Audience got an opportunity to hear just what each candidate for provincial office stood for - a solid public meeting.

By Pepper Parr

May 29th, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

It wasn’t a debate in the full sense of that word but it was an opportunity for a full house at the Central High School Auditorium to hear what four candidates for provincial office had to say.

Andrew Drummond and Jane McKenna – he could be first – she might be last

The biggest surprise of the evening, there were several, was how well Andrew Drummond, the NDP candidate came across. Little has been heard from Drummond before Monday evening. He did say that at one point he was a young Conservative.

New Democratic candidate Andrew Drummond

He set out the NDP platform clearly and concisely. What was clear was that the New Democrats were prepared to tax more and spend more to improve the quality of life for the average person. The phrase “tax a little more” was heard often.

Pharmacare, dental care, more long term care beds, a better affordable housing policy. The quality of life was going to be better for the average person. Those who are truly poor will be able to live decent lives with dignity.

Drummond described Burlington as a wealthy community and Ontario as a province that can handle more in the way of taxation to improve the quality of life; Change for the Better or We can do better.
Drummond was very relaxed – he knew his file and was able to speak directly to his audience.
Paying for it all – he didn’t offer much in the way of explanation.

Vince Fiorito, the Green Party candidate, chose to refer to a binder that he had with all his briefing notes. Reading hurriedly due to the tight time limits, which the moderator was very strict about, made it difficult to keep up with what the Greens had to say.

Fiorito did however have the best line of the night. He said that many people are having difficulty making a decision and trying to figure out which was the better of two evils. Fiorito pointed out that choosing the best of two evils is still choosing an evil and said that there was nothing evil about the Greens.

Progressive Conservative candidate Jane McKenna

Jane McKenna tended to fall back on the Progressive Conservative party line. On the couple of occasions when she used the phrase “make Ontario Great Again” there was an audible groan from the audience.
Dorothy Borovich was the moderator, and mentioned that this was the sixth time she had served in that capacity. There was no nonsense with Dorothy at the podium. It was a typical polite Burlington event.

Eleanor McMahon, the incumbent had all her numbers at the end of her finger tips. She was supported by a solid team and didn’t apologize for the way she did her job.

Fiorito brought up the issue of multi-national corporations that draw water from municipal well, put it in plastic bottles and sell it – creating mountains of plastic waste. All the candidates agreed that what Nestle was doing was “atrocious”; that f they were going to be taking a public resource they should at least pay a fair rate – but not one of the candidates was able to point to a policy that there party had.

Liberal candidate and incumbent Eleanor McMahon

McMahon certainly had a command of the data but appeared a little hesitant at times. It was evident that the Liberals know they are under the gun and fighting to hold the office they have.

McKenna frequently fell back on the party line which had McMahon rolling her eyeballs and shaking her head. McKenna didn’t point to anything specific she had done when she was the Member of the Legislature for Burlington; saying that she was part of the Opposition.

To the best of our knowledge McKenna didn’t introduce any bills.

The dead heat polling numbers at the leadership level was the 800 lb. gorilla in the room. What the audience wanted to know was: what were the different candidates going to do for the citizens.

Education, the hospital and the environment were top of the line issues. Fiorito wanted everyone to remember that the condition of the environment is something “we created” and his focus was on doing everything possible to “save the planet” – and he didn’t get any argument on that point – neither did he get a burst of applause; not that Dorothy would have permitted it.

On the occasions when there was real applause it was clear that McMahon owned the room.

The closing of two of the city’ seven high schools didn’t get as much attention as one would have thought. The problem the Tyandaga community has with the Meridian Brick works got glossed over. Their license was up to date – what more was there to say.

Maureen Weinburger – CFUW

It was a solid presentation of just where the candidates stood. Andrew Drummond made the most important point – choose the candidate that represents your values.

Fiorito asked that people not vote strategically – If you are a Green – vote as a Green.

The Canadian Federation of University have been doing these information sessions for years – the hope is that they continue to do so. They reflect the civility of the city – good on them.