The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, M ay 31 ,2 01 8 | 14 Old World Quality New World Satisfaction since 1983 BASED IN GEORGETOWN SERVING ALL OF HALTON & PEEL REGIONS & ORANGEVILLE • Complete Residential Re-roofing • Repairs • Financing Now Available • Metal Flashing • Cedar Roofs • Copper Roofs and Flashing SHINGLES • CEDAR • FLATS • COPPER www.findlayroofing.ca Fully Licensed and Insured. Call for a FREE Estimate 905-702-7977 Email: info@findlayroofing.ca | toll free 800-683-2999 Cell: 416-989-7809 Dave LoDuca • Ceramic & Porcelain Tile Installation • Bathroom Renovations • Kitchen Backsplashes • Heated Floors C C T I L EE RAM I The Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce held an all-candi- dates' debate for chamber mem- bers on Wednesday morning, where members asked candi- dates questions about a series of economic issues facing Ontario. "For business owners in this community, they need to know what parties will be looking out for their interest," said Peter Sproule, a moderator for the event. The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has released a 2018 platform called Vote Pros- perity, outlining key recommen- dations for the elected party in the election. Ontario's electricity rates have increased by over 71 per cent since 2008 and the OCC rec- ommends the new government undertake a review of Ontario's electricity sector, as well as al- low businesses to purchase sur- plus electricity for the same price that it's sold to external markets for. Candidates from the Liberal, Green and Conservative party were present at the event, how- ever NDP candidate Diane Bal- lantyne could not be in atten- dance because she works as a full-time teacher at Centre Wel- lington District High School. "There's been quite a strong push back from people," said Ted Arnott, Conservative MPP for Wellington-Halton Hills, vy- ing for re-election. He said that the issue with hydro rates are the result of "specific and delib- erate policy decisions within the current government." Amid calls for an investiga- tion into the hydro industry in Ontario, Arnott said "we need to stop signing contracts for hydro we don't need." Green party candidate Dave Rodgers said that his govern- ment would support selling dis- count surplus electricity to small business. Liberal candidate Jon Hurst said that hydro rates have risen because of the need to update aging infrastructure and to switch over to green energy sources. The OCC is also calling on the new government to address a training gap in skilled labour- ers. The OCC reports that in the next ten years, 40 per cent of new jobs created in the province will be in the skilled trades, however, only 26 per cent of youth have an interest in pursu- ing jobs in that sector. The chamber asked ques- tions about broadband internet as well. "In today's environment broadband internet is essential for small business," said Rod- gers, adding that even his cam- paign manager curses his rural internet connectivity. "The Liberal government is committed to expanding broad- band connectivity," said Hurst. Arnott stated that progress is slow on the broadband file, but he is committed to continuing to lobby for rural access. In addition to concerns about over-regulation and red tape, the chamber asked how candi- dates would address corporate taxes. Arnott and the Conservatives propose to lower Ontario's cor- porate tax from 11.5 per cent to 10.5 per cent. Rodgers said that the Green party would lower employer health taxes, and payroll taxes on small businesses. "We all want to pay less tax," said Hurst, cautioning that "tax reduction needs to be offset somewhere else in the budget." He asked the audience to re- member the despair and crisis within health care and educa- tion during the Mike Harris gov- ernment. "We can't go back to that," he said. "The Liberal government will not go back to that." It's estimated that the prov- ince is suffering a $19 billion in- frastructure gap, and the prov- ince's debt is expected to rise by 21 per cent in the next three years. NEWS Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce grills candidates on economic policy ALEXANDRA HECK aheck@metroland.com Liberal candidate Jon Hurst speaking about the dangers of tax cuts leading to budget cuts in Provincial policy. Alexandra Heck/Metroland