A respectful audience in HKLB
The All Candidates meeting held at the Pie Eyed Monk meeting room in Lindsay was one of the best of such events in which I have participated since 2011. Politics seems more serious these days.
Thank you.
To Melissa McFarland, Terry Guiel and Corey Norman who represented the Lindsay Downtown BIA, Lindsay & District Chamber of Commerce and Launch Kawartha later night to host the all candidates meeting.
This event was organized to give voters an opportunity to meet the candidates in person and learn how each candidate's platform might benefit small businesses currently operating or planning to establish themselves in the Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock riding. Of course, all residents would ultimately benefit for new investment opportunities, more jobs, and boost to the local economy.
Unfortunately, only six of the nine candidates registered with Elections Ontario agreed to participate.
Representing:
NDP, Barbara Doyle
INDEPENDENT for LESS GOVERNMENT, me
LIBERAL, Alison Bennie
GREEN, Tom Regina
NEW BLUE, Jacquie Barker
FREEDOM, Bill Denby
A Summary from my perspective.
The traditional format in all candidates “debates” often featured shouting matches which always reflected poorly on the candidates. None of this occurred last night thanks to the planning and management of the event organizers.
All six candidates were respectful of the rules and focused on their message delivery during the introduction, Q&A and closing remarks.
As one might expect, the NDP and Liberal candidates voiced policies and spending initiatives the support what the expect with be the victims of Trumps tariff “threats”. A savvy audience member wanted to know where the money was going to come from to provide these and other “supports”. A suspect that many of the ~ 100 people in attendance appreciated this question.
The Green Party candidate was still promising a rosy economic future by extending commitments to Green Energy. Aside from that difference, there was not much to distinguish between the Green, NDP and Liberal polities in the belief that more public spending to appease special interest groups of the political “left” is the top goal.
The New Blue candidate has both the candidate and the platform that my wife, and ex-teacher and principal, found to be most vote-worthy. The New Blue claims to be the one true Conservative option in this election because Doug Ford vacated that spot for the “mushy middle” of the political spectrum. I suspect the Conservative Premier did this to capture all of the disenchanted former Liberals who sent Kathleen Wynne to the “dustbin of shame” for leading the Liberals to such a dramatic failure at the ballot boxes of 2018.
The Freedom Party candidate demonstrated an impressive understanding of Canada-US trade and was able to address the tariff issue in a knowledgeable and informative way. He, and the New Blue candidate shared many views and an understanding of the dreadful failures on the current government and political leaders in understanding how to get the best results for Canadians in the Trump, DOGE era.
I made my #1 Problem of Too Much Government repeatedly throughout the evening. I also distributed and promoted the Stronach Foundation for Economic Rights pamphlet and the ideas therein which I believe to be vital to restore Canada to its former greatness. My suggestion that an DOGE Ontario is needed to reduce the the size, cost and scope of authority of government operations was likely popular for the business community in room. Those who are public sector union members or government employees were less enthusiastic. To then, DOGE will evoke the same kind of worries experienced by small business owners and their employees did during the Covid era. As a business owner and board member during that period, I was dismayed by how government officials at all levels—federal, provincial, and municipal—severely limited our business decisions through their rigid, uniform enforcement policies that failed to account for our unique circumstances.
A Dreamer?
One question we were all asked provided me the opportunity to describe the theme and ideas in my Digital Direct Democracy eBook. I certainly understand that my life lens is unique and my persistent attempts to win over others whose life lens is radically different than mine is nearly impossible, especially in a format like last night’s event.
My dream.
In the near future, every citizen will be able to exercise his or her right to choose which public programs and services are right for them, and to reject compliance or liability that are not suitable. This is the very nature of a democracy.
Yet, our electoral system is currently set up to empower a minority of citizens, under the ruse of “electoral democracy”, to become our “political bosses”.
It’s ludicrous to entrust one person under a failed political party system to “represent” over 100,000 riding constituents in the “lawmaking” processes of our Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
My rationale.
Today, modern digital technology provides us with many choices for shopping, banking, and more. There is no reason, other than the lack of political will, that citizens should not be able to OPT-IN and OPT-OUT many government programs according to their personal beliefs, circumstances, and priorities.
Yes, it’s a dream. But it’s my dream and I will keep promoting it. Who knows when the time will be right for people to take it seriously.