Candidates discussed environmental, taxation and transportation issues during Monday's Palliser political forum. At some moments, those issues crossed over each other.
On the topic of taxation, someone asked Liberal candidate Cal Johnston how his party's Green Shift would affect the average person financially.
Johnston responded by saying the projected cost of the carbon tax would equal approximately $1 per day, or between $350 and $380 a year per person. However, he said the proposed system would then pay much of that money back to the taxpayer, depending on his or her family's income.
Green Party candidate Larissa Shasko said her party also supports a carbon tax, as well as other environmental enhancements to Canada's public transportation systems.
Much of the candidate's environmental discussions revolved around the issue of developing a transportation implementation strategy.
Shasko said her party's focus is on shifting some of the burden of transportation, both for freight and passengers, from highway to railroad.
Within municipalities, she said there must be more focus on accessible and efficient public transportation.
"We need to design cities that are built for people instead of cars."
Don Mitchell, NDP candidate, said his party is dedicated to emission reduction. In part to achieve this, his party would give a portion of the fuel tax to municipalities so they could improve their transportation systems.
As well, he said Canada must strengthen its railway network and increase railway passenger service to more areas of Canada.
Conservative Party candidate Ray Boughen's discussion on improved transportation didn't focus so much on the environment, as it did improvements to efficiency and quality.
His party believes the transportation system is an intricate part of Canada's economy and the government would work with the provinces and territories to establish an integrated transportation system.
As well, he said the Conservatives want to enhance transportation infrastructure, making it more accessible to disabled travellers.
In order to decrease vehicle/train collisions, Boughen said his party would also introduce electric road signals warning people of coming trains.
On the transportation-system topic, Johnston said the Liberals are committed to supplying $70 billion towards infrastructure.
He said that money would go towards municipalities improving sewage, water and electrical service, as well as things such as roads and sidewalks.
Within the Liberal's infrastructure funding, Johnston said at least $8 billion would go towards the national transportation strategy.
For 1 1/2 hours, all four local candidates shared their views on various issuesat the Heritage Inn.
Over 250 people attended the Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce event. The forum was not a debate, but a chance for candidates to present their various platforms and respond to various questions.
Carter Haydu can be reached at 691-1265.
Spreading their words
Spreading their words
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- Published on September 30th, 2008
- Published on July 10th, 2009
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Carter Haydu
Times-Herald
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Comments
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- B
- - September 18th, 2009 at 18:04:13
promises, promises. all i see from opposition partys is deficit spending, and don't try to hoodwink the public that taxes are revenue neutral. no one is saying what new level of beaurocratic nightmare it will take to do these things. looks like all of the gains we have made under the torys will have been in vain.
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- Stan
- - September 18th, 2009 at 17:47:37
Did Ray talk about his hidden agenda and how to get the multiplex?
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- Heather
- - September 18th, 2009 at 16:50:21
In Stephen Harpers last campaign he promised to provide an open and transparent government... however, they have run the most clandestine government in Canadian History. They quietly killed the access to information registry used by journalists, experts and the public that helped hold the government accountable. Harper's office does not handle the press in the traditional manner. He said he would not speak to the anti-Conservative Parliamentary Press Gallery. Harper has spent much of his time in office avoiding scrutiny by the media, and keeping a tight rein on his cabinet ministers.
He has broken his own fixed date election law and the most frightening thing he has done participate and support the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America , a plan that seeks to harmonize some 300 critical areas of legislation and regulation. To achieve those ends, business and political leaders from Canada, Mexico and the U.S. have been meeting in secret. This would be detrimental to our way of life as we would suffer the most as our economy is the best and we have the higher standard of living.
