Local residents voice election opinions

OpenFile asked residents of Waterloo Region what they thought political leaders should be talking about in this federal election. Here are their comments.

The Local Economy
Waterloo Region residents are concerned about the growing gap between rich and poor. Joe Dwyer, president of Twin City Dwyer Printing, summarized the problem: “Kitchener-Waterloo is a great example of the rich getting richer, poor getting poorer as the technology industry rockets forward and manufacturing falls off the map. What can we do to improve the standard of living for people working in the food service and manufacturing sectors?"

Clare Hitchens, publicist at Wilfrid Laurier University Press agreed.

“I think that what is most important is getting people through this recession, especially those who need to be retrained. And if they can't be retrained for whatever reason let's make sure they don't end up on the street. Poverty is a problem that fuels so many more, and it's a crime to treat workers who've given 30 years to a dead industry as though they are not worthy of support, or to pretend that they can pick up work in the high-tech sector.”

Democracy
The Harper government is the first government in Canadian history to fall in a vote of no-confidence rather than a vote on a budgetary matter.

Bill Klos, a retired high school teacher, commented: “We live in a democracy. At least we used to. Parliament may not be the best system but it's the best that there is at the moment; and then along comes an individual and a political party that demeans and pollutes the concept of our parliamentary system.”

Michelle Hogan, marketing manager with Primespec Inc., agreed: “Why is Harper being allowed to run in this election when the Speaker of the House has charged him with contempt of Parliament?"

Policy, Debates, Platforms
Hitchens said: “I'd like to see what the other parties suggest rather than just seeing them bash Harper's policies. For instance, I don't know if the Liberals or NDP have any plans to reintroduce a national child care plan. It may be in their literature, but nobody's talking about that I can see [or] hear.

Mark Panchaud, owner of Primespec Inc., adds, “Ban the attack ads. Why not tell us what you propose to do for us and how you propose to do it? I do not care that the Liberal leader was out of the country for 15 years. I do care if his beliefs that drive the party are not going to go in the direction I want the country to go in. Debates should be one on one. An intelligent discourse of point and counterpoint would achieve a lot more.”

Taxes
We grumble about paying taxes, but we also understand about the necessity to provide the programs and services. Panchaud said: "Do I believe that I should pay my fair share? Yes. Establishing what a fair share is can become contentious. I do not know if I am a proponent of a flat tax, although it is fair. You would know what your tax rate is and the more you make the more you know you are going to pay.”

Panchaud added, “I help my parents with their income taxes and I was shocked to see that they had to pay more income tax. They are like almost every senior citizen; they are on a fixed income. I think how you treat your senior citizens pretty much reflects your values and beliefs as a society and as individuals. The fact that the government is taxing pensions is ludicrous.”

Other concerns included the environment, care of seniors, health care and public safety.