scott wants,” he said.

Cowie said she’s an Indigenous woman, lawyer, small business owner and mom.

She called herself “an advocate with a track record as a collaborator.”

The audience applauded when she said “people are tired” of politicians not working together.

“We need more collaboration in Ottawa.”

Young said “we need new blood” in Ottawa, adding he was born and raised in Huntsville and was probably the only one who could say that.

Aitchison traced his local ancestry back six generations.

A Gravenhurst-centric question on the lingering fate of the Muskoka Centre unearthed an intriguing nugget from Aitchison.

He said the former mental health residence on Lake Muskoka is now off the market.

He said the District of Muskoka had been asked by the Town of Gravenhurst to help broker a deal with the province.

Aitchison said he and the other reps toured Premier Doug Ford through the province’s 70-acre property and convinced him to take the for sale sign down.

The other three candidates only said it should be up to the “community” to solve the 25-year-old problem.

Asked what they like and dislike about their party, Cowie said she likes that the Liberals are moving forward with reconciliation.

But she doesn’t like the speed of it.

“It can’t happen fast enough for me.”

Young said he likes that New Democrats are “in it for me, the average person, not the rich.”

He said “I can’t think of anything I don’t like about them.”

Aitchison said he likes the Conservative plan for small government that lets people “keep more of their own money.

“It’s not the government’s money. It’s your money.”

He added he’s tired of Tories being the “bogey man” and branded as uncaring ogres.

He said Conservatives want to help all Canadians.

On immigration, Cowie call it “a gift.”

Aitchison called immigrants “the backbone of the country.”

Cowie shot back: “First Nations are the backbone of the country.”

Young said Canada needs to offer new Canadians training and “keep families together, bring whole families.”

Aitchison agreed, but said the “refugee system should be fair.”

Miller said the world is “creating environmental refugees. They’re coming.”

The question of abortion rights was raised by the Chamber of Commerce moderator Bob Collins.

“Where do you each stand on it personally?”

All favoured abortion as a woman’s choice.

“I believe it’s a woman’s choice to choose,” said Cowie.

Aitchison agreed, saying “I would fight to defend a woman’s right to choose,” adding his party wouldn’t reopen the issue if elected.

Cowie added she is “pro-choice” and that she is OK with her party forcing MPs to vote the same, using the “party whip.”

Let us know what you think of the candidates and the election. Who you’re voting for – and who you think will win locally and nationally.

The No. 1 issue in the riding?

For Aitchison, it’s health care. He said Muskoka faces a “massive share” of the costs of new hospitals.

Miller said it’s “water quality and keeping our lakes clean.”

Cowie talked about the crisis of Indigenous children dying daily and homelessness.

For Young, “it’s got to be affordable, quality housing.

“We’ve got to get people off the streets,” he said, noting he’s seen people living on a bridge in downtown Bracebridge.

“Stop them from having to couch-surf.”

On the carbon tax, Miller said it’s OK to take money from Canadians as long as you give it back.

Cowie said the Liberal rebate plan does that, returning more at the end of the year than people spend on the rising costs in the preceding months.

She accused the Conservatives of letting off big pollution emitters, by not forcing them to pay their share of the costs.

Young said the NDP would “stop giving tax breaks to big oil companies.”

Aitchison said the Conservative plan is to be less “punitive” and would “incentivise, not penalize.”

He urged tax breaks for green tech businesses and would offer a green home tax credits that create more jobs.

Miller agrees. Greens say solar, wind and renovation credits create more localized work in rural communities for local trades people.

He, too, said Conservatives are “letting the world down” by letting polluters off.

Cowie and Young echoed Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, by saying “don’t listen to politicians,” listen to scientists and climate experts.

Aitchison countered that carbon plans shouldn’t be “whipped,” because even if Canada were to reach zero carbon emissions, it wouldn’t do any good with China and India still belching out pollutants.

While hundreds of protesters young and old have taken to Muskoka streets the past two Fridays – and will do so again tomorrow – their climate demonstrations elicited barely passing comment or acknowledgement from the four candidates, but were still at the heart of pat party answers and stump speeches by each of the Green, Liberal, Conservative and NDP runners Tuesday in Gravenhurst. (Climate Action Muskoka photo)

The question of water elicited some responsible responses.

Cowie cited the “brilliant minds in Muskoka” already at work on the problem.

Aitchison advocated working with governments at all levels.

Miller said that’s his life’s work, noting he’s chair of an expert panel to develop a collaborative strategy on the Great Lakes along the St. Lawrence River.

Post secondary studies had Young calling for free education and tuition through to a student’s working life.

Aitchison called for tax breaks on savings investments.

The Greens would forgive student debt.

For those on old age security, Young said “it’s wrong” that so many people struggle.

He said “half the riding lives paycheque-to-paycheque.”

Miller said “underfunding is the biggest issue of the election.”

Aitchison vowed to keep the retirement age at 65, and said he “understands” more than the others “how government works” at various levels.

Cowie referred to her party’s platform for seniors’ supports.

She jokingly accused Miller of “pandering to seniors.”

“That’s because I are one,” he said, before laughter waved back through the mostly aged 50-plus crowd.

Asked what Ottawa should spend less on, Young said “pharmacare” and “no subsidies to oil.”

Aitchison would “cut foreign aid” — specifically to Russia.

And “don’t borrow … reduce spending,” he threw in.

Cowie agreed, with the caveat that “we’re doing well” with the economy.

She said just “not crazy spending — but targeted spending.”

Finally, what should the government spend more money on?

Cowie: climate and housing.

Young: clean energy and more average Canadians and housing.

Collins wouldn’t allow any question from the floor, despite at least a couple of people shouting and asking about “autism” and “how about child mental health.”

One couple walked out after their attempted question wasn’t addressed.

There was also no mention of gun control or nary a mention of former defrocked Tory MP Tony Clement.

Another person, during an exit interview, said she wished whoever wins had a “a bit” of each of their platforms.

And one other called the whole thing lame and he wanted see more passion and debate among the candidates.

A number of other important issues were also missed, but they may be answered again tonight (Thursday, Oct. 3) at 7 p.m. at the Sportsplex in Bracebridge, where the candidates and public have an opportunity to speak at another event, this one sponsored by the YWCA and Muskoka Conservancy.

Email Mark Clairmont at mark@muskokatoday.com

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