Friday, September 26, 2008

Haldimand "Federal Election 2008 Finley a No-Show for Dunnville Debate"

Finley Will Be a No-Show for Dunnville All-Candidate Meeting
All six to attend in Kohler and Caledonia
Posted By KAREN BEST CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER
Posted 2 hours ago

Haldimand-Norfolk MP Diane Finley has something else scheduled on Oct. 2 so she will not be sitting with her five competitors at the Dunnville all candidate meeting.

"I have a previous commitment," she told The Chronicle on Sept. 24.

When asked what it was, she said, "What difference does that make?"

In discussions with members from the Dunnville Chamber of Commerce, the date and time kept getting moved, Finley I told them I had a prior commitment," she said about the selected date.
Finley campaign manager Jim Miller said it is tough to move what was already committed to but Finley and her campaign members tried to balance all requests.

Finley is the Conservative candidate and is currently Canada's Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. For four years, she has represented Dunnville and the rest of Haldimand County in Parliament.

Ron Speer and Sandy Passmore of the Dunnville Chamber of Commerce made several calls to candidates in an effort to schedule a meeting that fit with everyone's schedule.
"She is not available," said Speer.

Dunnville's councillors had a lot to say about her absence. Coun. Lorne Boyko started out leaving it up to people to draw their own conclusions but added that her decision speaks volumes about the regard she has for Dunnville.

Over his 30-year political career, he has never seen a candidate refuse to attend an all candidate meeting.

"You make it a priority," he said. "That's a real insult to the people of Dunnville. It's a very heavy Conservative area provincially and federally so it's an insult, a real slap in the face for the people of Dunnville."

Either she is confident about winning or is being hung out to dry and either way her absence is inexcusable, Boyko.

Overall, the local campaign has frustrated Coun. Don Ricker who wants to see candidate proposals for action in writing instead of slinging criticism at others. He referred to promises made by Finley who told council she would look into funding for an economic study to determine impacts arising from the Six Nations issue. She also promised to have a member of her office attend every council meeting. A person did so at least once.

At the all candidate meeting in Dunnville, there may be questions unrelated to native issues and people would want to hear her answers, Ricker pointed out.

"This is her commitment. Her commitment is Haldimand Norfolk," he said. He could understand if she had a medical reason but by not providing information a person is left wondering if she is hiding something, he added.

The candidates who will attend the Dunnville meeting are Steve Elgersma of the Christian Heritage Party, Eric Hoskins of the Liberal Party, Stephana Johnston of the Green Party, Gary McHale who is an independent candidate and Ian Nichols of the New Democratic Party.

Hosted by The Chronicle and the chamber, the Dunnville all candidate meeting will take place on Oct. 2 at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 142 hall on Queen Street.

Speer encouraged people to arrive early. Doors open at 5:30 p. m. and under the direction of moderator Marg Clark, candidates begin speaking at 6 p. m. The event wraps up at 8 p. m. so people can go home to watch the leaders debate on television.

The first Haldimand County all candidate meeting will take place on Sept. 30 at the Haldimand Agricultural Centre in Kohler. Sponsored by the Haldimand Federation of Agriculture, the event begins at 7 p. m. and will include written questions from the crowd. All six candidates will attend.
On Oct. 6, doors open at 6:30 p. m. at the Royal Canadian Legion hall on Caithness Street East in Caledonia. The Caledonia Regional Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event that will include all six candidates.
Article ID# 1220117
http://www.dunnvillechronicle.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1220117

5 comments:

  1. Give me a break! These councillors stating that this is a slap in the face to Dunnville? Diane Finley had previous plans. Grow up!

    I will be voting for Diane Finley, she is the best person for the job! The rest of the candidates are full of hot air!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Diane Finley and Stockwell Day visit Dunnville to Open constituency office

    Posted By Bob Liddycoat / The Chronicle

    Stockwell Day visited Dunnville today to help incumbent MP Diane Finley open her constituency office.

    Day praised Finley for the hard work she does in caucus and in promoting issues that are important to Haldimand-Norfolk.

    Day, who is the minister of public safety, also assured the media that his government will be enforcing strict measures when dealing with illegal tobacco operations and said, "Caledonia is not exempt from these measures."

    The two cut a ribbon on Finley's office at 119 Lock St. E. The office will be open weekdays from 9:30- 5:30 and Saturdays 9- noon.

    http://www.dunnvillechronicle.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1221726

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for the comments and the posting of the news article.

