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durtiamregion.com In their words [Durham : candidates tell ; us what the [issues are with [health care ••topping I the list BY JENNIFER STONE • AND CHRIS HALL ! Staff Writers ; DURHAM -- As the long federal federal election campaign begins, ! local candidates are being given ! a chance to tell us what the issues I are. ; Topping the list, not surprisingly, surprisingly, is health care, though their views on the matter differ somewhat. somewhat. Here's what they had to ■say: '.Liberal Candidate [Doug Moffatt Issue: Health Care: Local residents' first concern right now is health care, says Liberal candidate Doug Moffatt. Ï Particularly in Bowmanville (and Port Perry, where hospitals fare part of the Lakeridge Corporation, Corporation, Mr. Moffatt said he's f hearing concerns about the future ►of the local hospital. i "People are really concerned l about making sure the hospital \ stays in the community, providing providing the service it always has, and \ attracting the doctors to replace l those who retire." r Uxbridge's hospital, which [is attached to the Markham- !- Stouffville hospital system, is Î facing similar pressures, he said. [ The Lakeridge model is flawed (and failed,, contended the .candi- ( date. y THE CANADIAN STATESMAN ♦ DECEMBER 7,2005 ♦ PAGE A5 A VPNRe. Doug MolTat "I don't see the benefit of continuing continuing with this elephant of Lakeridge with all these little satellites. The satellites would be better to run themselves," and cooperate cooperate with Oshawa's hospital while budgeting separately, he said. Issue: Representation Mr. Moffatt said he feels it may be time to look at finding a more representative model of government. government. "I would really hope that this next parliament is going to be able to deal with this whole problem of representative government," government," he said, noting more representative government could help eliminate some of the power held by "these big regional entities" entities" like the Bloc Québécois. "If we're ever going to move beyond an every five-year argument argument about national unity, we need to look at changing the system," said Mr. Moffatt. Issue: Gomery Report The sponsorship scandal and resulting Gomery report is not going to be as hot an issue as first thought,, said Mr. Moffatt. In fact, it's ironic that the report and the minority government both come at such a positive time in Canadian Canadian history. "The country's in as good of Bev Oda shape as it's ever been," said Mr. Moffatt, noting a strong economy and relatively low unemployment rate. "We should be standing up a little and beating our chests a little," he said. Conservative candidate Bev Oda Issue: Health Care: "I'm concerned with health care, the Liberals have thrown more money and more money at it and they haven't solved the problem," says Conservative MP Bev Oda, stressing that her party has made the health-care issue a priority but will not create a two- tier system. The incumbent notes that physician physician shortages in northern areas have to be addressed and that funding and programs for smaller hospitals have to be secured. Health care "is a provincial issue, but we have to work with the provinces to ensure the services services are there," she says. Issue: Economic Growth: In light of the recent announcement announcement that General Motors will slash more than 3,000 jobs here in Oshawa, Ms. Oda says that economic growth and development development is key to Durham's future. "We have to create more jobs Bruce Rogers here in Durham... GM is a real concern for me. We need more jobs in Durham Region that are closer to home," says Ms. Oda, noting there is "an effect on families families when people commute." She adds that municipalities need a federal government that will support their "plans and needs and a lot of that has to do with making sure they continue to get their share of the (federal) gas tax" to help build and maintain infrastructure, which the Tories have promised. "We need to be able to move goods around to attract business and get jobs going," she says. However, there is a fine line 1 between economic growth and protecting the environment, the incumbent Durham MP adds. "We have to make sure we balance off our growth needs and new development and still - maintain a good, healthy environment," environment," says Ms. Oda, noting the Conservatives would create "alternate policies" in replace of the Kyoto Accord, which they've panned. Issue: Agriculture Ms. Oda stresses her party would work to get fair' prices for farmers and that the Tories would come out "with a strong platform in that area" later in the campaign. NDP Candidate Bruce Rogers Issue: Health Care The preservation of universal health care is the No. 1 issue for Durham voters, says NDP candidate candidate Bruce Rogers. "We've seen 12 years of erosion and I think Canadians are fed up with that, and would like to see the government in Ottawa take a stand against the privatization of it," he said. Tax dollars should not be fun- neled into private clinics, he said. . Prime Minister Paul Martin had an opportunity to protect health care, and it is because he didn't that the early election became necessary, said Mr. Rogers. "Many think that we should have waited until Gomery dropped the other shoe; however, when (Prime Minister) Martin, had a chance to buy into a policy that would have saved universal health care, he didn't," said Mr. Rogers. Health care is a touchstone "because it affects a whole lot of other issues," including taxation, said Mr. Rogers. Issue: Taxation While pther parties are talking tax cuts, Mr. Rogers said that may not be the best idea. t "The other parties are talking tax cuts when most Canadians know you don't get important social safety services without those tax dollars," said Mr. Rogers, Rogers, who feels tax cuts are ja "non-starter with most of tne intelligent electorate." The surplus the prime minister minister has talked so much about is a result of cuts to health care, education, infrastructure, and ,a number of other services, said Mr. Rogers. "People are fed up with the cynical look at the electorate that says 'we can buy you with your own dollars,";'-he said. Issue: Gomery "Pilfering for partisan political purposes is not a top issue, but it is an issue," said Mr. Rogers. "It's one of the reasons that they're fed up with the Liberals." . Disillusionment with the Liber- ■ als is one of the reasons so-called 'strategic, voting' appeal, which Mr. Rogers feels drew votes away from the NDP last time around, won't likely work this time, he said. "If people back away from the appeal to vote strategically, then it's a whole new ball game," he said. Williams holds holiday feast for less fortunate t|; COURTICE -- . What started F out as a small project'lias Turned F into a sit-down holiday dinner for ? 