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4 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday September 6, 2003 `/ h 'f o r it m 6 % w .v /V O o / lt c f io / M jften/ton t/m ac/am/rec&w / 0 % o f f *your entirejtwrc/tase(iiistom Qjesian W e a r fF o r : Candidates pleased election finally called Flynn says that, contrary to what Premier Eves says about the province OAKVILLE BEAVER not being able to afford the Liberals, After months of waging unofficial his party has in fact costed out their campaigns, all three candidates in the V O platform, had it independently ana riding of Oakville are happy the gen lyzed and will balance the budget uine 28-day race is now underway. while "dealing with the fiscal realities" Poet and retired lawyer Anwar of today. Naqvi, who is running for the NDP, "It's the plan that Ontario needs said he's actually feeling relaxed and now," he said. is certain that his party's message will Franklin believes that Ontario resonate within the riding. needs more of the kind of leadership "We are very confident and we are shown by Eves during the recent ready. If the people give us a mandate blackout so now is not the time to they will not find us lacking," said change horses in mid-stream. Naqvi. "We want to turn the direction "Now we have to follow through." of the government toward the peo he said. ple." Preferring to see the massive The Liberals' Kevin Flynn said power outage in a positive light, he's "extremely happy" that the cam Franklin said it crystallized in the pub paign is out of the closet, especially lic's mind the need for long-term plan since he was selected as a candidate ning, something he will push for if 18 months ago - one of the first his elected. He also said people are finally party chose to run in this election. clueing in about conservation and the "It's been a long time coming," he truth about paying realistic rates for said. electricity. Progressive Conservative candi "They realize the present course is date Kurt Franklin said he's also been not sustainable," he said. knocking on doors since he was given Unlike Franklin, Flynn says resi the local riding association's nod. A n w a r N a gvt dents he's spoken to want Eves gone. "I've been off and running for "The attitude out there is ripe for three months. It's the only way you change," he said. find out what's on people's minds," On the money side, Naqvi also said Franklin, who explained that it's maintains that the NDP - whose only now "great to have a date to work new tax will be a small "education toward." excellence tax" on high income earn His opponents, too. have already ers - will balance the budget while at been knocking on doors, passing out the same time spending more on social literature and hearing what the elec issues. torate's thinking. "Our intention is to make people's Naqvi said he's buzzed thousands lives better." he said. of doorbells and distributed copies of If elected, Naqvi said his first prior leader Howard Hampton's ity will be to help seniors out of the "Publicpowen Practical Solutions for "insecure position" in which many Ontario." The feedback received, he find themselves financially, in part by said, has only cemented his confi increasing pensions indexed to infla dence that the NDP platform is on the tion. right track. Naqvi said the NDP will also drop Flynn said the time between his post-secondary tuition by 10 per cent, selection and this week's election call a move that will allow more students to has been well spent preparing and attend colleges and universities there exposing voters to the Liberal plat by making up the financial shortfall. form. Naqvi's other priorities include the tan "We need a change," said Flynn, gle of related issues that encompass whose party is calling for fixed term everything from inadequate transporta limits to provide a level of certainty tion systems and gridlock to air quali and avoid the election games govern ty. He is likewise deeply concerned ment's play to their advantage. about poverty, healthcare and the lack For example, Flynn said he rented of a labour voice on the proposed task a campaign office earlier this year in force planning lands north of Dundas anticipation of a spring election that Street. never materialized. As for Flynn, his priorities focus on "It's not fair to run a democratic K u rt F ra n klin hydro pricing, power production system that way," he said. expansion and improving the "neglected" grid; stabi Franklin admitted that, as a representative of the lizing the education system by working with educators incumbent party, he's taken some heat at the door, as equal partners; balancing the budget and digging such as the current state of education in Ontario. By the province out of its $2-billion deficit; working taking the time to explain standardized testing, teacher toward preserving more undeveloped open space in accountability measures and other information, for the north. example, he said voters are coming around. Franklin's priorities include improvements to "People are reacting very often on perceptions, not transportation in order to keep people and products facts," he said. flowing smoothly through the GTA, Canada's eco As for the NDP's record of management, Naqvi nomic engine. Now that land has been found in the maintains that in 1990 the Bob Rae government was north for a new hospital site, Franklin also said he'll ill-prepared to lead. Now with the more pragmatic push for the necessary funding to make this a reality. Hampton at the helm - and no recession - he said his Naqvi's campaign headquarters is located at the party has changed. Galaxy Club, 475 North Service Rd. East. Call 905"Now we are really ready to take over the govern 464-9218. ment," said Naqvi, who added that today the NDP Flynn's campaign office can be found at 490 mindset is worlds apart from the opposing parties. Speers Rd. Unit #2. Call 905-845-7676. "We care about people and how to make their lives Franklin's campaign headquarters is at 462 better." Trafalgar Rd. (at Cornwall). Call 905-815-8789. BY HOW ARD MOZEL Ontari · Flower Girls · Christenings · Baptisms · First Communions · Victorian Style Dresses · Formal Wear for all ages (1-18 years old) · Accessories *le/lior Citizen {discount ` Cannot be combined with any other offer Hopedale Mall (905) 465-2909 Oakville Hianks Oakville forvoting us Best Learning Centre Our individualized learning program will help y o u r child learn to think, focus, and rediscover motivation at school. Improve Her Grades and Her Confidence. N Come and see what we're all about! It's f u n ! It's cre a tiv e ! It w o r k s ! 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