Too close to call!

This riding should have been a shoe in for MPP Jeff Leal!

The Liberals have spent a boatload of money here. Whether its the new hospital, money for Trent or Sir Sandford Fleming or during the flood. You could hear the constant sound of the standard beeping noise a dump truck makes when it has its reverse lights on.

But, they just made too many promises that they didn’t keep and its coming back to haunt them! Leal is on the ropes and in for fight. McGuinty will be no help to him as he is not popular here. That is why you see Health Minister George Smitherman here all the time. With an aging population making the move to the Kawarthas and a new hospital going in. Smitherman might be the man who delivers the riding.

But, with people realizing that the money flowed too freely to special and often racial special interest groups with no accountability. IT WILL AGAIN COMEBACK TO HAUNT THEM! Also Leal/Smitherman in there first year tried to cut the hospital budget by $6 million many people will be asking why Cricket is more important? Furthermore, with the dead carp situation people are going to be pushing for more Ministry Funding of the local MNR office which is a big employer. Tory was just in town promising cash and that will be well received. But everyone remembers the Harris years all too well still.

However, contrary to popular belief this election will not be decided in the the rural area. It never really is. Of course all the politicians brown nose the heck out of the rural area. The rural area usually votes Conservative which I don’t know why is also such a big surprise. This election will be decided in areas like Monaghan Ward and Lakefield where the Liberals picked up huge and unexpected support. These areas consist of wealthier families and retired people. Local Conservative Candidate Bruce Fitzpatrick has already been through the area. He seems to have been well received by people. Leal is taking it for granted and likely kissing up in the rural areas which is a waste of time. Leal needs to check his backyard! Too many broken promises are going to cost him the unprecedented support he had before.

However, Fitzpatrick might have blown his foot off because there is only 1 Catholic school in the west west end of Monaghan Ward. But there are 3 Public schools that serve a very large base and are very well respected. There going to cry foul all the way to the bank over faith based schools and Fitzpatrick openly states he sends his own kids to a faith based school. It will not bold well in this area! Leal on the other hand promotes the public school system and has a good track record on it. He has promoted that message well even though his wife teaches at Faith base school.

So my prediction is that if Faith based schools don’t become a big election issue. (Which by all accounts they likely will) Fitzpatrick will be a real player in this election. He is smart, well spoken on the issues, open and generally a very sincere individual. Leal on the other hand is an introvert who rarely is seen engaging people in an uncontrolled atmosphere. But, with the amount of public schools both in Lakefield and the West End of Peterborough Fitzpatrick/Tory might have screwed up big time. Local Public school Staff will be warning parents of possible cuts whether true or not it will instill the fear of the Harris years again. That might be where the fat Lady sings. However, if it doesn’t Fitzpatrick/Tory will strong contenders. However, even after that don’t count Leal out he is making a lot of announcements that are going over well and getting a lot of media attention because of it. But, its Leal’s election to lose not Fitzpatrick’s to win and it should not have never came even close to this.

This will be a good riding to watch, simply because this is a 3 way race. Many Liberal supporters in this riding are unhappy, and are looking to move. I’m wondering if we will see a similar story to the 2006 federal election where dissatisfaction with the Liberals turned this into a 3-way race. I think we will see something similar, but the determining factor will be how many Liberals leave Jeff Leal for Dave Nickle, the NDP candidate. The three major parties all have pretty strong candidates, and I think that this will be one of those races that will really be won during the election. This will be a fun one to watch.

While the NDP campaign is a lot smaller moneywise, they have a lot more ideas… a lot more. Lets face it as well, the fact that they have to d more with less money makes them a better bet for being fiscally responsible. Fitzpatrick seems to be sticking his face up wherever he can as the PC campaign method and spending scads of money doing it, Leal seems to be bringing in guests, only the NDP are relying on actual ideas and plans for implementation. To me, the idea is the thing. Nickle is calm, articulate and understands the area well. He’s by far the best candidate the city area has. It would be great if Peterborough sent the province a message that they’re tired of broken promises by the Liberals and poor fiscal planning, social planning… heck planning in general… by the Conservatives. NDP seems like the best, the only route to go.

It is hard to run against Jeff Leal. He is popular in the riding and has done his homework well. When he was first elected, he found that, although Gary Stewart(PC) had announced a new hospital, there was no money. It is pretty much accepted in the riding that it was largly due to Leal’s efforts that funding was secured.

That was the beginning — The DNA cluster, Ethanol plant, affordable housing — the list is long and impressive. That is what Leal has done. He has looked after his constituents.

The Tories appear to have a lot of $$ and they are campaigning hard. However, as quoted in today’s local paper – when you talk to people at Tim Hortons or Wendys, the vast majority seem happy with Leal

From a personal perspective, I live in the ‘rural’ eastern part of the riding. For us, I know that Jeff Leal worked long and hard to secure upgrades for Hwy 7. When I drive to town each day, I see the engineers working on this section of highway which is one of the most deadly in the province.

Religious schools will hurt the Tories. The NDP may regain some of the center left support that they lost in the anti-Harris 2003 vote. As Tory tries to distance himself from Harris people are constantly reminded of the ‘bad old Harris days’. Many do not want to go back.

Leal has done his job well and will be rewarded.

The New Democratic Party is the only party that is putting the average Ontarian first in this campaign. The Liberals firmly put their values in their back pocket when they voted themselves a raise of $40,000 last December and the Tories seem to think that more highways and a more complicated education system are going to save the environment and our public schools. The most dire threat to us is the environment and the only party that has a sincere concern about the environment and a plan to be implemented immediately is the NDP.

I’m not sure as it is that hard to run against Jeff Leal. Right now he looks like he’s giving out a gift bag of goodies to secure his election. He seems embattled and scared in the media and in personal appearances. This is a bell-weather riding which means no one is ever assured a victory. Lets not give the incumbent too much credit, we’ve seen too many of them unseated. Fitzpatrick looks too slick and practiced for the region. We know that the people of Peterborough often see through those kinds of tactics. Dave Nickle and the NDP is looking pretty good to me.

