The absence of the PCs Laurie Scott from a virtual candidates’ debate for Haliburton County Feb. 16 did not go without commentary.
Liberal Alison Bennie, NDP Barbara Doyle, and Green Tom Regina all joined the debate organized by the Save Minden Ontario Emergency Room group.
The group’s Patrick Porzuczek commented on her no-show.
“As we all know, Doug Ford has asked all of his MPPs not to attend any debates, not to make themselves public for questioning, or to answer any questions to do with their own platforms, and how they are representing the riding,” he said.
Porzuczek added while a Ford directive, “unfortunately, as we all know, Laurie Scott has been missing. Whenever it came to the tough questions, or to ask her to represent the Minden emergency department in the Legislature, or even to come out to town halls to talk about the fate of the ER, she always declined, or never showed up. This really hurts the riding in all aspects.”
He added he had heard from members of the public, trying to meet with Scott but, “she always turns them down, unless it is in her own interest to prop herself up. Being a career candidate, Laurie Scott has forgotten how it is, and what it means to represent her constituents.”
Doyle also addressed her competitor’s absence.
“As you’ve noticed, Laurie Scott is nowhere to be seen. As a constituent, I would like to ask her some questions. But she’s not answering anything. And she hasn’t for the last seven years under the Doug Ford government.”
Doyle then went on to take a swipe at the premier. The NDP candidate said the snap election was “completely unnecessary and will cost taxpayers $180 million – when Doug Ford didn’t need a mandate whatsoever and based on the fear-mongering of Donald Trump’s tariff threats.”
The group asked the candidates how they would ensure open and transparent communication between them, if elected, and the public.
Doyle said it was an important question, with government leaders “now in hiding. They’re not being held accountable to heir actions, to their constituents, and to government agencies.” She said the NDP shows transparency in telling voters how they are going to fund their platform – “not $200 bribe cheques.”
Regina said he’d work for his constituents as his party leader is not his boss. He said if people contact him, he will try to get back to them. “When you have concerns, I will listen. If I don’t know the answers, I will seek them out. When an issue arises that affects our riding, I will stand up for it. These are the expectations of an MPP.”
Bennie said she would send newsletters to constituents and would like to have town hall meetings in the villages and towns throughout the riding. She wants face-to-face meetings to hear concerns, issues and suggested solutions.
Fate of Minden ER
Asked if their parties would reopen the Minden ER, Bennie said the Liberals have a health care platform. She said the first step is getting people family doctors so they do not need to rely on the ER for primary health care. If elected, she said she would like to work with the group.
Doyle said leader Marit Stiles was on record as saying the NDP would reopen it. However, she said it would take time, needing to change legislation and get money flowing, then restaffing and resupplying and becoming operational.
Regina would not 100 per cent commit to reopening the Minden ER, calling it “a long-standing and very complicated issue.” However, he said funding had to be restored for health care to get doctors to rural areas such as ours.
There were also organizer questions about affordability and cost of living; the environment and rural sustainability, economic development, education and youth services.
Advance polls Feb. 20-22
Dorset Rec Centre, 1051 Main St., Dorset, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Lloyd Watson Memorial CC, 2249 Loop Rd., Wilberforce, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Royal Canadian Legion Br. 129 Haliburton, 719 Mountain St. Haliburton 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. There is no advanced polling station in Minden.
