10 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday October 3, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com If you have a news tip or story idea, Oakville not likely on Layton call the Oakville Beaver at 845-3824. or May’s election itinerary ■ Continued from page 9 been trying to get Foreign Affairs Minister profile candidates. Bonnie Peter MacKay to visit Oakville for some Brown, Liberal candidate and time.” incumbent, said she invited NDP candidate Michelle Bilek said she Garneau to Oakville to show does not think the Liberals and off Sheridan College, but to Conservatives inviting high-profile candi- also showcase some of the dates to speak in Oakville will have a sig- high-profile candidates with nificant impact on voters. the Liberal Party. “I guess it is to raise the profile of their “I wanted to expose the stu- party or maybe persuade voters, but I’m dents here to our science and not sure there is any stake in it,” she said. technology fella on our team “When it comes to politics, it is like reli- and one of our few doctorates gion for people and they are going to vote we have and I wanted to expose the way they are going to vote, but maybe Marc to Sheridan College,” she it is for the people who are undecided. Maybe it would be tempting to vote for a said. “I thought it was a valu- Dr. Marc Garneau able thing for the students and party that has all these important people the institution of Sheridan ple and I have a chance to tell backing them up.” College to have a connection them while they are campaign- Bilek said although the NDP has higher to the person who is probably ing what’s going on, I won’t profile candidates, party leader Jack Layton going to be pretty key in any have to re-explain when I go is not using them to woo voters. government we might form.” back to them and say here’s the “I don’t think Jack Layton is concerned The Conservatives have issue,” said Young. “The sec- with big names or celebrities — I think he also brought in some of their ond part, of course, is to show is concerned about the normal everyday well-known candidates during my promise that I will put people coming out and supporting him,” the campaign. Rona Ambrose, Oakville on the map in Ottawa she said. “I don’t think it fits the profile of minister of intergovernmental because there hasn’t been the the party.” affairs, Diane Ablonczy, secre- type of representation that While Stephane Dion and Stephen tary of state with Small people expect.” Harper have already made stops in Oakville Business and Tourism, and Young said he has issued during the campaign, Jack Layton and Rob Nicholson, justice minis- invitations to other high pro- Green Party leader Elizabeth May have yet ter, have all visited Oakville. file candidates to visit Oakville to come to town. Bilek said she is hopeful Conservative candidate during the campaign. He has Layton will make an appearance within the Terence Young said there are also invited Stephen Harper next two weeks. two reasons for the visits. back. Young said his goal of “He’s been to Hamilton and Brantford, “If I’m elected MP, I’ll have getting ministers through but I think within the next two weeks he’ll the opportunity to lobby inside town started long before the be making a trip to the Halton region,” she caucus, with the ministers and election was called. said. “You can’t be everywhere at all times the prime minister for Oakville “This is not new — we had and four weeks isn’t that long. Secondly, concerns, so the fact they’ve John Baird, the minister of the this riding isn’t considered very supportive been here and they’ve seen the environment, here last of the NDP, but I would love for him to town and met some of the peo- December,” he said. “I’ve also come out. I’ve met him quite a few times over the last month or so at different rallies and parades, and he is excited and opti- mistic, even though there is a Liberal or Conservative stronghold on some of these BACK TO SCHOOL. 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