    As far as our Municipal Councillors go they are all Liberal except for the Mayor. If it had been Hoskins that was a no show as they say, our council would have been silent.

    ReplyDelete
  4. On Thursday, October 2, 2008, I went to the All Candidates Debate in Dunnville. I would like to take a minute to give my impressions of the candidates.

    The Conservative Party candidate, Diane Finley, was not in attendance. I think this sums up exactly what she stands for. The comment was made by the Christian Heritage Party candidate that he was sure she had a good reason; however, she did not deem us important enough to give that reason to.

    The Christian Heritage Party candidate, Steve Elgersma, seems to be a good man with strong convictions, but he is a little to extreme to earn my vote.

    The Green Part has a very progressive platform. Although the party leader, Ms. May, did an excellent job in the Leaders Debate, our local candidate, Stephana Johnston, was not prepared for our local debate and although sincere, I fear is not ready to represent us in Ottawa.

    The Liberal Party candidate, Dr. Eric Hoskins, is a great representative of his party and was by far the best politician at the debate. However, outside the Liberal Party Platform, he presented no ideas of his own. And like a good politician, he flip-flopped on many issues. For example, he said that he wants to see more development in Haldimand and he stands for saving farm land. Forgive me if I am being dense, but I don’t understand how you can have it both ways.

    Dr. Hoskins did make a very valid point about independent Gary McHale. If you support Mr. McHale’s efforts in Caledonia, don’t send him away to Ottawa with your vote. Keep him here, working for his cause, drawing attention to Caledonia’s concerns in a way that no politician, independent or otherwise, can.

    These conclusions leave, for me, only one option and one candidate – NDP candidate Ian Nichols. He was very well prepared for the debate. He understands his party’s platform, but is not blinded by it to the point that he forgets about his local constituents’ concerns.

    Unlike what Dr. Hoskins said in his closing statements (a very unprofessional comment, I might add), a vote for the NDP is not a vote for Finley. A vote for Ian Nichols is a vote for the people. For a Party Leader with the people at heart.

    We aren’t happy with Finley. We are not impressed with the Liberals. But we are NOT America. We are NOT a two party system. Don’t throw your vote away by voting for someone you don’t believe in to stop someone you don’t believe in from getting elected. There is an alternative, and the majority WANTS an alternative. I know who I am voting for.

    ReplyDelete
  5. On Thursday, October 2, 2008, I went to the All Candidates Debate in Dunnville. I would like to take a minute to give my impressions of the candidates.

    The Conservative Party candidate, Diane Finley, was not in attendance. I think this sums up exactly what she stands for. The comment was made by the Christian Heritage Party candidate that he was sure she had a good reason; however, she did not deem us important enough to give that reason to.

    The Christian Heritage Party candidate, Steve Elgersma, seems to be a good man with strong convictions, but he is a little to extreme to earn my vote.

    The Green Part has a very progressive platform. Although the party leader, Ms. May, did an excellent job in the Leaders Debate, our local candidate, Stephana Johnston, was not prepared for our local debate and although sincere, I fear is not ready to represent us in Ottawa.

    The Liberal Party candidate, Dr. Eric Hoskins, is a great representative of his party and was by far the best politician at the debate. However, outside the Liberal Party Platform, he presented no ideas of his own. And like a good politician, he flip-flopped on many issues. For example, he said that he wants to see more development in Haldimand and he stands for saving farm land. Forgive me if I am being dense, but I don’t understand how you can have it both ways.

    Dr. Hoskins did make a very valid point about independent Gary McHale. If you support Mr. McHale’s efforts in Caledonia, don’t send him away to Ottawa with your vote. Keep him here, working for his cause, drawing attention to Caledonia’s concerns in a way that no politician, independent or otherwise, can.

    These conclusions leave, for me, only one option and one candidate – NDP candidate Ian Nichols. He was very well prepared for the debate. He understands his party’s platform, but is not blinded by it to the point that he forgets about his local constituents’ concerns.

    Unlike what Dr. Hoskins said in his closing statements (a very unprofessional comment, I might add), a vote for the NDP is not a vote for Finley. A vote for Ian Nichols is a vote for the people. For a Party Leader with the people at heart.

    We aren’t happy with Finley. We are not impressed with the Liberals. But we are NOT America. We are NOT a two party system. Don’t throw your vote away by voting for someone you don’t believe in to stop someone you don’t believe in from getting elected. There is an alternative, and the majority WANTS an alternative. I know who I am voting for.

    ReplyDelete