Upcoming election means tough questions for candidates
by Bill Rea

The declared candidates in York - Simcoe in the Oct. 10 provincial election were asked a series of questions over the last week, seeking their spontaneous responses to specific issues.

Their responses are presented here in alphabetical order.

What do you think is the proper rate for provincial sales tax?

"It all depends on what the strategy is," commented Family Coalition Party candidate Victor Carvalho, who said if the aim is to get people to spend their money, then sales taxes should be reduced. He added people "get quite turned off when they buy something for $35 and pay 37."

"It's whatever it takes to get the job done and to keep the taxes low," commented Liberal John Gilbank, who added it will require judgement, analysis and discipline. "I'm okay with what it is until proven otherwise."

New Democrat Nancy Morrison said the current eight per cent is "a fair amount."

She added the NDP are looking at other measures, such as property taxes, and freezing assessments until the house is sold, or until there are renovations amounting to more than $50,000.

She said this will be a benefit to seniors and working families, keeping people in their homes longer.

"Probably where it's at," commented Progressive Conservative candidate Julia Munro.

She pointed out each percentage point amounts to about $1 billion in revenues for the government, which means cutting sales taxes would mean the money would have to be made up from somewhere. "I would rather have it there than increasing other forms of taxation."

Green party candidate Jim Reeves said it would depend on the financial planning the government needs to follow. "You would not pick a rate at the whim of the government," he said.

Does the Greenbelt legislation work?

"I think the government needs to protect land," Carvalho said, adding if it's not protected, people will be hit back by the environment.

"I love the way Canada operates with its development process," added.

"Yes, you bet it does," Gilbank declared. "It's proven itself already. It's protected a lot of areas in the belt around the Golden Horseshoe that were most vulnerable."

He added a lot of areas in the riding are being protected, with population growth being directed to areas where there are gaps and to where there is infrastructure in place.

"No," Morrison said, "it's not working because they did not limit development on the Oak Ridges Moraine."

"I'm not happy with the Liberals not following through with their promises in the last election involving the environment," she added.

"I guess the answer to that is, is it doing what it was intended to do?" Munro remarked.

She pointed out it's frozen land in some areas, but it's also encouraged leap-frogging of development, with people moving into areas north of the Greenbelt having to commute through it to get to their jobs.

Munro also said it's premature to say what impact it's had on property values, although it has affected borrowing costs on farmers, because anticipated increases in land values are factored in by banks when considering loans.

"The Greenbelt legislation is a good idea and a very good start," Reeves commented, although he pointed out it excludes about half the riding. "I do not understand why the Liberal government the area from Innisfil down to Bradford."

Would you support reinstating photo radar?

"I would," Carvalho declared. "It's nice seeing a police man used where he should be used."

"People who are speeding should realize they will be paying," he added.

Carvalho also stated it "drives the daylights out of me" that drivers routinely exceed the posted "maximum" speed limit. He recalled teaching his son to drive on a lonely, quiet road, instructing the boy not to exceed the posted limit of 50, suggesting a 10 per cent cushion of 45.

A police officer pulled them over and told the boy to speed up, and Carvalho said he and the officer almost got into an argument over the point.

"I think it's ridiculous," he declared, adding if a sign says "maximum," it should be enforced that way.

"I'm not a big fan of photo radar," Gilbank remarked, adding he would need to be convinced it would be useful in very specific cases.

"It's an effective tool in some areas," Morrison said. "However, it does not address the crime as it happens at the time."

She added it doesn't deal with stolen vehicles or suspended drivers.

"It deals with it afterward, so in some areas it does decrease the speeding," she said, adding it can't replace front-line officers.

"I really am leaning more and more toward that," Munro said.

She pointed out she's never seen any data on how effective red light cameras are, adding she always makes a point when driving with a green light that traffic going the other ways are stopping for reds.

"I wouldn't mind opening up the conversation again," she said.

Reeves said he would want to review speed limits, pointing out they aren't appropriate in some areas because they are constantly being exceeded. In some cases, if it saves lives and energy and reduces emissions, he thought it could be useful in enforcing speed limits.