I have been watching the media coverage during this pre-election period. It seems to me that during the summer both Bruce and Jeff were taking serious shots at the NDP. I think that things have shifted and the jabs and stabs are starting to be directed in the right direction, at each other. I think this is an going to be an interesting election.
Not to nit pick, but with all the money the Conservative party is throwing away, you think they could hit spell check for campaign literature! “Provinvacial” Tisk. Tisk.
I think this could be anyone’s seat. However, it seems to me that if more people attended the all candidates meetings the choice would be very clear.
Dave Nickle, the candidate for the NDP, is articulate and personable. He speaks about issues that concern everyone.
This tight race will only bring out the best and worst of the candidates. I think Dave Nickle will rise above the mud throwing
and show the voters how a good representative behaves. He attends events (the whole event Bruce, not five minutes). And where has Jeff been all summer?
So far my point system
Has
Bruce at 20 points
10 for opening first
10 for showing up (even if it is only for 5 minutes)
but lost 10 points for the spelling mistake
Jeff at 20
10 for being the inbumbent (did I write bum?)
10 for taking Lansdowne St.
Dave at 30
10 for doing it again
10 for taking Water St.
10 for looking the best on television (isn’t that how Kennedy won?)
Miriam at 20
10 for being the only women!
10 for wearing a cowboy hat while campaigning
Family Coalition Party
-10 points
Lost points for all of the known reasons
Bob Bowers
Why isn’t Bob running?
So far Dave is winning.

I can’t heap enough praise on Liberal MPP Jeff Leal for his contribution to the provincial riding of Peterborough. In the last provicial election I voted for the conservaive MPP even though I had enough of the Harris/Eves conservatives. Jeff Leal is a results oriented MPP, at the best time for the riding. I thank Jeff Leal for his many accomplishments both municipally and provincially and for the dedication he brings to our community. He is our Peterborough Champion. He’s just a solid guy!

With about 1000 people working at GM living here and no doubt being affected by the layoffs. The economy might turn into a major issue. If it does the fact that so many manufacturing jobs have bled away in this community and in many others may be a big source of trouble for Leal.

Read Ian Urqhart from the Toronto Star thoughts on the subject.

Ontario’s economy a concern

http://www.thestar.com/article/237928

I can’t help but think about the Garry Herring campaign. I hope those signs are paid for by the riding association. Well, if not a violation of the Elections Act, it is a violation of municipal sign act.
Premature signoculation.
Remember you have to keep them up for the whole election! You lose another 10 points for being too excited.
Dave gets 10 for flipping burgers at the labour day BBQ.
Jeff get 5 for showing up.
Bruce now has 10 points. Jeff has 25. Dave 40. Miriam is holding strong at 20.

Not only has Bruce already thrown his signs up everywhere (a week before the writ, talk about bad form) but they’re those crappy bag signs. Those things are awful, they blow all over the place and just look cheap. I can’t help but wonder what his people are thinking. First we have to look at him on everything from tractor trailers to buses and now we have to deal with his signs already going up. I agree, Fitzpatrick’s campaign is starting to remind me of Gary Herring’s.

I saw Jeff on Chex this evening discussing an NDP policy his party would like to use. He was talking about how people could get a job with a new smile.
I will give Jeff 10 points for this one + a bonus 5 points for having the tenacity to steal it from Howard. He made this announcement two months ago. Ontario Smiles when the Liberals steal NDP ideas.

Bruce doing the Pub tours? – 5 points for needing an excuse to be around alcohol. I will give you back the 5 points if you can lose any weight during the campaign.

Miriam? Where in the boondocks are you girl? Get out there!
Paul Morgan? Paul Morgan? Morgan?
Tally ho… Bruce 5 points. Jeff is pulling up 40 points. Dave 40.
Miriam 20. Paul?

Kathryn your waaayyyy tooo left wing with your point scores. If you don’t think that Bruce Fitzpatrick is going to be the second big contender in this riding your out to lunch. Open the curtains to your little enclosed world! You remind me of Linda Slavin. Campaigning not to engage people but simply to find people that agree with you. WAKE UP!

Dave Nickle is a good guy. I haven’t ruled out voting for him myself. I supported Jeff last time around. But the only reason Jeff Leal is talking Ontario smiles is because Howard Hampton is. For that he should be losing points not gaining them. Jeff and the Liberals are trying to come up the centre as the “moderates”. Trying to convince those middle of the road voters that you can have a little bit of both. All these policies may or not be implemented once he gets re-elected. HOW ABOUT FACTORING THAT IN YOUR POINT SCORE?

Very weak analogy and reasoning on your part.

I agree with you Arthur. I was hoping someone else would
comment!
A representative of logic and honestly has come forth.
There are thoughtful voters still around and I hope all candidates are choosing their words well when dealing with the press.
On that note.
Jeff- Arthur the knight of decency has encouraged me to remove your grade two magic trick points and give them to Dave. I will also question how you can say you have no ‘reaction’ to Bruce’s sign illness. Did you know you have farmers in your riding?

Bruce- You are losing points for being on the front page of SNAP for the Peterborough County Federation of Agriculture annual event you attended for 5.2 seconds, I forgot you sent your huge mobile sign in you place. Throwing away soooo much money is a crime when we have so many living in poverty in this riding! Oh, that’s right, you didn’t show up for the Mayor’s poverty report release either. Maybe economically challenged folks don’t vote. Mmm. I would not count on that, Bruce.

Dave-The City is in favour of your $10 an hour increase to the minimum wage, Bill 150. It seems as if all of that hard work is starting to pay off! The Energy Coalition troopapalooza was off and running again this week. Dave was there…actually Dave seems to be in places where other candidates are too busy. Bonus points for serving corn and talking to everyone at the annual Farmer’s event. You didn’t have a big sign but you came and helped out. That shows what kind of a representative you would make.

Miriam-I really want to give you points, I just need you to say something new. Repeating Dave verbatum is not the sign of a raging candidate.

So Tally ho…
Dave takes the lead 80 points! -was at 40 but was granted Jeff’s points from last week. Then Bill 150 and the City, serving corn to the farmers and the comments about private energy companies using Ontario tax payers money to sell energy to Americans.
Bonus 25 points.

Jeff- 25 stealing is bad!

Bruce-5 (that is minus 5)
I hope you do something really good this week!

Miriam- 15

Bruce Fitzpatrick..can you tell me anyone that knows him? What are his qualifications and political experiences of leadership that would cause anyone to vote for him? We are all ears. Dave Nickel and more so Jeff Leal are well known.

I know Fitzpatrick is a lawyer… that’s about it. Otherwise, he seems to have been a non-entity until the election rolled around.

Does Fitpatrick practise law in town?

Jeff Leal secured the new hospital and obtained the required funding to build it, the Conservatives promised the hospital , but never allotted any funds to pay for it. Jeff and the Liberal government were there for the people of Peterborough after the 2004 flood. Monte Kwinter was here the day of the flood and Dalton McGuinty was here the next day. They made sure the people of Peterborough got the needed relief money.