200-300 people at Williams Cof- > fee Pub in Courtice. l Originally, staff at the coffee (pub had considered adopting a family for the holiday, season. But theh, they started to tüihltbiggêty eventually deciding to provide a ' feast for a much bigger group. The restaurant will close between 3. and 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 19, to allow for the meal for people who might not otherwise get a holiday feast; The plan is'to 1 " bus people from Oshawa's Gate 3:16 outreach centre, says Williams' Williams' staffer. Michelle Salwon- chuk. She, along with other cafe late staff Kim Battle and .Lee- Anne Walker are.organizing the -event,' with'support from owners Sam and Gus Issa. Signs have been put up at Gate 3:16 and St. Vincent's soup kitchen kitchen to let the less fortunate know about the event, which will start at about 3 p.m., said Ms. Salwon- chuk. The owners have agreed'to ' close the store early to allow for the dinner to take place. Store staff have received promises promises of a variety of food donations, donations, but hope to collect warm hats, mitts and 'scarve^, 1 'atoitg • With othtér iterhs, ; for' those who ! attend the Building, from thh public. public. Items can be dropped off at 1414 King St. E. in Courtice, or arrangements for pickup can he made by calling 905-743-0100 [Community [invited to jBethesda [House [food drive [" NEWCASTLE - The Pines , 'Senior Public School is inviting the community to get involved (with its holiday drive for Bethes- [da House. \ ' f The school is collecting , a vari- fety of items for the Bowman- fville-based shelter for women land children. Items being sought (include goods for teenagers, such (as toiletries and gift certificates. (Gifts for the women using the (shelter are also being accepted. ( As well, the collection will ■'include non-perishable food ritems. I Donations can be dropped off [at the school, 3425 Hwy. 35/115, (before Dec. 16. [Holiday [Train [rolls •in donations f, (BY JENNIFER STONE (Staff Writer Î BOWMANVILLE - By the 'time the CPR Holiday Train left [town Saturday night, the local [Salvation Army found itself with [12,000 lbs. of food and $4,000. ■ The train, a Millennium Project ■between CPR and the Canadian [Federation of Food Banks, rolled [into town Saturday, Dec. 3, to find ia local audience of about 3,000 [people, Canadian artists The Ennis [Sisters, Kelly Prescott and Tracey [Brown performed. , ; The cash donations were raised [in part from the crowd, with [$2,000 coming from CPR, and [group donations coming, from [Micro-Precision Plastics and the part-time. firefighters from Station [One in Bowmanville. ! There was no admission charge [for the event, though those who [attended were asked to bring a cash donation or non-perishable food item for the Salvation Army. 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Whitby • " Oshawa 721-9152 LOTS OF FREE PARKING 436-7589 Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sunday 12 - 5 p.m. HI VM Mill IN MIMI MOKIN III MS MU 111 MINI \l MOWN! I'UII ■ I"" "■ ■< ■<■ <■' ' '■< 1 imx s "" il rli " 1 Will id IIMNUIMI-Imm HdHM.iimus I'm uni kiini o su im.n wii i hi on oikkm.i i unnuNMoid non What's going on In your r-- . fsfwra (^eventsdurhamreglon .com THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF DURHAM NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING DURHAM REGION OFFICIAL PLAN REVIEW A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE DURHAM REGION OFFICIAL PLAN Purpose of Proposed Amendment: REGIONAL FILE NO. D12-0Ï The Durham Regional Official Plan is a long range policy document that guides the growth and development of the Region while conserving resources and protecting the environment. The Region is currently reviewing the Official Plan. As part of the review, Regional Planning Committee has released a proposed amendment for the Transportation, Commercial, Rural and Environmental components of the Official Plan review. The proposed amendment incorporates changes to the Official Plan in these policy areas and also ensures conformity with the Provincial Policy Statement 2005 and Greenbelt Plan 2005 as thèy relate to thesé policy areas. PUBLIC MEETING The Durham Region Planning Committee will hold a public meeting to provide interested parties the opportunity to make comments and Identify issues relative to the proposed amendment. The public meeting will be held on: Tuesday, January 31,2006 at 9:30 a.m. Durham Region Headquarters 605 Rossland Rd. E. Whitby, ON Lower Level Conference Room ■ LL-C COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? An information report outlining the details of the proposed Amendment may be obtained from the Durham Region Planning Department. Additional Information may be obtained from the Planning Department or on-line at www.reglon.durham.on.ca. If you have any questions or comments regarding the proposed Amendment, please contact: Chris Darling Principle Planner Planner's e-mail: Tel: 905-668-7711 Toll Free Tel: 1-800-372-1102 Fax: 905-666-6208 chris.darllng@reglon.durham.on.ca If you wish to make a written submission or If you wish to be notified of subsequent meetings or the adoption of the proposed Amendment, please write to the Commissioner of Planning, Box 623, Whitby, Ontario L1N 6A3. Please Include your address, telephone number and the Regional file number. APPEAL If a person or public body that files a notice of appeal of a decision tor the proposed official plan amendment to the Ontario Municipal Board does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or does not make written submissions before the proposed official plan amendment Is adopted, the Ontario Municipal Board may dismiss all or part of the appeal. / Qerrl Lynn O'Connor Chair, Planning Committee A.L. Oeorgleff, M.C.I.P., R.P.P. Commissioner of Planning