Heather Wright/The Independent

Cathy Burghardt Jesson says the Ontario Liberals would change planning policies to stop developers from gobbling up farmland. That was just one of the topics three of the candidates for the Lambton-Kent-Middlesex riding in the provincial election talked about as the Lambton and Kent Federations of Agriculture hosted an All-Candidates Night in Alvinston.

And like other debates in Lambton this provincial election, not all the candidates were on hand to answer questions.

LFA officials invited Burghardt-Jesson, Kathryn Shailer of the NDP, Andy Tilgner of the Green Party, Steve Pinsonneault, the incumbent from the Ontario PCs and Andy Fisher of the New Blue Party to the Feb. 20 event.

Pinsonneault said he was focusing on meeting residents face-to-face adding in an email to The Independent “This one-on-one approach has been incredibly effective, as it allows me to hear directly from the constituents and engage in meaningful conversations about the issues that matter most.”

Pinsonneault’s social media pages show he was at a meet and greet in his hometown of Thamesville as the LFA debate went on and watched Team Canada beat the US that evening.

Fisher told The Independent he had finished a 16-hour shift and wasn’t able to attend. Fisher said he decided to run for the New Blue Party because it seemed “God-oriented” which appealed to him.

So, with Fisher and Pinsonneault absent, the Greens, NDP and Liberals were able to present their views on agricultural issues in a more laid back event.

While the issues were mostly about agriculture, Burghardt-Jesson took aim at the PC Candidate who didn’t come to the debate – and many of his PC colleagues across the province also chose to forego the traditional campaign event.

“For the second night in a row, the party that is in power, the party that felt we needed an election is not here,” said Burghardt-Jesson. “It feels like a slap in the face. Why call an election if you can’t show up to defend your record? Is there something that you’re trying to hide? And what do you want? What do you not want to answer to” she said.

While she didn’t call out the Ontario PCs directly, Tilgner also talked about a local representative’s responsibilities.

“The Green Party of Ontario believes in strong local representation. That means that as your representative, I would not work for Mike Schreiner. I would be working for you and the communities of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, and representing your interests in Queens Park. I vote according to your needs and wishes.

“I promise that I will show up for you here where you live and work, and I will show up for you in Queens Park,” she said.

Most of the night’s conversation centred around agriculture issues including:

How to offset the rising cost of food production
Shailer said “the best way to protect farmers from the rising cost of food production is to ensure that they get a fair price for their product.”
Shailer touted a plan to hold grocery stores to giving producers a fair price. And she said the NDP favours food hubs to promote local food sustainablity.
Burghardt-Jesson noted the recent $200 cheques the PCs sent out before the election could have “built three pork producing plants across Ontario.
“The Liberals will invest in processing closer to home and not have to transport it.”
Tilgner says the Greens would start a food processing infrastructure fund and “increase provincial investment in ag technology.” There would also be research in low-carbon grain farming.

Improving rural infrastructure:
Tilgner promoted the Green’s new deal for municipalities which would give them tools for collecting revenue for infrastructure needs including community housing, shelters and transit.
Shailer says the NDP would want to look at funding for infrastructure needs, like arenas, on a regional basis.
The Liberal’s Burghardt-Jesson said her party wants to provide stable funding for small municipalities which are often beat out by large municipalities for provincial grants.

On Supply Management:
All the candidates said their parties would defend supply management in any trade dispute with the US.
Burghardt-Jesson said the Liberals would help farmers develop new markets and work to bring down provincial trade barriers to help in a trade war.
Shailer said that while expanding markets is good, the NDP plans to invest in schools, infrastructure and health care “building greater resilience” for rural communities.

On protecting farmland:
Burghardt-Jesson says municipal governments have little say in where development happens. “If you think your land is protected now, it isn’t,” she told the group.
The Liberals, she said, would open up the Provincial Planning Policy to give municipalities back the control they once had.
The debate also covered some other rural issues including landfills in rural areas.
The discussion centred around the recent move to try to convert the former Dresden dump into a large landfill and recycling centre.
Shailer says the NDP wants agricultural impact assessments done to stop small landfills from becoming Ontario’s dumping grounds.
“Rural communities are not the dumping ground for Ontario,” says The Green’s Tilgner. Aside from increasing “collaboration and consultation” for environmental projects, the Greens want to expand programs to reduce waste, like glass bottle recycling.
Burghardt-Jesson of the Liberals warned there are many more small, derelict landfills in the province. She says it would take “a signature on a piece of paper to close that loophole
“This government has shown no interest in doing that.”
The Independent reached out to the candidates absent from the meeting to ask if the party was committed to making sure small dumps receive a full Environmental Assessment.
Fisher said he had heard there was concern about the expansion of the Dresden dump but would need to research the issue further.
The Ontario PC’s Pinsonneault wrote, in part, that he would continue to “advocate for transparency and community involvement throughout this
process to ensure that the concerns of Dresden residents are heard and addressed.”
The provincial election is Thursday. When the polls close, head to petrolialambtonindependent.ca, for results.