Under Jeff’s leadership we know have 5 new health teams. Wait times for knee and hip replacements were drastically reduced with extra funding. We got the DNA cluster. There are more better paying jobs in the city. The Liberal government also raised the minimum wage to $8.10 and have promised another raise to a total $10.20 over the period of the next few years. Jeff is the best M.P.P. we have had since Peter Adams in the late 80’s.

And yet I still have to wait 5 months to get in for nerve study in area. I don’t see a big difference in our health care to be honest. People can TELL us that wait times are reduced, but the proof is in the pudding. We still don’t have enough doctors to go around and there are still other glaring problems. The Liberals really haven’t done much to fix or repair anything. They throw money at problems at the last minute which generally isn’t enough to do anything with once its diluted across the system. We still haven’t caught up to the funding cuts of the Tories, which means the McGuinty Liberal pre-election spending to buy our votes has still fallen short or what the province really needs.

The interesting thing about this riding, is that it will once again produce the typical result.
This, undisputably, is a two-way horserace between Leal and Fitzpatrick. Nickle and Stucky, unfortunately, and contrary to their many partisans who have posted here, are toast.

The Decima research poll released ealier today which gauged Ontarians support between September 5th to 8th, is beginning to solidify a telling trend indicated by the last two polls provided by Ipsos-Reid and SES. This trend reveals that the Liberals are developing a comfortable lead at about 41% and the Tories are being held static between about 33-36%, while the NDP and Greens are floundering coming in around 13-17% and 6-11% respectively. Therefore, it seems highly inconcievable with less than a month remaining before election day, that Mr. Nickle would be able to double or triple his standing and vault over the other contenders to wrestle this seat away from Leal; even if we concede to him a few extra points above his party’s province-wide average as he achieved in 1999 and 2003.

With that being said, is there a case to be made for Leal or Fitzpatrick one way or another? Not really. Criticizing Fitzpatrick for a perceived lack of “political experience” or for not being “Mr. Popular” in the community I don’t think are valid knocks against him either. In the end, Leal is the only person in this race who has actually sat at Queen’s Park or otherwise been elected to public office. Nickle, to his credit, is a high school guidance counselor and a former OSSTF union leader in the area, but hey, Peterborough isn’t really a union town and being a high school teacher isn’t really much practice for the front benches of the legislature. Plus he’s already been twice defeated, handily, let’s not forget that.

Barring fire and brimstone, Leal hangs on to this seat. The rest, forgotten.

A somewhat accurate assessment Craig…

Leal will likey win. But with what? Last time he won handily. But this time a lot of his votes could be bled off by Dave Nickle and the Green Party. Note: I say Green Party because people who do vote Green vote for them based on rationale not their leaders.

But Dave Nickle is a very strong and well known in the community. More important he can be believed! The real question is in this riding is how many votes will those two bleed off largely at the expense of the Liberals? Will it bleed off enough votes to give Bruce Fitzpatrick power?

That is what is happenning on a provincial level and so as you assert will likely happen here on a riding level.

An accurate assessment albeit somewhat lacking of the finer details.

I would imagine Leal’s share of the popular vote might decline slightly from 2003, but not enough to cost him the election and certainly not to the 29% level Liberal Diane Lloyd experienced in the 2006 federal race.

Like I said earlier, the Tories have been static in the 33-36% region for a very long time with the exception of a few short periods where they briefly took the lead in the polls over the past few years. Other than that, they haven’t really moved much from election day ‘03 in Ontario. And these numbers province-wide are roughly consistent with those achieved by MP Del Mastro federally.

I personally don’t agree with your contention about Nickle though. I don’t really feel he’s any more or less believable that the other two. This, overall, just like the last two elections is a weak field of candidates. To top it all off, the NDP seems to be running the weakest and most poorly funded campaign here; combine that with provide-wide support that has been in slow decline since they neared 30% in polls over the winter, and you have a party that isn’t likely to make much of a gain with only 3½ weeks left until election day.

The Greens, well, they too have seen their numbers level off a bit. But I imagine they’ll make some small gains in Peterborough.

Prediction: Leal 38, Fitzpatrick 35, Nickle 20, Stucky/Others 7

Just a guess however. lol

Ian Urqhart of the Toronto Star seems to be watching Howard Hampton very closely so I think your asserations about the NDP in the area are underrated. This is his second article and he has yet to really write about McGuinty and Tory.

http://www.thestar.com/OntarioElection/article/256579

Last time around I was a election delegate for the liberal party at a Church polling station in the south end. I can tell you I was amazed on how many people voted NDP there. Right where Leal grew up!

In the west end the Leal Campaign had over 25 signs in the immediate area around Sherbrooke to Kawartha Height Blvd. Today they have about 8. Make no doubt they have records of those sign holders and I am sure they have asked him to take signs. I would say that Bruce Fitzpatrick probably has just as many signs. It was the West End and Lakefield that gave Leal that solid push to those numbers last time. This time I don’t see it happenning.

Are you kidding me about Nickle? He is very well respected and known as a man who truly believes in his mission.

The numbers you predict are pretty solid. But with 3 points as you predict between Leal and Fitzpatrick. That’s not a lot of votes to either bring it closer or for Leal to lose.

Again a fairly accurate prediction. But lacking the fine details. The ones that I know make Leal’s Campaign Manager lie awake in bed at night. One wrong mistake by McGuinty and boom! He gets a running nose and Leal gets a cold.

After the first all candidates meeting, I think this is a two way race, between Leal and Nickle. I expected more fireworks from the lawyer but he left with is tail between his legs within an hour. Funny how the newspaper doen’t cover his consistent disappearing act.

Notes from the
First All Candidates Meeting
Sept. 13 Peterborough Public Library
7-9 PM

Up front – I am a Green supporter.
1) Packed house – great to see that many people out. I was worried about apathy, it wasn’t evident.
2) Questions from the audience – generally quite good. Some questioners had spent a lot of time researching background notes for their questions.
3)Dave Nickle NDP spoke quite well,and was forceful. He hammered home the “fat cats” MPPs who voted for the massive pay hike.He handled questions well.He had a lot of supporters in the audience.
4) Jeff Leal’s first response (prepared text to a question issued in advance) was typical Big Lib. party BS. However, to his credit, I thought he handled questions from the audience well. He has a good grasp of issues and the facts.
5) Miriam Stucky did wonderful – this being her very first experience in the political limelight. She perhaps had the biggest audience reaction with the one public education system push.
6)Paul Morgan Family Coalition- neat retired gentleman. Interesting story teller, but not a politician.
7) Bruce Fitzpatrick PC- couldn’t tell anything. He left after 45 minutes – 2 questions only..to attend an event (dinner??) with Tony Clement Tory Federal Health Minister. Interesting set of priorities.

