HST one of key issues raised at all-candidates meeting, Feb. 11
Posted Feb 18, 2010 By Roy Lewis
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The harmonized sales tax was a key issue at an all-candidates meeting on Feb. 11.
Roy Lewis, St. Lawrence EMC
From left, Steve Mazurek, Liberal candidate, Neil Kudrinko, Green Party candidate, Steve Clark, Progressive Conservative candidate and Steve Armstrong, New Democratic Party candidate, are shown at the all-candidates meeting held by the Leeds and Grenville Federations of Agriculture at the Spring Valley Hall on Feb. 11.
Both young and old alike expressed concerns about the tax to the four candidates running in the March 4 by-election in Leeds-Grenville during the meeting held at Spring Valley Hall and organized by the Leeds and Grenville Federations of Agriculture.
Candidates appearing at the meeting were Steve Armstrong running for the New Democratic Party, Steve Clark for the Progressive Conservative Party, Neil Kudrinko for the Green Party and Steve Mazurek for the Liberal Party.
Most questions put to the candidates dealt with agricultural issues such as more assistance for farmers and rural property assessment but there were also questions about the reduction of government red tape and the closure of privately-run vehicle and driver licensing offices. But the plan to blend the five per cent federal goods and service tax and the eight per cent provincial sales tax into one single tax of 13 per cent was raised on more than one occasion by members of the audience.
While the federal and provincial sales taxes are imposed on many goods and services, the blended tax, to be implemented on July 1, will result in the eight per cent Ontario tax applying to many more items and services ranging from electricity to funerals and haircuts.
Calling the harmonized sales tax "bizarre," Armstrong said not one dime will be going into government coffers but the eight per cent will be "handed back to business." He said the "outrageous" tax was Premier Dalton McGuinty's way of adding "a new tax."
"Seniors have already expressed concern to us about paying the additional eight per cent on many items," said Clark.
When the tax is imposed on electricity rates, it will add an extra expense to a power bill for seniors who also face increases with the time-of-use rate structure according to Clark.
It is a "lack of foresight of the McGuinty government to be putting the tax on during a recession," he said.
Mazurek defended the creation of the harmonized sales tax saying that within five years it would create 110,000 jobs.
He said the tax will reduce red tape for businesses and pointed to that fact that 150 countries already have some form of harmonized sales tax.
Vague definitions of primary agricultural lands were raised in one question focusing on assessments of farms and the resulting property taxes. Armstrong called on the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) to have decisions written "in black and white language so it can be understood." He also said there is a need for negotiations in property assessments.
Assessments arrived at by MPAC have caused extreme angst among farmers of Ontario with some property assessments skyrocketing, said Clark. Calling for a sensible approach, Clark accused the McGuinty government of freezing assessments "just to get through the last election."
Kudrinko called the present assessment approach ridiculous. He said assessment could be based on separate plots of land on a farm to be used for post processing of products saying MPAC needs to take "a long hard look at reality."
The assessment process is better "but it is not perfect," said Mazurek. He noted there were some large assessment increases and "we need to work harder to make the assessment process more equitable."
A written question asked if farmers should have access to risk-management programs. Armstrong supported such a program saying, "it will assist farmers in bad times and provide stability in their industry."
Kudrinko supported the risk management program but said such protection was not going to small producers. The McGuinty government was accused by Clark of cutting $82 million out of the risk management program. He said it was time the province "moved forward rather than back" with the program.
Mazurek supported the risk-management program saying it "could make the difference between farmers making a living or being forced to sell their farms."
Beef farmer Charlie Sytsma raised the issue of cutbacks in funding for a $25-million industry food tracking system to enhance food safety. He said the program was supposed to run five years but was cut off last year after running less than four months.
"This sounds like another McGuinty broken promise," said Armstrong. "What happened to the government stimulus money that was supposed to be supplied to family farms?" he asked.
Arguing he was a great advocate of the food tracking program, Clark said both the provincial and federal governments need to be approached for "you need adequate government funding to make things happen."
