Candidates debate gas prices, pandemic
Niagara Falls Progressive Conservative, Green candidates decline to take part in YourTV show
Skyrocketing gas prices and the COVID-19 pandemic were two of several topics discussed during the Niagara Falls provincial riding debate hosted by YourTV.
For an hour, NDP incumbent Wayne Gates and Liberal candidate Ashley Waters answered about a dozen questions about what their parties would do, if elected to form the next government, to address those and other issues.
With the average price for gas in Ontario about $2 per litre, the two were asked what can be done to help provide relief at the pumps.
“What we have to do is stop the gouging. Gouging at the pumps is happening from the refineries all the way to the pumps,” said Gates.
“The gas industry makes billions of dollars. What’s absolutely disgusting is that they made 40 per cent more profit during COVID. That’s wrong.”
He said the NDP introduced a bill that would have regulated gas prices, but the majority Conservative government voted against it.
“I’ll guarantee you this May long weekend, the price of gas will go up another five, six, 10, 12 cents — that’s gouging, gouging, gouging.”
Waters pointed to the Liberal party’s “buck-a-ride” promise, which would slash transit fares to $1 per ride across the province until 2024.The plan would apply to every transit system in Ontario.
She said she hopes to also see expanded GO train service in Niagara.
Waters said price of gas is a “real concern,” but so is the climate “crisis,” adding the Liberal party promises “a lot of incentives” when it comes to electric vehicles and other ways to reduce carbon emissions.
“It’s really important for people to look at other ways that we can be sustainable here within Ontario.”
Gates and Waters were also asked how their parties would treat any further public health changes in the while keeping Ontarians safe. While many saw lockdowns as essential during certain phases of the pandemic, some Ontarians grew irritated these measures seemed to change without much notice.
Both Gates and Waters said politicians should defer to public health experts when it comes to dealing with a health crisis.
“I’m a politician. I talk about policies. I’ve been able to bargain collective agreements (when serving as a local union president). But I’m not a doctor. I’m not the chief medical officer,” said Gates.
“I believe that I should be listening to the chief medical officer on how we do lockdowns. Is there a better way? There absolutely could be a better way, but I will listen to public health and take those orders.”
He said while mandates impact small businesses, governments should ensure transitional funding is made available to help them get through challenges.
“We know that between the second and third wave (of the pandemic), small business didn’t get compensated, so they lost their businesses.”
Waters said although the federal government provided the province with funding support, it was “held back for whatever reason,” adding there were “all these knee-jerk reactions from the Ford Conservatives.”
“There was always reaction. There wasn’t anything that was proactive with leadership that we saw during COVID.”
Waters said easing restrictions “too quickly affects families,” and that it’s important to listen to medical experts, “not having our medical experts harassed and having people outside their homes (protesting) because it’s the unpopular stance that they’re taking.”
“You have to have credibility and it shouldn’t necessarily be the politicians speaking, I think that’s where we fell short — politicians talking about how people should be doing things. It should have been the health-care community speaking and then there would have been more trust from the community, I believe.”
Progressive Conservative candidate Bob Gale turned down the invitation to participate in the debate that was taped at YourTV’s studio Friday and will air on cable television and be posted online.
Green party candidate Tommy Ward also declined to participate. Moderator Mike Balsom said YourTV invited only candidates from parties holding at least one seat in the Ontario legislature, and representing the party for which they were originally elected. Three other candidates are also vying for the Niagara Falls seat were offered an opportunity to send in a prerecorded video message to voters, which will be played at the end of the debate.
The Cogeco station will be airing the debate on Cable 700 and Epico 100 on Saturday at 2 p.m., May 24 at 7 p.m. and May 28 at 12:30 p.m. The debate is posted at www.yourtv.tv/niagara.