I don’t really understand the appeal of the Green Party. We already know that both the Sierra Club and Greenpeace have said that the NDP platform is the best one for the environment. We also know they aren’t very socially conscious and seem to follow a more centre-right agenda. For the most part and from the platform items I’ve seen, they’re kind of confused and poorly thought out. Do people just not know about the party and think because it says Green its good or is there some other appeal? I just don’t understand what I’m missing.

Paul — I’m of course non-partisan, but your comment strikes me as not particularly very well informed. I wouldn’t say the Greens “aren’t very socially conscious and seem to follow a more centre-right agenda”. Are you, by chance a NDP supporter?

I thought everyone might be interested in what Roy MacGregor
wrote about Peterborough’s politics in the Globe and Mail.

No matter what politics I follow, any group advocating a system that would create higher energy prices which the poorer segments of society couldn’t afford and the wealthier could without any real problems is not socially conscious. I still don’t get the appeal.

Paul,

perhaps you should investigate Green policy more closely. Paying “higher prices”, which really would be the unsubsidized cost of energy, is the only way that we will encourage people AND businesses to reduce their energy consumption. This would not, however, happen without a massive tax shift away from income tax and toward consumption-based taxes. Why should I have to pay income tax to subsidize global warming? I would much rather pay the exact cost of energy and make better choices with my consumer dollars than the current governement is making (46 billion on nuclear in the next 5 years!!!!). As for the prices going up and affecting the poor, Green policy would assist people with low incomes to be able to afford electricity. Now that’s my kind of subsidy!

Policies not thought out? Not socially conscious? I think you’d better take a closer look.

I cannot understand how, without investing in new mass transit systems (which I personally support) which need a tax base to be increased (most likely through increasing taxes and costs of fuels at the same time under this system) how you can create higher gas prices, thus ensuring lower income people who drive to work cannot afford to get there, and call it a progressive social policy. Lets be honest, the rich who drive their gas guzzling mega-hummers will still pay at the pump and be just fine. Its the working poor who drive the smaller vehicles and who may need their cars to get to work that will be hurt. I agree with making better choices, but the better choices have to ensure the people least able to pay are not further hindered or hobbled. While I can see home energy being subsidized easily by comparison (although there is still a lot of room for abuse of the system) for the poor, fossil fuels for vehicles are more difficult. Lets be honest as well, to buy ‘green’ vehicles is still more expensive than regular carbon emitters by a lot, and most people on low income have to buy used cars (not many used hybrids that are inexpensive) to get around. By all accounts maintenance on these vehicles is also expensive, making a heavier burden on the owner so they have to be able to pay. We can say we’ll wave our magic wand and reduce costs, but in the market society we have, the only way that can be done is through tax monies. Subsidies to help by these cars could help, but once again we see the tax shift occurring. There are too many sectors affected meaning too much money being diverted.

I know a major plank is to clean up the environment so there is less reliance on medicine. Fair enough, but how long will that take? A decade? A century? In all honesty, we’re going to need taxes in all their other traditional areas while the ‘clean up’ is occurring. I know you want to remove the subsidies from fuel and that will provide, somehow, the needed revenue. This, however, is also flawed as the money still won’t come back to the public, as the money will only start to replace that which has been gutted by other governments (if we’re lucky). In some cases as well, its a necessity for them to live in one place (due to housing costs or availability) and drive to work or there is no job for them. The woman with the hummer and the 6 figure income doesn’t care a whole lot by comparison. I HAVE read the policies and I still do NOT see how it can be done in such a way that the people who deserve to be the target the most are. I see a growth in tax burden and in energy costs, not gradually but immediately. As well, I see the people who can pay the least still being hurt the most. Its another two tiered system, but now its two tiered energy.

I’m afraid I’m just not convinced.

Peterborough is Jeff Leal territory. He is well respected and Peterborough has benefited from his hard work. Jeff by far is the most experinced of the all the candidates. In addition to his four years as M.P.P. he served 17 years on City Council and was one of the Deputy Mayor for many years. As far as I can tell both Dave Nickle and Bruce Fitzpatrick have never held elected office.

Well it sure seems that this is where all the partisans come to play!! In any event John, you have known Bruce for a long time and know very well how qualified he is for this position as well as what a quality person he is. Jeff Leal is in big trouble and that is because his leader is a liar, and a really bad one at that. The telling poll at this point in the election which is who do you feel would make the best premier has John Tory well ahead of Dalton McGuinty. Expect that gap to grow after the debate on thursday. Locally, Jeff took a beating in the first debate and it is likely going to get worse for him during the upcoming debates. Does Jeff Leal every say anything substantive? Does anyone believe anything Dalton McGuinty says? The answer to both questions is no. There are at least three candidates that would be better representatives than Leal running in this election, but make no mistake about it Fitzpatrick is going to win.

A number of people in Ontario have said that, because of the Green Party’s stand on wanting a single public system, that they will support the Greens over the NDP on October 10.

The NDP respect those who make their voting decision based on issues of principle…. Except that the Greens don’t actually support a single school system, despite what they are saying now. They support a single board composed of representatives elected to represent all faiths, and schools for every one of those faiths operating within that baord. In many ways, this policy is actually worse than that of the Conservatives.

They quickly pulled their May 2006 policy statement off their site earlier this week after they found out that it had been spotted, but they can’t hide it from magic of Google cache.

Here is the location of the original policy statement
http://gpo.greenparty.ca/release/2006-5 (now taken off their website). You can read it by clicking here: http://tinyurl.com/2etfbn .

Here’s the interesting part:

“Confederated School Boards will allow for different types of schools in each jurisdiction. Trustees representing various religious and secular groups will be part of one unified public body responsible for ensuring that the diverse types of schools follow a core curriculum that reflects Ontario’s values and uses accredited teachers.”

“Local boards of education would be required to offer a choice of schooling options dependent on the needs of their communities and the wishes of parents. Schooling options would range from those currently offered to religious schools, home schooling, and alternative models such as Montessori and Waldorf. Each board would ensure schools maintain high educational
standards, reflect Canadian values, and offer the diversity of learning opportunities needed by our modern society.”

