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Election Q&A 1. Why are you the best candidate to represent the riding of Wellington-Halton Hills? (Response limited to 100 words) Experience is an important part of what a candidate offers to the public. I have experience as a husband and father, as a businessman, and as a politician. I have experience in getting things done. While I have been on Council, the Town of Erin has built Centre 2000, revitalized Main Street, started an infrastructure renewal plan, and stood up to large companies. At County Council, we have built a seniors' residence, supported our local hospitals, and established the first tree nursery owned by a municipality. I bring this experience, knowledge and vitality to the rest of this riding. 2. Looking at each of the other parties separately, please offer an opinion as to why they should not form the next government. (Response limited to 200 words) The Conservatives are the party of provincial power. They want to restrain the federal government from setting national standards that improve people's lives. They concentrate on giving tax breaks to those who have lots of money, while ignoring the needs of those less fortunate. $1,200 a year for childcare works out to about $3/day. How will a single mother with a young child find quality care for that price? The NDP, while strong in certain areas, are not a national party, and can not realistically be counted on to form a national government. We need a party that has representation in all parts of the country in order to develop a national agenda. The Green Party seems to be more the Jim Harris party, than a true environmental party. In the last election both the Sierra Club and Greenpeace rated them below the NDP. Five of 11 of the party's officers have resigned or been suspended in the past eight months. The Independent & Free Press posed three questions to each of the six Wellington-Halton Hills candidates. Here are their responses. 3. What is the major local issue(s) in this campaign and what will you do to deal with it if elected? (Response limited to 100 words) I believe that our health care system is the major local issue. In Georgetown, the local hospital was in jeopardy. In Fergus, they are awaiting decisions on improving their local hospital. In Erin and Guelph-Eramosa they have just obtained funding for a Family Health Team. All these initiatives require national funding transfers to the province to be successful. It is the Liberals who have initiated these transfers, promising $41.3 billion over the next 10 years to improve our system. That includes funding for hospitals, for spaces for medical students, more nurses and other health practitioners. ROD FINNIE (Liberal) I have stepped forward to represent Christian Heritage Party during this election to give people the opportunity to vote for the one and only party which is pro-life, pro-family and has a plan to address judicial activism. It is important to ensure that a Standing Committee is set up to review decisions made by the Judiciary to ensure that they are conforming to the Constitution. I don't believe in disputing between the parties. Our platform is unique as I have stated above. We are the only party which is pro-life, pro-family and will set up a Standing Committee to ensure that your vote and my vote counts by allowing our Parliament to form any changes to the constitution-- not judges. CAROLANN KRUSKY (Christian Heritage Party) What I'll bring to the job as a Member of Parliament is a new, common-sense approach of doing the duties. Instead of selling an agenda and asking you to accept it, I will do my best and work my hardest to meet as much of the constituency as I can, so the platform I take to Ottawa is shaped by the people in the riding. To me, this is common sense. What other industry on the planet sees the employees tell the employers what they intend to work on and how much they are getting paid? For a candidate who is trying his best not to run a negative campaign, this will be a tricky question to answer. However, anyone who knows me knows I love to discuss the issues. So, I will now do my best to answer that question honestly, while trying to respect the character of my fellow candidates. Even though I trust (Conservative leader) Stephen Harper will not go into Iraq, if elected, I don't know how he'll proceed in regards to future international military initiatives. Even though (Prime Minister) Paul Martin has two ministers handling democratic renewal, a prime minister who won't allow a free vote in his cabinet has me questioning his commitment to democracy. Even though (NDP leader) Jack Layton is in touch with working Canadians, I don't believe he can allow labour and business to co-exist without intervening. Even though Jim Harris (Green Party leader) believes in Canada, I have the impression he sees less to do at home when I review his very ambitious foreign aid strategy. Unfortunately, we don't have a say as to who becomes prime minister. Our ballot only allows you to elect your representative. Who's willing to listen to the people, and, independent of party line or agenda, deliver in Ottawa? Gun control and the murders caused by guns is being heavily covered by the media at present. People are concerned. Christian Heritage Party has not just invented a policy concerning guns. We have always maintained in our policies that the sentence must match the crime and the sentence must be carried out. CHP suggest tougher sentencing standards for gun related crimes. If a gun is used in a crime, the sentence automatically doubles, if the gun is loaded, it automatically doubles again, if the gun is discharged during the perpetration of a crime, it automatically triples again. We do not believe it is proper to impose standards on law-abiding citizens which criminals will not observe, such as a registered plan the federal government has already imposed through BillC-68. In the notes that I've been taking, as I hear the concerns of the constituents, health care is a great concern. Also, people have been calling for lower taxes and more accountability in government. As far as health care goes, after meeting with people and taking calls and letters, I'll have a sense of whether I'm directed to defend universal health care or to allow doctors the right to practise privately. I'll meet with the Minister of Finance and discuss lowering taxes. I'll stress accountability by setting a good example and being as accessible as possible, how the job should be. INDEPENDENT MIKE WISNIEWSKI (Independent) Advance poll dates Advance polls for the upcoming federal election will be held Friday, Saturday, and Monday, January 13, 14 and 16. The advance polls will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Locations in Halton Hills are St. Alban's Anglican Church, Glen Wiliams; Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 197, Acton; St. Andrew's United Church Georgetown and St. John's United Church in Georgetown. Special ballot voting is ongoing at the Elections Canada Wellington-Halton Hills office located at 21 Main St. N. Acton. Hours are Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 12-4 p.m. For information call 1-866-281-5091. Election day is Monday, January 23.