Split views of relevance of Lieutenant Governor
By Bill Rea

Candidates in York - Simcoe for the Oct. 10 provincial election were dealt another round of questions over the last week for their spontaneous responses.

Their replies are presented here in alphabetical order.

Should the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) be abolished?

"No, I don't think so," replied Family Coalition Party candidate Victor Carvalho, who stated the board serves both society and individuals. "It's a good back up."

"That's a complex subject," commented Liberal John Gilbank, who added he's had experience with OMB from both sides.

"Right now, it's filling a need," he said. "Long term, that's a very good question. It deserves some thoughtful analysis."

Libertarian candidate Caley McKibbin said that according to the way he believes municipalities should operate, something like OMB would be redundant.

New Democrat Nancy Morrison said it would depend on what the role of OMB really is.

"If it's an additional check and balance, it's great," she said. "If it's to circumvent environmental issues, I'm not for it."

"No," said Progressive Conservative Julia Munro. "I think it's a part of a due process."

She added OMB is a quasi-judicial body, which possibly could use some fine-tuning, but she said it also represents an opportunity for people to have their say.

"The OMB should certainly be revised, and possibly be replaced," remarked Green party candidate Jim Reeves.

He said in its current form, it's a place for developers and lawyers to spend money, and he said it should provide more access to "grass-roots people."

Is the office of Lieutenant Governor still relevant?

"Not really," Carvalho commented. "I think it's a good thing, if you have the money."

He added the money could be better spent on housing for the poor or education, "rather than waste it on pomp and show."

"Yes," Gilbank said, adding there's a lot of law built around the position.

"There's no real benefit from abolishing the position," he observed, stating it's good to have a non-partisan leader.

"It's far more useful than expensive," he concluded. "It passes all cost-benefit analysis."

"I don't think that it ever has been," McKibbin commented. "It's just a useless bureaucrat, a remnant of the old monarchy."

"I believe it is, because we are still part of the Commonwealth," Morrison replied, adding her feelings go back to the loyalist roots of her husband.

"Oh yes," Munro replied. "I think that a constitutional monarchy is a good thing."

She added it allows for people of a certain stature to offer their services.

"We've had some really outstanding Ontarians recognized in this way," she said, citing the examples of Pauline McKibbin and Lincoln Alexander. "The people who have been chosen to be the vice-Regal representatives have been people who have been appropriately role models in the community."

Reeves commented that in a democracy, it's useful to have a non-elected figurehead to handle ceremonial duties, adding it takes possible political influence away from these functions.

How do you plan to vote in the referendum on electoral reform?

"Positively," Carvalho said. "Electoral reform will help smaller parties like our own."

"I see value in MMP (mixed member proportional), but I will probably go with first past the post, unless someone changes my mind between now and October the 10th," Gilbank said. "I like the simplicity of it and I like the personal attention between voters and elected officials that we have with first past the post. That gets lost when we have a list that is made up far away from the voters."

McKibbin said he would probably vote against MMP. "It seems like it's going to create a lot of extra bureaucracy," he remarked.

"I'm in support of anything that makes a fair government to ensure everybody's voice is heard," Morrison said, adding if enough people vote for a particular party, that party should be represented in the legislature.

"Against," Munro said. "We're talking about reducing the number of elected representatives to 90," she pointed out, meaning the average riding would have an additional 30-to-40,000 people in it. She added a level of public accountability and scrutiny is important, but under the MMP system that's been proposed, there would be 39 MPPs with their loyalties directed at only their parties.

"I just don't see it as a step forward," she said. "Democracy is all about one person, one vote. It's not about special interest groups."

"It's rarely been brought up," Reeves commented.

He added he'll be voting in favour of the MMP proposal, as he pointed out society has changed over the years, with people becoming more aware through the internet, etc.

"The Green party is a grass-roots party," he added. "We need more influence."

"I think you'll end up with slightly more consensus decisions," he added.

Reeves did say he would like to see a sunset clause added to the system,

meaning it should be reviewed at some point, either by parliament or through a referendum, to make sure it provides what the electorate wants.

Editor's note

The following are questions that were put to declared candidates over the previous two weeks, before Libertarian Caley McKibbin had announced he was running. These questions have been put to him because it was thought his responses would be of interest to the voters. But they were posed after the other candidates' answers had appeared in print. Thus the McKibbin might have been able to read the previous responses, an advantage his opponents did not have.

What is the proper rate for provincial sales tax?

"The less the better," McKibbin said.

Does the Greenbelt legislation work?

"I don't think government has a history of protecting the environment at all, so no," McKibbin observed.

Would you support reinstating photo radar?

"No," McKibbin said, "I don't think that it's the proper approach to the road problems."

Are MPPs appropriately paid?

"It seems to me they get paid much too much," McKibbin said.

How safe is Ontario's drinking water?

"Anybody can buy completely fresh and perfect safe drinking water. It's just

the government's drinking water that's not very good," McKibbin commented.

"I drink bottled water."

Would you support legislation banning the use of cell phones by people while

they are driving?

"No," McKibbin commented, adding there are already motivations in place to

encourage people not to cause damage. "It's superfluous."