They’re hiding their policy… just like the Harper Conservatives hide their social policies.

I wonder how Tory is going to stick handle around the Runciman and Cunningham comments about faith based school funding?

The faith-based education system is overinflated in terms of the damage that it can do to the PC effort throughout the entire province and Peterborough. If the PCs can make the issue Dalton McGuinty’s many broken promises and continue to pound it in and hammer on it then the results will tell as liberal party faithfuls will suppress their votes in supporting their leader. Dalton McGuinty and other high-profile Liberal incumbents seem to be here visiting a lot and it’s doubtful it’s just for the tea and crumpets. The thing is that that Bruce Fitzpatrick’s team seem to be very skilled at waging their campaign. It’s definitely going to be close and the Liberals will have a bash at faith-based schools but if the PCs can stay on the message about McGuinty’s promises and incompetent Government then the PCs will win the day. I think that I’ll put my money on Fitzpatrick because his Campaign Team seems to be very good and energetic. It’s more likely they’ll find a way to pull it off.

Kristen,

Your wrong about raising hydro prices and how it will force people to reduce their consumption.

People will do it because of education and becuase they care. Not just to save a few bucks in their pockets. Besides if you raise prices to generate a certain behaviour don’t you also lose the “incentive” when they consume less but still pay more?

We live in Canada its an extremely harsh place. Maybe 100 days of the year you can comfortably sleep outside. Maybe 100! The poor would be the ones that suffer the most with your theory.

Just so you know I added insulation to my house and cut my bill by 7% even though last year it was 20 degreees on average colder. I spent the extra money and where possible all my appliances are energy star. That’s just a few things.

All I see here is people saying how the ‘other guy’ is crap. It’s politics as usual. Most people pay no attention to politicians and all of you partisan hacks just make the whole thing look mindless and shallow. All of you act like you represent some huge group of like minded people but you don’t. You represent yourself and a few of your friends. How sad. No wonder most people hate politics.

I see that the NDP is, as usual, pretending they are about ‘the poor’ on this site as well as others. I suppose that we just can’t have the Green carbon tax plan because ‘the poor’ won’t be able to afford it. Even though the Greens say they will provide a subsidy for those who can’t afford the very necessary carbon tax, the NDP will have none of it because it will affect ‘the poor’. Are the economically disadvantaged in our society somehow not a part of society and not subject to the sacrifices we all have to make? The NDP will pretend to protect ‘the poor’ but all their really doing is protecvting their own band of left-wing fruit-cake politicians. They see the Greens stealing their thunder and they feign moral righteousness. The Greens are the freshest thing to happen on the political scene in a long time because they serve everybody but are beholden to no one.

Based on PC Fundraising abilities, Peterborough will be electing a PC MPP. The Liberals are lucky their Federal leader Stephane Dion is incompetent, the Ontario Liberals now have money available to them when once that money would have been used by the Federal Liberals on campaigning. The Federal Tories are awashed with money and Fitzpatrick has an extensive history of fundraising for the Peterborough community. He has made available money for various charities in Peterborough and his campaign will have the benefit of making use of him giving to the community when they ask residents of Peterborough for money, not to mention the know-how in fundraising. The PCs campaigning reflects the financial flexibility they have. The Liberals will have to be creative because they’re limping with the odds they face against the Tories. The Peterborough Liberals will be able to retain Peterborough if they’re not as incompetent as their counterparts in Queen’s Park and Ottawa. The PCs will probably win, they have the ball, they have the money, they have the talent, all they have to do is grab what’s right infront of them, and grabbing what’s infront requires work.

Marilyn..First off I’ll concede I have voted NDP in the past but I see several failings in your thesis. I think the impoverished in this community have sacrificed enough quite frankly and see no need for them to do so anymore. But then you speak out of the other side of your mouth and say they should be given a break. Either they have to live up to their end or don’t? What’s its going to be? You also seem to have no respect for the people they have voted for in the past and thus any respect for a party that has done them a lot of good. Can you say, “Universal Health Care?” I’m not poor not by any economic yard stick. I support the Unions they have done a lot of good for my children and the environment! If it wasn’t be union wages I wouldn’t have been able to afford to do all the environmental upgrades to my house! That is the reason they will likely get my vote! Not that I haven’t strongly considered voting Green. I consider myself quite the tree hugger. I just don’t think your idea of carbon taxes is a good one. If its up to people in the Green Party we would all be living in CO-OPs, wearing fleece and eating rice and beans. No thanks!

If there such a threat to the NDP why is it that they don’t have a single seat under the current model. Are you trying to tell me your leader can’t even muster “1″seat out of a 107? Are you trying to tell me your policies can’t even garner 40% of the vote in “1″ riding? Hardly a party that reflects anyone’s views let alone the poor.

Finally, its the NDP that is really leading the fight for MMP which is the only system that will make your party relevant?

This race is between the PCs and the Liberals. It’s going to be quite the election and bitter it is likely to be. Peterborough is a swing riding highly prized by the Liberals and the PCs. If the Liberals lose this riding it will be a painful blow to the Liberals. The consequence of the PCs not being able to take Peterborough might be as severe as losing the election and with it the chance to form a Government. If the PCs can knock on more doors than the Liberals, it is likely that the PCs will win. So far, I think the PCs have knocked on more doors than any other party since they have been door-knocking since June. If they keep it up as I think they will, it’s their election in the bag.

I was lucky enough to get to see John Tory at the John Tory BBQ on Saturday and I didn’t think Dalton McGuinty or Howard Hampton stood a chance. John Tory has the best leadership skills and oratory out of the three and there was something he said that impressed me greatly. He said that “There was no point in Dalton McGuinty making more Holidays because it does farmers no good. Cows need to be fed and watered even during Holidays, Dalton McGuinty clearly didn’t understand rural Ontario.” He was right, it was like a revelation Farmers have a different way of life and Dalton McGuinty trying to create another Holiday does them no good. Clearly, John Tory is the best Premier for Ontario. The PCs will win, they know what they’re doing, the others just don’t.

