Candidates spar over MPP ‘in power’

Mark Clarimont | MuskokaTODAY.com

HUNTSVILLE — “What would it look like if the MPP was in power?”

That wasn’t just the subtext, but the headline of tonight’s all-candidates debate.

New Democrat Erin Horvath posed the rhetorical question in her summation.

But not before prefacing it with: Now that the NDP “is now poised to take power ….”

We’ll know three weeks tonight — one way or the other:

One way: If incumbent Tory MPP Norm Miller finally wins power with Doug Ford.

Or the other way: If Erin Horvath and Andrea Horwath emerge as coalition government leaders with the third-place Liberals.

It’s all hypothetical 21 days out.

Miller could win his sixth term and Ford could be elbowed out the way the NDP last won in this riding in 1990, before Miller came along in 2001.

In the meantime, there’s some tough slugging ahead.

And it was evident at the Algonquin Theatre, where a surprisingly small crowd of about 200 passively took it all in.

The only emotion came from a “frustrated” Liberal candidate Brenda Rhodes, who took a couple of verbal swipes at Miller’s record locally.

To which Miller defended himself and his riding work on behalf of constituents, saying several times he has addressed a minister personally and got assistance for a local voter or had an issue successfully dealt with.

He said within his own party he is known as the least partisan person in caucus.

While there were some specific differences, all five candidates agreed on the big issues: more long-term care beds and PSWs; two hospitals in Muskoka; and the subsidized return of the Northlander train (only Rhodes said the Liberals want a business case).

Cap and trade was a bone of contention that divided them.

Rhodes and Horvath favour it; Richter waffled; Miller is opposed, and Mole prefers propane to gas.

Overall, it was a pretty tame debate that revealed little new about party policies or platform.

What it showed was Miller faces some tough competition.

Independent Jeff Mole spoke well, but the former Green candidate and Liberal Party member offered little new.

He rates at C grade for his workmanlike performance as independent.

Richter was perhaps the best speaker; knowledgeable about his subject, practical (“we’ve been here before on this subject …).

But the Greens haven’t got a seat. He would be as good a start as anywhere in Ontario.

Grade: B+

Rhodes struggled to defend her party’s lamentable record, and at times came across on the attack, while often admitting they have learned and that they will change.

Grade B

Horvath was calm, knew her party’s platform well and sounded as believeable as Richter. She relies heavily on her diverse community development background. Said: A voter for Miller is a vote for Ford.

Grade A-

Miller remains uncomfortable speaking publicly to large groups, but comes across as genuine and likeable (accounting largely for his success), especially one-on-one and as a good constituent member of Parliament. His strength is ability cross party lines to get work done and his commitment to the environment.

Grade A

The next debate is next Wednesday in Parry Sound.

See related debate story later on MuskokaTODAY.