Election Watch - 2004

 

Question #8 of 8:

What do you see as the most pressing environmental issue in the Dufferin- Caledon Riding.  How will you deal with this issue as our Federal Representative?

 

Ted Alexander, Green Party of Canada

Urban sprawl. There is a lack of government co-ordination and no comprehensive policy with regards to urban sprawl and the use of green space. The Green Party would create Bioregional Stewardship Offices to work with local citizens, municipalities, provinces and their planning agencies to protect threatened species and local ecosystems.

Murray Calder, Liberal Party of Canada

If I had to pick only one, I’d say water is the most pressing environmental issue in Dufferin-Caledon. This area forms the headwaters of a number of important river systems in southern Ontario. As population increases, so too does the demand for water for private consumption, agriculture and industrial use. Although water falls largely under the responsibility of the provincial government, the federal government has an important role to play. Through the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program, we made it a priority to fund municipal water and sewer projects. The neglect that contributed to the Walkerton catastrophe showed the importance of developing and maintaining safe municipal drinking water supplies. The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans is also responsible for protecting the fish habitat of our streams and rivers. I have lobbied DFO to uphold this mandate, while at the same time being reasonable in working with local community interests.

Ursula Ellis, Christian Heritage Party *

Rita Laundry, New Democratic Party **

David Tilson, Conservative Party of Canada

The most pressing environmental issue I am hearing about in the Dufferin-Caledon riding as I canvass door to door is the need to protect the rural countryside. We live in the most beautiful community in the world. In 1970, I moved to this riding because I liked the mix of urban and rural. I am proud that the Conservative Party of Canada has an environmental policy that will enhance and sustain the great biodiversity that makes Canada so striking. We will legislate caps on smog causing pollutants, negotiate power plants and smokestack emissions limits with the US Border States. We will spend $4 billion over ten years to clean up contaminated sites. We will work with the provinces to develop a national strategy for alternative energy and energy conservation including increasing the use of renewable energy sources, research and development into alternative energy and energy efficient technology.

   * Declined our request to respond

 ** Unable to respond due to family illness

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