Under the courageous leadership of Miriam Stucky, the Greens in Peterborough have been gaining an unbelievable amount of momentum. The PC’s candidate has no fire in him as made evident by the event and mocked by everyone afterwards, Jeff Leal was bashed for the Liberal’s broken promises and for the MPP income increase that he voted for months ago, he seems nothing more than a joke now and everyone sees through David Nickle and their pretensions of standing up for the poor. The Greens really have nothing to worry about the PCs because those rednecks will never vote their way anyway but the real prize and opportunity comes from the voters that vote Liberal and NDP. If the Greens can mount an offensive against the Liberals and the NDP they can incrementally erode a significant portion of Liberal votes and NDP votes into the Greens. With only 3 weeks to go, the Greens may yet finish second by mounting an attack on the NDP and the Liberals, this will allow them to mount a serious challenge against the Liberals in the next election . The only winning strategy for the Greens at the moment is to seek to erode the Liberal votes and NDP votes into voting Miriam Stucky. If they can pull this off, they might have Miriam Stucky a potential Peterborough MPP in the next provincial election.

Oddly enough, I’m not overly concerned that we’ll be seeing Miriam Stucky as an MPP. A ten point deficit is hard enough to beat in three weeks, let alone a thirty-four point one. That’s what Stucky is currently up against. For people who claim to not be “blind partisan followers” you sure seem to be behaving more like ones than any NDP, PC, or Liberal supporter on here. Wow… unreal.

I’m a World War 2 veteran. Why doesn’t someone talk about V.A. benefits? they’re way too small and my wife won’t be able to survive on them after I’m gone. And what about the environment? I used to be able to swim in the Otonabee whenever I wanted and I never had to worry about getting sick. You young peole are spoiling the world. I don’t much like how rude some of the things being said here are but I am going to be voting for the Green Party candidate becasue I think something has to be done about our future and all of the Fiberals and CONservatives are just plain dishonest. And forget the NDP. they always whine and never have anything good to suggest. Green gets my vote and my wifes vote too. Anyway, please be nice to each other.

First off I am not the Bill who was so negative on 09/17/07. I had a posting last week about the new hospital. Jeff Leal has been a fine representative he has worked hard on improving healthcare in Peterborough with many funding announcements over the last four years the crown jewel being his securing of the new hospital. He has worked hard for the farmers of the riding.
Jeff by far has the most experience of all the candidates. In addition to his four years as M.P.P. he served on Peterborough City Council for 17 years. As far I can tell neither of any of the other candidates have served in public office before

Currently, the PCs are being roasted by faith-based education. However, they should realize and help inform people that John Tory will not be making it mandatory to fund every faith-based academic institution. The constitution stipulates that in order for an academic institution to acquire funding the institution must first be approved for certain standards. An academic institution funded by the Government is regulated on the minimal basics of what the institution is teaching. Currently, although the constitution stipulates to allow private schools to exist nowhere does it stipulate to which standards private schools must comply. Private schools basically can teach whatever they want to teach. They can teach that the holocaust never happened and they could get away with it. When these private institutions which will be the case for faith-based schools start receiving funding they will be extensively regulated on the content of the curriculum and what they can teach by the Government. Thereby, it is in fact in the interest of Ontario itself to open funding for faith-based schools because it gives Ontario the ability to have a say in what children in those institutions should learn. It fixes a problem that has existed since we became self-governing. Furthermore, faith-based funding will not absorb a lot of taxpayers dollars. There are many regulations and standards that academic institutions need to me measure up to. That’s a lot of red-tape and it is doubtful whether many faith-based schools can maintain those standards let alone get the stamp of approval in the first place. If the PCs can help the soft-PC supporters understand this then the PCs will enter E-Day with a strong PC support base.

Miriam has a lot of courage and speaks well, this local election campaign is better because of her efforts.

Dave Nickle, is not running in this election for his own benefit and doesn’t deserve your ire either. Dave has a good job and has no selfesh reasons for running in this election. He and I don’t agree on many issues but the man has passion and really believes in his message and his party. I don’t think he would lie about anything, he just may not be right about everything.

This election is about Dalton McGuinty and his long list of lies versus John Tory. If Tory demonstrates the clear separation of abilities and leadership that exists between he and McGuinty then Fitzpatrick, the most qualified candidate running will win Peterborough. If McGuinty somehow manages to escape Thursday’s debate in tact, and its going to be difficult, then Jeff Leal’s job of winning the riding will be easier.

The Peterborough riding is going to be close no matter who wins. I think Fitzpatrick will win based on strong rural/small town support as well as a good showing in the city. The electorate is volatile so the most telling poll is the leadership question. In that poll John Tory has consistently led McGuinty for more than 2 years. The lights will be on the leaders on Thursday and I am certain that Tory will shine.

I was at the The Warsaw Fair over the weekend. Great fun and wonderful people. My wife bought lots of preserves. John Tory arrived. The advance group were way to obvious. If I were Tory’s advance guys I would have left there thinking oooops! His arrival just didn’t have any ’spark’. No one seemed to pay any attention. I was watching the people who seemed not to be watching him. I think the Conservative campaign has many of the signs of a bad case of a pitch and roll and that is tough to shake.

I think these Liberals need to be more respectful. The Greens should teach them a lesson and take them down a knotch. Maybe, after they get put to their place they will learn some respect. The Greens should emphasize the dishonesty and disrespectfulness of the Liberals for the remainder of the election. The Tories are no threat to the Greens, they’re not even charismatic. The Greens can totally take Peterorough from the Liberals. The Greens can take the Liberal votes by emphasizing the need to protect the environment, something the Liberals promised to do but never did. The Greens can take those disillusioned votes away from the Liberals, all it takes is a bit of daring and teaching those Liberals some manners. Go Greens!

If people have comments it should be understood that it is independent of any political party. To my knowledge no one here is an official spokeperson for any political party. If they are they should declare themselves so immediately. If someone has official party spokeperson status they should declare it now. This should remain a forum for thoughful political reflection and a reasonable exchange of ideas. The discussions here should be based on merit, informed discussion and a polite exchange of ideas.

Marilyn, I am reasonably confident that some of the PC’s are changing trains to the Greens over a number of issues. Its going to be a fascinating election with the grandest of political dances.

I agree, John. the faith-based education didn’t quite roll out like John Tory wanted and I know that the Greens are drawing some PC votes because of their one-school system platform. If the Greens continue this growth, it will put them at about 17% by election day, enough to grab a few seats. Momentum has a way of running away on everyone.

It much more than faith based scool funding. Its about a kind of dissatisfaction with what was in the PC Party as opposed to what it now is.

Note: We have moderated this discussion due to legal action against DemocraticSPACE. We hope that everyone will try to keep their comments civil and respectful going forward.

