Candidates tackle health care issues in Buckhorn

Candidates for the provincial election - Sean Conway of the NDP, Dave Smith of the Progressive Conservatives, Jeff Leal of the Liberals and Gianne Broughton of the Green Party gathered at the Buckhorn Community Centre May 11 for a debate on some of the major issues of the campaign influencing our rural area.

One of the first questions was whether their future government would be willing to consult with community care to enlarge their service. This was interpreted by all answering as the availability of long term-care beds. It was pointed out by the Conservative and NDP candidates that 32,000 seniors are waiting for a bed.

Conway said that cuts to health care by Tory and Liberals have resulted in this problem. Health care needs to be close to home.

Tory Dave Smith blamed the Liberal government for not have built any long term beds for 16 years. Leal said that 30,000 have been refurbished as they had been four bed wards. Working with Central East LHIN the average rate of increase has been 4 – 4.5 per cent increase over the last 16 years, Leal added.

Broughton said that the quality of rural life is extremely important to the Green party. We should make sure that we are not just warehousing people but providing services through coops or private enterprise to develop programs that are important to the people.

Another question dealt with the existence of small farms and their importance to rural Ontario. The candidates were asked if their government would support start up farms in rural Ontario.

Broughton said the Greens would develop production as well as processing in local area.

They would also encourage consultation between local farmers.

Leal said that agriculture was the largest economic driver in Ontario today. Leal was very satisfied with the new soil map. He would not apologize for attempting to retain Ontario farmland.

Conway said Premier Kathleen Wynne favours massive farms and clarified that the question was about small farms. Conway stated that Wynne has put in place policies that would squeeze out small farms.

Smith said government doesn’t create jobs but an environment for the people to create their own jobs. He sees farmers as being innovators and environmentalists and the government needs to get out of the way and let farmers do what they need to do.

Other questions dealt with the closing of rural schools, quarries and the provincial gas tax funding formula. The meeting was moderated by Joe Taylor and organized by the Buckhorn Ratepayers Association. The provincial election will be held on June 7.

Turtle Walk

The Land Between is sponsoring the first annual Turtle Walks in the region. They coincide with the most active nesting time for turtles and the greatest threats to turtles from weekend road traffic. People are needed to come out and show their support- and inspire others to have a care- at these Turtle Walks. For people in the Buckhorn area there will be a walk in Haliburton on Saturday. Register at www.turtlewalk.ca.

Calendar

DINNER: Ole Fashioned Fish Fry Friday, June 8, BCC , 5:30,

6:00 & 6:30. Tickets are $22 and dinner consists of 5 pieces of yellow perch, 2 salads, refreshments and dessert. Enjoy music by Dawn Barry, singer, songwriter. Folk, country-easy listening.

PLANT SALE: Cavendish

Plant Sale and Country Raffle. Saturday, June 2nd, from 8.30 to 11 a.m. Inside the Cavendish Community Centre at 18 Community Complex Dr., Catchacoma.