"Traceability in the food industry has become more important and I would be concerned if the government was not funding such a program," said Kudrinko.
"The cost should not fall on producers but we need a food supply system that is safe," he said.
"If there is value in the program, then government should work with farmers and funds should be committed," said Mazurek.
The issue of too much government red tape was raised in a question on why there are not more provincially-inspected abattoirs or slaughterhouses given there is such a high demand for beef in Ontario. "Why this government doesn't support farmers is beyond me and they are not looking after the little guy struggling day after day," said Armstrong.
Kudrinko said there are not enough licensed abattoirs in the province and there should be more because "Ontario beef is every bit as safe as meat from outside the province." He said all processing capacity is now in large facilities but if smaller operations were allowed they could also create secondary jobs.
Clark said a local abattoir owner is well aware of the red tape imposed on such operations. He argued red tape forced the Forfar factory to stop making cheese and the government "needs to provide relief for these operations." Providing proper government funding for inspections at abattoirs was supported by Mazurek noting that "public safety is number one." He said the public "must be protected and we must not have a repeat of the tainted meat scandal, which occurred a few years ago."
Another question asked candidates was why the privately-run Brockville licensing office was being closed and the facility moved to a government office.
Armstrong suggested closure of the office would cost more money and "it seems to work so why change?"
Clark wanted to know why the licensing office was being closed in Brockville and another privately-run office in Kemptville. He said when he inquired about the closures, the government admitted the private offices had wonderful staff, easy access and great parking.
Kudrinko said the private licensing offices are providing good service. He disagreed with reduction of the offices and called on the government to examine if moving the operation to their facility will cost more than leaving them in the private sector. Mazurek was not aware of why the licensing offices were being closed but he suggested it might be better efficiency. He said he would look into the matter.
Candidates were also asked to comment on the large number of job losses in the riding because of factory and institutional closures and what would they do about it if elected.
Armstong said there used to be a job commissionaire in the province and industries had to appear before him and give a reasonable explanation why they were closing their operation. He charged that the Conservative government eliminated the commissionaire's position "feeling it was easier to lay off workers and McGuinty has refused to do anything about it."
Noting it was difficult to gain new, high-paying jobs, Clark referred to the St. Lawrence Valley Correctional Treatment Centre on the grounds of the former Brockville Psychiatric Hospital. He said a plan was in place to build phase two and three of the project but the McGuinty government has ignored the expansion which would have created 300 jobs.
Kudrinko questioned the McGuinty government giving $70 million to attract Samsung manufacturing to Ontario. He feels farmers especially need to be allowed to carry out post harvest operations to sell their products saying, without such access, "does beef and pork farmers a huge disservice."
With a globalized economy, there are opportunities for highly-skilled Ontario workers, especially with the emerging green technology which is supported by the Liberal government according to Mazurek. "We have projects in Leeds and Grenville that can be exported around the world."
Each candidate was allowed to make final comments at the end of the meeting. Armstrong said that he and his party were totally against the HST "since the majority of people in Ontario are against it." Noting that he had learned from those attending the meeting, Armstrong said if he was elected, he would hold public meetings each month to take the concerns of constituents to Queen's Park. Clark praised the federations of agriculture for holding the forum which he called "a great opportunity to hear the concerns of voters," and he hoped over the coming days of the by-election he could talk about issues with other voters. "I will go to the wall for you and work hard every single day at Queen's Park."
Kudrinko said government needs to ensure regulations are not impairing farmers to having access to markets. He also wanted to try and produce a better local economy to "keep farmers on the farm." While proposing to take marginal farm land out of production when it is necessary to protect the environment, he said farmers should be compensated for performing this service for the public.
Noting the "rural way of life must be protected," Mazurek told the audience "I want to go to Queen's Park to fight for your concerns, your hopes and aspirations." He said voters need to elect a candidate who knows what it is like to run a business and create jobs.
"I can fight at Queen's Park for the way of life you want and deserve," he said.
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