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2- The Oakville Beaver, Friday October 10, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Economy takes spotlight at debate By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF 321 Cornwall Road, Olde Oakville Market Place (next to Whole Foods) 905.815.8777 OAKVILLE WATERLOO With a global financial crisis making daily headlines, the Canadian economy was front and centre at the final Oakville candidates debate Tuesday night. Hosted by the Bronte Village Residents' Association, the debate attracted about 100 people to the Bronte Legion. Candidates were asked what their party would do to keep investments, savings and pension plans safe. NDP candidate Michelle Bilek said the key to keeping the economy stable lies in more regulations to govern banks' lending practices. Green Party candidate Blake Poland said as the U.S. is Canada's largest trading partner, what happens there will inevitably affect here, but his party would work to minimize damage. "The Green Party has policies on bringing in income splitting across the board, not just for pensioners," he said. "We are also planning to reinvest the money that would come from the carbon tax to reduce both payroll taxes and income tax. That's the whole premise behind our tax shift, you move taxes off the things you want to have more of, like employment, and onto the things we would like less of, like pollution." Conservative candidate Terence Young stood by his party's record of maintaining a balanced budget, lowering taxes, protecting jobs and keeping inflation low. He also noted the prime minister is not afraid to make tough choices and showed this when he reversed a commitment not to tax income trusts. "It was the right thing to do for ordinary people," said Young. Oakville Liberal MP Bonnie Brown said the Liberal program would put considerable funds into infrastructure and an `advanced manufacturing prosperity fund.' She noted party Leader Stéphane Dion has a plan to galvanize Canada against the economic slump. "He wants to have an It's Official... Deerfield Golf club THANKSGIVING WEEKEND SPECIAL October 11, 12 & 13th Green Fee $45 after 11am. Book Early. visit our website for more info www.golfdeerfield.com DEERFIELD 3RD LINE HWY 25 Come In Now to Swiss Interiors for your Last Chance to purchase Heirloom Quality furniture by Gibbard at Great Savings! 217 Lakeshore Road East Downtown Oakville Since 1953 www.swissinteriors.com 2363 North Service Road Just East of Bronte Rd. QEW Oakville 905-847-5555 905.844.3530 economic and fiscal update within 21 days of becoming prime minister and to convene a first ministers' meeting, so all the country is working together during these difficult times," she said. "By the way, Mr. Harper has not had one meeting with the premiers in two and a half years." Candidates also had numerous opinions on Canada's involvement in Afghanistan. Poland said Canada's involvement in Afghanistan needs to change, as the way things are being done now is doing little to stabilize the country. "We need to be doing a humanitarian mission led by the UN with a much larger cross section of nations including some Muslim nations so this doesn't become a Christian vs. Muslim thing, which is how it seems to be perceived in some quarters," said Poland. He advocated against destruction of Afghan poppy fields, noting instead of making heroine, the poppies could be used to make morphine for medical use in developing countries. Young attacked the Liberal record in Afghanistan, noting they sent troops to Afghanistan in 2001 with no debate or vote in Parliament and noted in 2005, 2,500 Canadian soldiers were stationed in Kandahar, again with no debate or vote. Young contrasted this with Harper's negotiation of an end date for the Afghan mission in 2011, something Young fully supports. "They (Canadian soldiers) have done more than their share. There are 36 other countries there, the Germans, the Dutch, the French. Let them go to the most dangerous parts of the country and do their share," said Young. Brown noted she opposed the shifting of the mission to a combat role and its extension to 2011. "I just feel we're over there we're developing new enemies for Canada. The war is not going well, there is increased violence, more deaths, more killing and more anger and resentment against Canada when prior to this we always had a sterling reputation as keepers and makers of peace," said Brown. "The other thing is, we have no idea how much this war is costing us. We can't get those figures. The prime minister says he'll give them to us, but we don't know and we don't know how much it's going to cost for the care and rehabilitation of our soldiers who have seen and been part of some horrific things." Bilek noted by 2011 it is projected Canada will have spent more than $22 billion on the war in Afghanistan and said Harper has a plan to spend $490 billion on the military over the next 20 years. "It's hard to imagine an agenda with more profound consequences for Canadians. What about public health care, what about eliminating child poverty, what about fighting global warming," she said. "The NDP will withdraw all Canadian troops from Afghanistan immediately. We'll ensure Canada delivers on the aid and assistance that we've already committed, we'll ensure women and human rights groups in Afghanistan can access developmental dollars, we'll ensure that the United Nations, not NATO or the U.S., becomes the lead organization in the provision of security and development in Afghanistan. We want to establish ourselves as peacekeepers again." About halfway through the debate Young was called away to a previously scheduled speaking engagement at Oakville's Vaishno Devi Temple. With him gone, it was open season on the Conservative government with the candidates raking Harper over the coals on everything from the government's handling of the listeriosis inquiry to the recently-released Conservative platform. With the debate nearing an end, candidates issued final statements. Young, who made his remarks before leaving, attacked the Liberal Green Shift as a tax that would increase the cost of everything and advised those present not to vote for such a risky new economic plan in such uncertain economic times. Bilek said previous governments have done nothing, while poverty is rampant in Canada, aboriginal people live in third-world conditions and many children go to sleep hungry. She said her party is the only one that will truly make poverty history. Brown used her closing remarks to ask those thinking of voting for the NDP or the Green Party to understand the consequences. "In the last election, almost 60 per cent of Oakvillians voted against the Conservatives. Despite the fact that this clear majority rejected the Harper vision we came perilously close to handing our riding to him because this same majority of voters was split among three parties," said Brown. "Bonnie Brown said she respects the democratic process, but under strategic voting, Michelle and I might as well pack up our bags and go home. There's only two parties in town under strategic voting," said Poland. "A Green vote is a vote that matters, 665,000 Canadians voted Green in the last election. No seats, but look at the influence we've already had. Where do you think the Liberals `Green Shift came from?"