"When the milkbottle freezes, in icy cold breezes, You'll know that Jack Frost has been there." iceport g Ottawa, Nov. 11, 1988 Vol. 17 No. 10 GCA Federal candidates forum BY JACK ANDREWS At this point, Independent Adequate incomes for people think there should be a the candidate John Turmel occu- on welfare and pensioners housing first policy for We all know there was a of federal lands. The pied the stage and refused use scuffle at the Ottawa Centre Plamondon: "I empathize government should to leave. Police were cal- federal Candidates Forum at Glebe greatly. We need continued led and half an hour later step in to reduce interest Collegiate November 1. strong government. The best Turmel was evicted and char- rates." But contrary to earlier social program we have is a ged with assaulting a Glebe Housing of Lebreton Flats reports, the meeting spon- job." resident. sored by the Glebe Community Cassidy: "There's been a Cassidy said he has concerns about the delays for Assoication didn't "disinte- Harb boycotts record of Conservative can- grate into bedlam". There didates in this area they housing there. He is also plans for was indeed some two hours in meeting say one thing while the concerned about does something Expo 2000. "We need a min- which the approximately 300 As the meeting resumed, government persons present heard what else." imum of 2,500 housing units Liberal, Mac Harb told Chair- on the Flats. At least two of the major party candi- Abortion man Brian Jonah that he was 1,000 of those should be dates had to say on a variety no longer willing to parti- Cassidy: "My party is com- ahead of topics. subsidized and move cipate. Harb left the audi- mitted to choice on abortion. now." Those who stayed till the the torium and remained in Women, in consultation with Plamondon: "I also believe end of the debate heard from It foyer talking to the media their doctors, should decide. should be some of the "other" candi- Lebreton Flats and the public. Plamondon: "I personally do dates as well. used for affordable housing. not believe in abortion. In At the end of the evening, Not snow dumps or Expo 2000. after the "other" candidates the latter stages of preg- As to the number of houses, Off to a bad start had spoken, Harb explained nancy, there should only I don't have a specific that he had not taken part be abortion if the life of figure." At the start, GCA President because it was billed as an the woman is threatened. In Tax reform Brian Jonah explained why the early stages, it is a all-candidates meeting and it Cassidy said the fax burden the GCA had invited the matter of choice between the was unfair to exclude the has increased. "Ed Broadbent three major candidates, woman and her doctor." three "other" candidates who about changes rather than all 10 running has spoken we'd had come. Affordable housing in Ottawa Centre. With five make to ensure wealthy minutes per opening state- Mr. Jonah remind&I Harb Plamondon: "Since 1984, Canadians don't get all the ment and three minutes per that the event had been adver- CMHC funds have been direc- breaks." question, there would have tised as a forum to hear ted towards low income Plamondon: "The major point been time for about three or candidates for the three levels." He cited the is tax simplification. Even four questions from the major parties, not as an all- federal government's appoint- those up to $60,000 are audience. candidates meeting. "If The ment of a minister of ffaying less taxes. Fairness Three "other" candidates Citizen had called it an all- housing. "As far as the in taxes is the hallmark of had shown up uninvited. He candidates meeting, then that housing market is concerned, this government." asked the audience if they was their fault," he said. that is a question of demand wanted to hear from them. After opening statements and supply." Story continues on The vote was 147 to 121 to from Mike Cassidy, of the New Cassidy questioned the PC's Page 2 hear primarily from the prin.- Democartic Party, and Bob sincerity in establishing cipal candidates. Plamondon, of the Progressive a housing ministry weeks The "other" candidates Conservative Party, the before the election. "New were offered five minutes to meeting was opened to ques- Democrats believe there speak at the end of the tions from the floor as should be a tax on specula- debate. follows: tion in house dealings. We INSIDE Letters 3 - 5 Aldermanic forum tough questions Federal candidates 6 - 7 BY INEZ BERG Alderman in 1985 after ser- market value reassessment ving for some years on the which had raised taxes, vot- GCA 10 An orderly and very inte- Glebe Community Association's ed against it at Council and Grey Cup 13 rested crowd of about 70 Board of Directors then as worked with the Citizens' 14 people came out to the its President from 1983 to Tax Committee for ways to Focus Glebe Community Association 1985 defended his record alleviate the burden on Books 15 & 22 Aldermanic Forum, November during his three year term. people with fixed incomes. 