Notes on second all candidates meeting tonight Lion’s Club (hosted by Peterborough Realtors & Homebuilders).

up front – I am a Green supporter.
1) Good crowd – a lot of general citizens, I expected domination by construction people and real estate professionals..not the case.
2) Process for the debate – well done.
3) Negative – the Leal and Nickle exchanges. Nickle is rampant/rabid on the attack of the Liberals. Leal spits out Howard Hampton’s name. Fortunately, the exchanges don’t get personal.
4) Paul Morgan – Family Coalition – lots of little stories and light jokes. I have very little idea as to what his party stands for.
5) Fitzpatrick – looked bored at being there. Answers were short, and not at all informative. I am not sure he has any “social conscious” at all.He is definitley right wing Conservative.
6) Nickle – I have no idea how the NDP is going to pay for all its promises – the uploads of the downloads, etc. Started the evening with a “stunt” that didn’t go well.
7) Stucky – well done for a rookie. She is a bright lady, and that shines through. She did a good job of getting the importance of local decision-making, local buying, local accountability and responsibility.
8) Leal – kudos to him for his honesty and openness about the soul searching he did,during the time in 2003 onthe McGuinty “about face” on promising no new taxes and then implementing the Health tax.

I was suprised at Nickle’s comments on the pay salary increase for the MPP’s. Provincial members still make about $40,000 less thean their federal cousins. MPP’s work just as hard federal members and maybe more. Federal members make approximately $144,000.00 per year but no one seems to remember that or care.

If faith based schools truly becomes the ballot box issue, then I am taking a serious look at the Green Party. There are now three alternatives to funding Ontario schools in this election: faith based funding, the status quo, and the abolition of religious funding. The idea of collapsing the multi-school board system that we currently have into one would be the biggest cost saving venture the Ontario Government ever adopted.

People forget that there is the English Public, English Catholic, French Public, and French Catholic school boards all overlapping across Ontario. I am really surprised that the Progressive Conservatives never considered this “fat” trimming for the overtaxed citizen in any election platform.

Who knew that the Green Party would be more fiscally conservative than the PC’s?

We need to be careful when it comes to education and health care. The conservatives are spiralling out of control on these issues. Who is advising John Tory? How can the local conservative voters support this stuff? I voted for the provincial PC’s in the last provincial election. I am voting Liberal this time.

I wasn’t overly thrilled when I picked up the Globe and Mail this morning and saw that John Tory was advocating for private medicine to used instead of expanding the public system. The guy is definitely turing the fire hose on himself now with this issue as well.

I predict this will help the Liberals more than any other party. People will become very concerned about the state of our universal health care system and transfer our votes out of the Green and NDP Parties to the Liberals.

But consider yourself warned. Jeff Leal and the McGuinty government in their first year of government tried to cut the local hospital budget by 100 jobs and $6 million. That was simply to transfer those jobs to “private” long term care.

Somehow they seemed to find a lot of money to give to Cricket and Caledonia though!

So Leal/McGuinty have a proven track record of shifting gears on you once their elected! Jeff Leal has done a lot of good things. But, when it comes to the Liberals I believe it only when I see it!

Once again we see the Liberal plan in action. I can report that the atmosphere in Warsaw was electric when John Tory arrived, however no such excitement has surrounded any of the multitude of Liberal elites that have parachuted into Peterborough.

Greg, It was a bust, end, finish through!

McGuinty wins debate!

http://www.torontosun.com/Comment/Commentary/2007/09/21/4513949.html

Every news agency is saying a different party won and that every party is claiming victory so I’m not sure I believe any of them.

It was quite the debate where John Tory emerged as the best performer. Dalton McGuinty was not only outmatched, he had the misfortune of having Howard Hampton bite him too.

“Between (Tory) and McGuinty, he looked more premier-like.” Adam Radwanski, Globe and Mail.

“The Verdict: Advantage Tory.” Dan Cook, Globe and Mail.

“Tory lands a good one complaining about split grades.” John Moore, CFRB

“People are going to talk about Mr. Tory’s performance as somebody who did well tonight in this debate.” John Wright, CP24. On CFRB, he added, “If you hadn’t seen John Tory before, you saw someone who was very confident and competent. …He looked more Premier like.”

“John Tory crushed Dalton McGuinty on crime.” Toronto Sun / Canoe.ca

“John Tory performed really well and Dalton didn’t perform as well.” Bill Carroll, CFRB

“I can tell you that I thought John Tory did extremely well. He was the most comfortable, he got in a few zingers. I thought he was very good.” Susan Eng on TVO

If the PCs can pick up the momentum from the Ontario Leaders Debate they will be able to enter October 10 to become the winner.

I reiterate my previous statement. I can find quotations and ‘proofs’ in all media sources that support the view that every leader won. Of course, when reading such accounts we have to ask questions about writer bias, organizational bias, and media bias in general. So, you’re best off watching the debate and deciding for yourself on an individual basis as to who won. Don’t take the word of others, think for yourselves.

McGuinty gets his *ss handed to him:
http://www.eyeweekly.com/daily/?p=935

Mixed Member Proportional system
I am voting YES
I know most Green and NDP supporters are doing the same.
I urge Liberals and PCs to do the same.
We need Parliaments where the leading Party (the government) if it has less than 50% of the popular vote, needs to work collaboratively with the other parties. Minority governments work.

I am not voting Liberal, but I like Jeff Leal’s proposals for government reform including a modified MMP system.

Ardoch First Nations
I admire the Green and NDP open support for the Ardoch First Nations versus the uranium mine company.
1) The Mining Act needs to be overhauled. It is one of the most antiquated pieces of legislation on the books. Mining companies/prospectors can stake their claims for what is under your property.
2) When asked about their position on the Ardoch/Sharbot Lake situation – Stucky and Nickle openly expressed support for the local citizens of the region including the Ardoch First Nation who are opposing the future Uranium mine. . Leal waffled -we need to negotiate (state your opinion man!)….and Fitzpatrick – SHAME!!!!”It’s not in our riding, so I will not comment.” SHAME.

Cogeco Debate:

If there was a winner it was Jeff Leal’s Campaign Manager. Jeff Leal was very well spoken and was very focused on the issues. He also was able to articulate the finer details of each issue. Again showing he was well prepped for this event. Knowing Leal’s Campaign Manager that is his handily work. But, Leal is still haunted by the concept of whether you really believe him or if he is just a good actor.

