CKTB continues our ongoing coverage of the Ontario election by inviting the candidates from West Niagara for a debate.
Host Larry Fedoruk welcomed incumbent PC MPP Sam Oosterhoff, NDP candidate Curtis Fric, and Liberal hopeful Joe Kanee into the studio on Wednesday, May 30th. Green Party candidate Jessica Tillmanns was also invited, but declined.
The riding of Niagara West includes Grimsby, Lincoln, Pelham, Wainfleet, and West Lincoln.
The debate started when the candidates were asked what private members bill they'd want to introduce if given the opportunity.
NDP candidate Curtis Fric says he'd want to save the West Lincoln Memorial hospital.
Oosterhoff's retort was that the NDP and the Liberal parties are the ones that keep cancelling the redevelopment of the West Lincoln hospital.
Liberal Joe Kanee says he'd want to focus on homecare and e-care.
Oosterhoff was on the hot seat as his opponents questioned the delayed release of the PC Party's full costed platform. Oosterhoff responded that they have a plan, and that his party has been releasing policies everyday with individual price tags attached.
He went on to admit that the PC party had a little turmoil earlier in the year, with the departure of Patrick Brown.
Kanee says the Liberal party plans to get the budget balanced in 5-6 years.
Fric says even with the NDP's $1.4 billion mistake, they still have the lowest projected deficit and says that party admitted their mistake because they're dedicated to being honest.
Commenting on the so called "Youthquake" in Niagara West all three candidates expressed enthusiasm for fresh voices.
Oosterhoff says this time age hasn't been an issue, whereas last time it seemed to be all anyone focused on.
Kanee, the oldest of the group at 27, gives Oosterhoff credit for helping to open the door for younger people in politics.
CKTB's Larry Fedoruk then turned the conversation to mental health.
Fric says the NDP would hire 2,200 more mental health workers to cut down wait times, echoing a story Wayne Gates told earlier in the week where a young woman committed suicide while waiting for mental health services.
Oosterhoff says the PC party would put $1.9 billion towards mental health and addiction support.
Kanee says the issue is close to him, as he battled with his mental health through his youth.
He says the Liberal party would dedicate $2.1 billion to front line workers. He says access to care is a priority and the Liberal party plays to have 12,000 more young people able to access community based services by 2019, and by 2022 they'd like to have an additional mental health worker in every high school.
When talking about energy and hydro rates, Oosterhoff says the PC party plans to reduce hydro rates by 12%.
Kanee says the reason hydro is so expensive is because the Liberals invested in sustainable energy, and that Ontario energy is 96% emissions free.
The cost to Ontarians is why they rolled out the Fair Hydro plan, which he says has reduced the cost 25-50%
Fric says the NDP is dedicated to bring hydro back under public ownership.
Talking about the greenbelt, both Kanee and Fric emphasized how important it is to keep the greenbelt as is.
Oosterhoff says Doug Ford admitted he made a mistake saying he would open the greenbelt to development, and that they also would not be touching the protected lands.
On education, Fric says the NDP would eliminate SK-Grade 1 split classes, and end EQAO.
Oosterhoff says the Conservatives would scrap discovery math, and take it back to basics. They would also revise EQAO.
Kanee says the Liberal party Ontario currently has highest high school graduation rate, and they have been working to get free tuition for post secondary students.
The conversation then moved to the sex ed curriculum.
Oosterhoff says it's important that there is a comprehensive sex ed curriculum in place, but that parents are more involved.
He says the PC government would scrap the current curriculum, and go back to the drawing board.
Kanee says that calling it a sex ed curriculum is misleading, calling it a "growing up" curriculum.
He says it's very easy to judge it from the outside looking in, but he thinks the curriculum is effective as is.
All three candidates support expanding transit, and bringing GO to Niagara.
All three candidates also support interprovincial alcohol trade, however, Joe Kanee has his worries about 'buck a beer' and putting alcohol in corner and grocery stores.
He's worried that making alcohol so easily accessible will create issues for those suffering from addiction.
Also running in Niagara West is Geoffrey Barton from the Multicultural Party, and Libertarian Stefanos Karatopis.
To read more about the candidates, click here.
Listen to our final debate tomorrow at 2 p.m. as the St. Catharines candidates go head to head, hosted by Tim Denis.