Provincial candidates debate tax cuts at Empire Theatre

By Austin McKay

Promises about tax cuts to reduce the provincial deficit were  the focus of an all candidates’ debate Monday at the Empire Theatre in downtown Belleville.

Six candidates are running in the riding of Prince Edward-Hastings. They are: Leona Dombrowsky (Liberal), Neal Ford (Family Coalition), Sherry Hayes (NDP), Todd Smith (PC), Treat Hull (Green) and Trueman Tuck (People First Republic Party).

Each candidate explained plans for education, health care, electricity, and manufacturing over the two-hour debate.

“We will look at all the spending and we will stop what doesn’t make sense and keep what does,” said Todd Smith.

The debate was a chance for incumbent Dombrowsky to take a stab at the Smith and the PC’s.

“There is a $14-billion hole in the PC’s plan,” said Dombrowsky. That instantly made Smith smirk and shake his head.

Hayes took the opportunity to explain the NDP’s plan to cap CEO salaries. She said that people who fall under the top paid CEO’s category will make more money annually by January 3 than the average Ontarian makes for the year?

Many people clapped when Hull asked the speaker to re-ask a question regarding small businesses in the area after the two previous candidates steered away from the initial question.

The Empire Theatre wasn’t completely full but had a showing of around 125 people, mainly older citizens.

“A debate like this is absolutely vital to the people of the community there shouldn’t have been an empty seat in this theatre,” said Pat Culhane, a lifetime Belleville resident and city council member.

There will be another all candidates’ debate at Loyalist College on October 4 in Alumni Hall.