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North Hastings residents given chance to question provincial candidates

North Hastings residents now know more about the candidates vying to be the next MPP of Hastings-Lennox and Addington.

An all-candidates meeting was held tonight at North Hastings High School. The cafeteria was filled with residents from all over the riding waiting for a chance to ask the candidates questions. Liberal Candidate Tim Rigby, PC Candidate Daryl Kramp, NDP Candidate Nate Smelle, and Trillium Party Candidate Lonnie Herrington were all there.

Each candidate was asked how their party plans to use education funding to repair schools while still meeting student needs. Rigby says the current government has put millions into building new schools, repairing current ones, with some of that money specifically set aside for rural and northern areas. Kramp says rural schools are disadvantaged, and all stakeholders need to work with the government to deal with the different challenges they face. Smelle says the NDP will scrap the current education funding model, and replace it with something that will actually address the needs of students, staff, and the infrastructure. Herrington says education is a priority in Ontario, and a lot of work is needed to review the entire education funding model.

The candidates were also asked what their parties would do to address the high cost of hydro. Kramp says the PC party will cut funds to expensive green energy projects, replace the Hydro One board of directors, and fire the company’s CEO, who currently makes over $6-million a year. Smelle says the NDP party will buy back hydro one, cut executive salaries, and reduce the cost of electricity in Ontario. Herrington says the Trillium party plans to turn the Niagara generator back on to produce power for the province, all while cutting funds for expensive green energy products. Rigby says the Liberal party has worked hard to reduce hydro rates, and adds the cost of electricity in Ontario sits in the middle of what other areas are paying for it.

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The four candidates were also asked what their parties would do to address poverty. Smelle says everything a government does should focus on ending poverty, which is why the NDP plans to introduce universal healthcare and pharmacare so it’s not just reserved for the wealthy. Herrington says the Trillium party will treat Ontario like a business, and will work to create jobs, increase the quality of life, introduce an income supplement, and ensure people are educated. Rigby says the Liberals will work to address the issue, adding the party has launched a guaranteed income pilot project in some communities which could be used to end poverty in Ontario. Kramp says the party will work to raise social assistance rates, while lowering the cost of living and creating more affordable housing to address homelessness.

Other issues addressed at the meeting included Ontario’s debt, funding for rural communities, mental health, violence in schools, the current sex-ed curriculum, and each party’s leader.

At times, the crowd was rowdy, interrupting candidates with claims they hadn’t answered a question, or were flat-out lying. Moose FM spoke to those in attendance to ask how they felt heading out of the meeting.

At the end of the night, the moderator encouraged everyone to go home and read each party’s platform to get a better idea on who they’d vote for during the provincial election on June 7th.

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