Cathy Dobson/The Independent

A lack of affordable housing, a lack of jobs and the need for new investment took centre stage at a fast-paced political forum as six of nine candidates made their case for why they should be elected the next Sarnia-Lambton MPP.

The meeting room at the Dante Club was packed with about 100 people Tuesday who came to hear what mainstream party candidates, fringe party candidates and an independent had to say about the issues. 

Noticeably absent was incumbent PC Bob Bailey.

“It’s sad that our MPP of 18 years has decided to avoid accountability and not attend an event where voters have the opportunity to ask questions,” said NDP candidate Candace Young, earning a round of applause. 

“If (Bailey) was here, I’d ask why he has failed to use his position effectively to help the people of Sarnia Lambton,” she said.  “Our MPP doesn’t care enough to show up or speak up for us at Queen’s Park. We can change that…”

Tuesday’s event was co-hosted by the Sarnia Rotary Club and the Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce.  Bailey, the Green Party’s Pamela Reid and the Ontario Party’s Mark Lamore were not there.

Common threads throughout the candidate’s remarks were that Ontario needs change and that the Doug Ford government called an early election to capitalize on distractions caused by Donald Trump in the US.

“We are here contesting an unnecessary election in the depths of winter. And why?  Because Doug Ford is in a state of absolute panic,” said Keith Benn, a Port Lambton resident running for the New Blue Party. 

“His very best boyfriend ever, his number one ally, is circling the drain in Ottawa,” said Benn. “You know who I’m talking about…and now as Mr. Trudeau circles the drain, Mr. Ford is desperate to get another four-year mandate because he knows he’ll be the next one to go down the drain very soon.”

Ford has promised to save Ontario from a potential trade war with the States by spending billions in taxpayer’s money, said Benn, pitching The New Blue Party as a more conservative choice than the PCs.

Nathan Colquhoun, a former Sarnia city councillor who is running as an independent, said he is the best one for the job because he is not beholden to any one party. “Without party constraints, I can assess each policy on its merits and build coalitions with members from all parties to address our community’s specific needs.”

The Liberal’s Rachel Willse said her plan is not to spend more money.  “We need to sit down and look at what we currently have, evaluating where we’re spending now.”  As a healthcare worker, educator and local resident, she said Sarnia-Lambton has urgent unaddressed needs and she will fight hard for the community whether she wins at the polls or not.

In contrast, the NDPs Young said she is in it to win it.  “I’m not in a race for second place,” she said.  “I’ve been fighting alongside education workers, nurses, tradespeople and folks just like you to make our community better. I want to continue to do this work at Queen’s Park so I can do this work on a bigger scale. We have a plan to make sure you can see a doctor when you need one.  We have a plan to help you with your grocery bill…,” she said, adding that the NDP will also build more homes and protect renters.

WHAT THEY SAID ON THE ISSUES:

ON HOUSING

NDP’s Candace Young:  “We have practical solutions for housing and this housing crisis we are in. We’re going to build those 60,000 supportive housing units…we are also uploading shelter money…so we can take that burden off of municipalities. We are also going to work with organizations like the Rotary that are doing so much good work in our community…We are also going to bring forward rent control protections and we’re going to double social assistance programs like ODSP and Ontario Works.”

Liberal’s Rachel Willse:  Having enough affordable housing is one part of the solution but Ontario needs more.  “We need a second step.  We can’t just have individuals…left in housing.  The next step they need may be a job; it might be access to education; it might be limitations to access to childcare.  What is limiting these individuals from moving on with their lives?”

Independent Nathan Colquhoun:  “Sarnia Lambton already has people organizing, pushing for solutions and building partnerships.  The problem is that the system keeps making them jump through hoops instead of funding what we know already works.  If we want supportive housing built, the best solution isn’t waiting for an MPP to get elected, it’s continuing local pressure, organizing and making it impossible for the province to ignore.”

Populist Tom Stoukas: “I’ve seen many (housing projects) around Sarnia that are still getting built and there’s always some excuse for the delay…I think the MPPs job is to work with the municipalities to get this stuff done.”  Stoukas said he is against public housing and pro-private investments and co-op initiatives.

New Blue’s Keith Benn: “Housing is never going to be solved by government throwing bags of money at it…  We need to stimulate the economy so that people can find jobs, earn more money and afford a place to live.  As an MPP, I’d work with the (municipal and provincial government ) to do a little rezoning and  encourage builders to build starter homes, not with taxpayer money…”

ON JOBS

Liberal Rachel Willlse: “What new has happened in the energy and oil industry in Sarnia Lambton?  Absolutely nothing in the last 10-plus years.  This is why our tradesmen and tradeswomen are out of the province…there should not be a list of any tradesmen or tradeswomen sitting there for months on end without work…I want to see innovation and sustainability into the energy sector, potentially even in things like nuclear energy.”

Independent Nathan Colquhoun: “Ford’s government has handed out billions in corporate subsidies; $14 billion to Volkswagen, $9 billion to Stellantis without any guarantee of local jobs.  Meanwhile, we’re watching contracts for infrastructure, industry and energy projects go elsewhere, instead of ensuring that Sarnia’s workforce is prioritized…The government has $21 billion for infrastructure by 2030 but if we don’t have real representation at Queen’s Park, Sarnia will keep getting left out.”

Populist Ontario Tom Stoukas:  “It’s the MPPs jobs to bring jobs to the local riding – also the local government – and I think they’ve both failed…We have great workers, great tradespeople, there’s no reason Sarnia-Lambton shouldn’t be booming and we should diversify our economy and I wish Bob Bailey was here to answer that.”

New Blue’s Keith Benn:  “The reason there are no jobs here and no construction of new facilities or renovation and expansion of existing facilities, is because corporations and entrepreneurs look at Sarnia and this part of Ontario and they see it’s not an attractive place to invest. There’s an overload of bureaucracy and regulation and taxation…”

ON HIGH TAXES AND RED TAPE

Libertarian Jacques Bourdeau: “Libertarians believe when politicians step back, economies thrive…Look at Argentina.  After decades of economic collapse due to socialist policies, the country is now embracing free markets under a new Libertarian president…When people are free to innovate and build, prosperity follows.  So we must do the same here in Ontario.  Slash red tape that’s strangling small businesses, lower taxes so Ontarians can keep more of their earnings, and end reckless spending that mortgages our children’s future.”