Bruce Fitzpatrick….spoke very well, looked very smart but passed up opportunity after opportunity to catch Leal on the finer points of his broken promises. Instead he focused only on the big picture. This allowed Leal to easily deflect his comments. Plus his position although somewhat correct on the Feb holiday could have been portrayed by many as a bit mean. However, his crime and economy piece really showed his credibility.

Dave Nickle…truly was Leal’s counter and delivered a very good performance. With several elections under his belt his experience came out. He was able to catch Leal on the finer points and held his position well. However, Nickle has a very strong face and voice and it appeared muted behind his crooked glasses. When he took them off he came across as more youthful and stronger.

Miriam Stucky…I think she looked like she just stepped out of University frat party. But she did a really good job of telling the audience her parties planks.

Paul Morgan…did a good job considering he doesn’t have much to go on.

I think this is just a critical article in the Peterborough Examiner to read. Make your own decision on it.

PRHC ER doctor presses Leal on why there isn’t a ramp-up plan for the new hospital
Posted By By ANDREA HOUSTON/Examiner Staff Writer
Posted 12 hours ago | Updated 10 hours ago
DOURO — Local health care issues and the lack of services were front and centre at an all-candidates meeting at the Douro Arena Monday night.

The meeting was hosted by the Lakefield Primary Health Care Centre fundraising campaign.

With still around 6,000 residents without a family doctor, vice-chairman of the fundraising campaign Ross Bletsoe said the meeting’s purpose was to discuss health care — not just in Ontario — but also issues specific to Douro Dummer and Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield.

Around 80 people attended the meeting — including MP Dean Del Mastro and the city and county’s doctor recruiter John MacDonald — to hear the heated debate.

“Fiscal responsibility and leadership has not been easy and in doing so (the Liberals) have paid a political price,” said MPP Jeff Leal during his opening remarks, referring to criticism of the health tax introduced by the Liberal government.

“But I do think the right decision was made.”

A question by Dr. Dan Houpt, Peterborough Regional Health Centre emergency room doctor, sparked an attack on Leal and his government’s health care funding record.

“We toil in appalling conditions,” Houpt said. “There are people dying in the halls. I need to know when this idiocy will stop. You will be dying on the floor waiting for a nurse that is burned out.”

Houpt demanded Leal explain why PRHC has not seen the ramp-up plan before the new hospital opens.

The “ramp-up” plan was designed to help the organization to move from current patient volumes toward the volumes that will be achieved in the new facility.

“Did that answer your question Dr. Houpt?” asked Green party candidate, Miriam Stucky, after Leal failed to give a straight answer. Houpt shook his head to indicate no.

I wonder if Bruce Fitzpatrick is now wearing his “faith based educational support” Flip-Flops???????????

Don Newman interviewed a Peterborough newspaper editor on his show today about this riding’s history as a bellwether. The prediction was that this riding will stay Liberal.

Both Peterborough newspapers have shown notable bias recently. They can say whatever they want, I’ll still vote the way I want to, but I know not everyone will. I believe that it is irresponsible for newspapers to predict winners or to endorse candidates. It erodes democracy. They should stay unbiased and not make predictions on any electoral item. Report the news, don’t make it.

I was talking to several Liberal Insiders during this election and there is one thing for sure. They never saw that result coming! Most of them were in the 2000 -5000 range. Most thought 5000 being on the very high end. So I don’t think any of them thought they would win that big. But, in fairness we shouldn’t be too surprised. Jeff Leal ran a solid campaign and by far and away out spoke Conservative Bruce Fitzpatrick time and time again. He answered all the questions in the debates well. But, he got away with a tremendous amount because of the Faith based school debate. He even got away with the whole “Ramp Up” debate at the Hospital which in any other election likely would have sunk him. He actually never increased his vote from the last election 47.44% of the vote according to Examiner is exactly what he got last time around. But the reality is with such a large lead he destroyed his political enemies. Currently there is no party in this riding that can mount a Candidate that can defeat him. So he has done tremendously well. I suspect he will run again and will be shooting for that 50% of the vote.

Bruce Fitzpatrick: Very short..disaster! I don’t think there isn’t an area both locally or provincially that the Conservatives didn’t screw up. It had to be the worst campaign I have ever seen. The numbers speak for themselves they were down 6000 votes from last time and down almost 10% in popularity. Where the knife really goes in is that most Conservative voters appeared to have stayed at home. I saw a editorial cartoon in the National Post that showed the 3 lead Candidates. In the centre was Dalton McGuinty with his hands up saying, “Thank you Jesus”. I personally thought that summed up a huge Liberal win. But the Conservatives failed not only on Faith Based schools but also there whole concept of using private health care. They were out of touch with the person on the street. There was more than one reason they were destroyed in this election.

Dave Nickle: Ran a solid campaign. Was Leal’s real counter in this election. In my opinion was the person the local Liberals were worried about the most. He is still very credible he received the exact same percentage of votes last time as he did this time. So the NDP is still a strong player in this area. But, the fact that he didn’t increase the vote and after 3 kicks at the can means it might be his last. But, he will leave the next person a credible party in which to run in.

Miriam Stucky: Let’s face it the Green vote went up huge! But, Tim Holland last time around was not exactly the strongest candidate. When compared to stronger candidates like Brent Wood she really only edged the vote up by 1000 votes. To me Stucky was not a credible candidate just because she always looked like she just walked out of a Frat House. But, when she spoke she did a really good job of delivering her parties planks. I think that resonated with a lot of voters. I think she has a future. But, I don’t think the Green vote is solid. I think Stucky benefited from a number of factors: 1) She was the only women candidate and thus probably picked up some votes there. 2) I can’t tell you the number of people that told me the Greens were the “None of the above” vote. The fact that their percentage was so high and they never won any seats only reinforces that. 3) As I have always said when people really look at their platform the left of centre voter is not moved. Where they really picked up is with the Conservatives. Because if you really look at their platform (as vague as it is) their Conservatives! But, in fairness there a party on the up. I personally I think they will do good things. I hope one day, just as a person who is environmentally conscious myself, they replace the Conservatives. As the next generation comes of age that might very well happen. Stucky should be credited for laying solid ground work either for herself or the next contender.

Arthur writes: ‘He actually never increased his vote from the last election 47.44% of the vote according to Examiner is exactly what he got last time around.’

The fact is Leal did increase his percentage cast ballot support from ‘03 ( 44.74%) to ‘07 (47.8%)

Furthur, there was a greater Peterborough Riding voter turnout this time by percentage as compared to ‘03.

The riding turnout percentage this time was 59.2%