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Whltby FmosPree. Wecesday, May 17. 106.,Pag 31 Candidates-do attiei Whitbyý By MikeKowalold The' campaign to represent Durham Centre.- riding in the Ontario legislature is now offi- cially underwa. Candidates lor the three major parties contesting the June 8 provincial election have had their first encounter with the votera. Providence Place senior citi- zens' apartment complex on Glen Hill Drive was the settinhg last week for an election forum fea- turing New Democrat MPP Drummond White, Liberal candi- date Allan Furlong and Jim Fla- herty of the Progressive Conser- vatives. Although the three had deba- ted the future of Whitby General Hospital at a similar meeting in theV~hitby council chambers ini early April, that was juat a Whuréay3s session was their firat real tussie since Premier Bob Rae called the election alinost three weeks ago. About 25 people were on hand te, hear White exÉplain why his party should be returned for a second term. EqualI y adamant. that Ontario's firat-ever NDP govern- ment must not be re-elected were forme r MPP Furlong and second- time candidate Flaherty, 0 f course, the two differed as toi' whose party should -replace the New Democrats. While health care and servies for, seniors consumned most of the discussion candidates were also questione on a variety topice such as funding for private reli- gious schools and adoption rights for saine-se couples. Ini his opening remarks, White defended the vovernment's record on seniors issues, espe- cially its commitment to more subsidized and non-profit hous- 'ÏOpened i 1988, Providence Place is a non-profit building operatedl by Durhm Christian Homes.) .« Seniors and non-profit hous- img is a reflection of the comn- munity. Tat's wha a govern- ment, w have ben so-suppor-' tive 'said Wie «Às a government we are comn- mitted te it. Unlike the opposi- tion, we don't believe you should put a moratorium on it.» White said the NDP feels that seniors themselves must decide whether they want te continue living i their own homes, if capableor te enter a nursing home or similar facility. To allow themn this choice, the pvernment has increased fund- ing for nursing homes and homes for the aged from $880 million in 1989 te more than $1 billion in 1994-95, White said. In addition, it has increased spending for support' servies such as meals, transportation and personal care from $38 mil- lion te $134 million. Locally, $32 millionn bas been Order of Nurses (VON) is wrong. «Monolithie, big bureaucracy DURHAM Centre'riding ProgressiveConservative candidate Jim Flaherty makes a point during Iast Thursday's election forum at Providence Place senior ctizens' apartment com- dosa not serve a community's needa,» he said. 'I would rather trust the VON than some government bureau- crat.» Flaherty said the concept of volunteerism would be bast as many of the agencies affected by Bilh 173 rely -heavily on volun- teers te survive. «We want to keep that comn- munity spinrt and et ic,» he said, wbile adIng that «the measure of a society is bow we treat the weakest members of society.» Currentjy president of the Head Injuiiy Association of Dur- ham Region, Flaherty said he bas come te appreciate the ser- vices offered by facilities such as the Grandview Treatment Centre in Oshaw~ and Thistie- tewn in west Toro té. However, Flahet ty pointed out that the latter is slated for clos- îing due te, financial cutbacks and claimed the former is at risk due te, the current government's fis- cal «mismanagement." Duigtbe couple of hours tht ee here, the Ontario goveraiment is borrowin $2 mil- lion and apending.over $900,00 an bour on interest,» he said. «Good governinent is providing leadersbip and protecting ser- vices, not loaing them.» On other, matters, Flaherty said bis party will declare a moratorium on building more non-profit housing, but would provide a shelter allowance for those in need. aA Tory government would also «guarantee» that seniors' build- ings«ustay that way,» he added. Furlong also admitted that a Liberal government will impose a moratorium on subsidized housing and quickly attributed this te circumatances beyond his party's centrol. MTe reality is the provincial debt by tbe end of tbe next fiscal year wi11 be $100 billion,» said FurIong. 'Mhat will fore us te review programs like non-profit housing so that we can come up with ways te make it more accoun- table and eost-efficient.» Accrding te Furlon -,the est of subsidizng non-profit housing in Ontario has reac hed $1 billion annually. «We're not advocating aban- donment of non-profit housing or shelter allowances,»hle insisted. «We're only proposing a mora- torium until a review of that sector can take place. A Liberal government is also committed te changing Bill 173, Furlong said. «We support one agency in each eommunity te co-orcinate delivery of services, but the com- munity should decide bow,» hie said. RdCos el '"he VON, RdCos el on Wheels, :would continue te provide services and the com- munity would decide how te, beat deliver the services." Furlong disagreed with Fla- herty and Mgred with White on whetber publicly.funded 'build- ings1 can be reserved exclusively for seniors. «There has te be seniors'build- ings, but we also have te deal ith all segments of society, not just seniors," he said. cEvery effort must be made te put people in the most appro- priate setting.» Following their initial com- menta, thegcandidates were pep- om te smllbut enfiiu:iastic audience. On funding of private Chris- tian achools, Fae aid a Conservative government wouId be prepared te look at some formn of tax credits for supportera of those institutions. White and Furlong said their parties have no plans te extend funding in this area. Last week's decision by an Ontario judge te allow four les- plex. Jotting down bis. rebuttal is New Democrat M PP Drummiond WIîite (Ieft) while Liberal candidate Allan Furlong. looks on. bians te, adopt their artners' children was criicized by all tbree candidates. Flaherty noted that the Tory caucus at Queen's Park voted unanimously againat hast year's attempt by the 'government te expand gay rigbts and would do the saine in this situation., "Adoption te me is abôut chil- dren and that involves a spouýse anid marriage ... and marriage in- volves a man' and woman,» he said. «I 'thought that was obvious, but rm not sure it is te, judges," the Whitbv lawyer added. Furlong, an- Oshawa lawyer, agreed that the judge made a «trrible mistake.» "I don't know the reason for it, but I hope it will be appealed,» be said. «If that will be a problem, then we should look at passing legisla- tion.» 1Furlong said he opposed changing the legal definition of a spouse and felt that a same-sex relationsbip is not «a healthy environment te raise children.» White reminded the audience of his vote againat the. govern- ment's saine-sex bill last year. Ready to go MARY NOVAK, Liberal candidate for thie Durham East riding that includes north Whitby, cuts the ribbon to mark theMay 2 officiai opening of ber campaign office in Courtice. Photo by Peter Nueas. Whitby Free Press