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Andrew Chlobowski Rick Byers www.factorytiledepot.ca At the first debate By Melanie Cummings SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER In the first all-candidates debate leading up to the Oct. 10 provincial election, Conservative Rick Byers came out of the gate with ample criticism aimed at Premier Dalton McGuinty. Despite a sunny long weekend, there were more questions than time in Saturday's two-hour forum at the Kerr Street Organic Farmers' Market. The event was organized by the Halton Environmental Network and Oakvillegreen Conservation Association. "The Liberal leader made 230 promises in the last election and has broken 50 of them including number 20 to divert 60 per cent of municipal garbage by 2008, number 24 to close coal-fired plants by 2007 and especially the one in which he promised not to increase taxes," said Byers. In his three-minute opening speech Byers also accused the government of using Oakville as its personal piggy bank, taking more of local taxpayers money than was given in return, specifically in funding for local transit and Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH). Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn defended the Liberal party record. He pointed to increased funding for the OTMH by 56 per cent in the past four years and the newly created Greenbelt, which is 1.8 million acres of rural land in the GTA protected from development. The Liberals have also added High Occupancy Vehicle lanes on provincial highways and are converting GO Trains from diesel to electric. The all-candidates meeting introduced the NDP candidate Tony Crawford to voters. This was only his second day on the campaign trail. The author is best known locally for his focus on identity theft protection, recently penning a book called The Perfect Sting. Ontario Bread Company owner Andrew Chlobowski is running on the Green Party ticket. Many of the audience's questions heavily emphasized their concerns for the environment. Crawford wants grocery stores to dedicate space that features locally-produced food, as does Flynn and Byers. The Conservative candidate is also in favour of making solar power more widespread and shutting down coal-fired plants. Chlobowski agrees, but he would also impose a one-year deadline on the closure of the coal power generators. While the NDP's Crawford wants to curb investment in nuclear power, Flynn said the Liberals deserve kudos for becoming the only jurisdiction in Canada that has legally committed itself to replacing coal-fired power generation plants with nuclear ones. Candidates were also asked about a Tory proposal to expand education funding to all religious schools. While Chlobowski's Green Party supports a single public education system, personally he prefers to leave separate school funding intact and focus on more pressing issues such as climate control. Flynn said the divisive debate only distracts voters from focusing on preparing students educationally for the future. "An election is the time to debate this," Byers criticized. Crawford also skirted the issue, but stated it was "appalling our children are saddled with debt when they have learned what we need them to know for our economy and society to thrive into the future." Proponents of a Mixed Member Proportional voting system also used Saturday's debate to encourage `yes' votes in the referendum question that will ask voters on election day to change the current system by which Ontarians are represented in the legislature. "I lost 70 pounds and I feel great! Herbal Magic gave me the opportunity to reach and maintain my goal weight. 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