8th, to hear and question He was appointed by City When asked what other incumbent Rob Quinn and Council as Chairman to the jobs he held outside his challenger Lynn Smyth. Community Services and aldermanic duties and how Quote of the Month: After two hours and a wide Operations Committee which he maintained his lifestyle range of questions, some of administers 60% of the City he cited his additional "When politics absorbs which were hard hitting, budget. He said that dur- membership on the Board of the crowd was satisfied and ing his term on CSOC he had Police Commissioners, eight the livelong day, the meeting ended amiably overseen an increase for Council committees and as I like to think about by 9:30 pm with many Glebe the budget on sewers, roads a Library trustee as evi- residents, though they sup- and sidewalks of 80%. He dence that for him being an the star Canopus, ported different candidates, said that ensuring funds for aldeLman was indeed a full So far, so far away! chatting as they left Glebe rebuilding infrastructure time job. He informed his Collegiate's auditorium. was one of his priorities, ran for Quinn who first He said he had fought the Cont'd. on p. 2 B.L. Taylor N EWS Federal candidates forum cont'd. sibility to talk about the testing. But it would be Michael Hahn, independent: Free trade and social national sales tax. I foolish to put our heads in "As Canadians we have every- programs believe this is very scary." the sand." thing we need. No one should Plamondon: "There is abso- Plamondon: "I'm happy to Cassidy: "The NDP has a con- suffer or be victimized by lutely nothing in this hear that Mr. Cassidy has structive policy for peace social injustice. There are agreement to prevent the in- had a change of heart about and security. It's not a still many thousands looking troduction of new social the deficit. We've reduced reiteration of the cold war for better opportunities. programs. How do we pay for the deficit from $38 to $28 policies put out by your Our traditional leaders are them? Hardworking Canadians billion." As for the sales government's white paper. mainly providing unproductive paying their tax dollars. tax, he said Mr. Cassidy The NDP proposes modernizing leadership." He called for The biggest threat to our sat on the Commons committee our forces. We don't think new federal government de- social programs is a stag- that recommended it. Canada should have cruise partments to help build the nant economy. If anyone is Space agency location missile testing or nuclear economy and for changes to going to ask for harmoniza- submarines." He said Canada the tax laws. Cassidy: "I believe the tion (on medicare), it'll should withdraw its troops Mac Harb spoke last. space agency should be loca- be the Americans." from Europe and would sub- ted here." He said he's Cassidy: "Mr. Plamondon has sequently look at NATO mem- lobbied the government and said that in the last four bership. "People around the A "No Win" regrets it's been turned into years we've had a strong world are looking for a a political football. economy without free trade. policy for peace." Plamondon: "This is the situation Well, which is it? Why is It was the time first protest I've heard Mr. Jonah then called upon second in a this government determined row that the GAC had run from Mr. Cassidy. Liberal the two remaining "fringe" into to drag this country into difficulties with and NDP leaders say it candidates, as well as Mr. a federal free trade? election forum. In should be in Montreal. If Harb, to speak for five 1984, two "fringe" candidates re- The medicare and pensions we you want it here, you should minutes each. fused to leave pay for have to come out of vote Progressive Conservative. John Dodson of the Green and did so only when the police were taxes and there'is pressure We're examining the situation. Party of Canada said "I want to reduce taxes." to tell you about Green called. Military testing, especially politics. Cloth diapers Reducing the deficit in the Arctic work!", he said. "It's more This time the GCA made sure Cassidy: "We do believe the Plamondon: "We believe the what we can do and rely less the half-page advertisement deficit is a problem.