How Guelph candidates plan to address health care, tariff threats and housing the homeless
Ontario voters head to the polls Feb. 27
Health care, tariff threats and housing the homeless were among the top issues addressed by Guelph candidates as part of a panel discussion on CBC Kitchener-Waterloo's The Morning Edition on Tuesday.
Three candidates from major parties joined host Craig Norris for the panel discussion. CBC K-W invited the candidates from the four parties with MPPs currently sitting at Queen's Park.
There are eight candidates in Guelph:
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Robert Coole, Progressive Conservatives.
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Carina Fraser, New Blue Party.
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Mike Schreiner, Green (incumbent).
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Cameron Spence, NDP.
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Mustafa Zuberi, Liberal.
Three candidates — Schreiner, Spence, and Zuberi — attended the panel. Coole did not respond to the invitation to participate.
LISTEN | Guelph candidates on how they would address access to health care:
Health care
Access to family doctors and long emergency room wait times were among some of the concerns Guelph voters put down in CBC K-W's voter survey. Candidates were asked what they believe needs to be done to improve health care access in Guelph.
Spence said under funding has led to a lack of PSWs and ambulances at Guelph General Hospital and a reliance on private nursing organizations.
"They're costing us $100 to $160 per hour. We need to have a proper nursing ratio for care," he said.
Spence said his government would increase funding for hospitals, which in turn would save money.
"Turns out when people get care quickly it costs less money because they're getting care when they're not as ill and it's not so intensive for treatment," he said.
Spence also said he would advocate for a second hospital in the city.
Zuberi said his government would look to renovate the existing hospital, but said he too would advocate for a second one.
He said that a top health-care priority of his would be to see better working conditions and pay for doctors and nurses.
"We will make sure that it's an ideal career for them to work at and not a restrained and overburdened career," he said.
He said his party leader, Bonnie Crombie, has committed to starting two new medical schools in Ontario. Zuberi said he would advocate for the University of Guelph to be a potential destination for one of those medical programs.
He said it would "not only just help us in the short term for addressing the health-care needs, but also keep the talent that we have with the University of Guelph."
Schreiner focused on health-care staffing issues in the hospital, long-term care homes and mental health services, calling for better wages and working conditions.
He said "Guelph desperately needs a new hospital," as a result of population growth. He said the current location is built for a city of 70,000 people and Guelph's population is double that.
Schreiner referenced his role in getting approval for phase one of the new hospital and his role in securing funding for the expansion of Guelph General Hospital, but said the job isn't done yet.
He called for an increase to long-term care homes in Guelph, saying his government has secured funding for 195 more beds in that field.
He said his government would also work to extend mental health care coverage under OHIP, "ensuring that we have accessible, affordable mental health care for people in our communities."
Economy and tariff concerns
Guelph voters raised concerns about the economy and any impact U.S.-imposed tariffs might have on local businesses. Candidates were asked what role they see themselves playing, if elected, in combating tariffs and bolstering the economy.
Zuberi said he wants to see a team Canada approach.
To him, that means removing interprovincial trade barriers and working with the federal government to seek out international trade partners aside from the U.S.
"That's one of the ways that we can bolster our economy and see free trade amongst our provinces," he said.
Zuberi said new international trade partners would help businesses, like Linamar, diversify their business and help them to stop relying on American parts, all while ensuring job stability in Guelph.
He also said his government would incentivize small businesses by lowering interest rates and providing tax incentives to farmers so they continue to grow locally and people can buy Canadian products.
Schreiner said that Ontario needs "strength through unity," to push back on proposed tariffs.
He said his government would introduce an investment tax credit to help reignite investment in the city, which he said would help create jobs in the face of the trade threats.
Schreiner said his government would remove interprovincial trade barriers and "aggressively" diversify international trade partners, too.
He said they would also introduce a "buy-local public procurement program" to support Ontario businesses. In addition, Schreiner said he would raise the employer health tax exemption.
He said that would "lower payroll taxes on small businesses so they can hire more people [and] pay them higher wages to address the ripple effects that we're already seeing."
Spence said if he were elected he would focus on workers, saying policy needs to prioritize stable jobs rather than corporate subsidies.
To him, that means properly funding education, child care, health care and housing.
"We need workers who can afford to live. We need workers who have a home and who can afford that home," he said.
Spence said his government would use investments that might have been heading toward large corporations on full-time jobs for residents of Guelph.
Housing and homelessness
Guelph has struggled with how to handle homeless encampments in the past. With the crisis growing, candidates were asked what they believe needs to happen in Guelph to ensure everyone has a place to call home.
Schreiner said the housing crisis is the number one issue he hears about when he speaks with voters.
He said his government would invest in permanent, supportive housing with wrap around mental health and addiction supports.
"Guelph has been one of the most successful in securing that funding over the last couple of years. But we need way more in Guelph and across our entire region," he said
He said the government has been under investing in housing for 30 years, adding that his government would get back into building deeply affordable non-profit and co-op housing.
Spence said his party sees housing as a human right.
He said providing a house for someone experiencing homelessness is cheaper than allowing them to live on the street.
"If someone suffering from a mental health condition or an addiction, they need to feel safe first," he said. "Once they feel safe in their own home, then they can get the help that they need."
He said having steady mental health care and his party's plan of doubling OWSP and ODSP rates will also help people transition back into the workforce.
Zubari said the first thing his government would do is focus on mental health care, which under the Liberal's plan will be covered by OHIP.
He said the second thing he would do is bring back rent control and solve the backlogs at the Landlord and Tenant Board.
When it comes to building affordable new homes, Zubari said his party plans to cut development charges for houses under 3,000 sq. ft., as well as cutting the provincial land transfer tax.
"These aren't small numbers and if we have this collective approach together, we will see massive reduction in housing costs and rental costs across the board," said Zubari.
Candidate from non-major party
While only candidates running for parties with seats at the Ontario Legislature were invited to participate in the candidate panel, Guelph also has a candidate from a non-major party: Carina Fraser of the New Blue Party of Ontario.
CBC News reached out to Fraser to ask about her priorities for the Guelph riding, but did not receive a response.
Voting
Early voting polls have ended and Guelph saw 8,503 residents, or about 7.4 per cent of all registered voters, drop off their ballots.
People can vote at the Guelph election office located at 292 Speedvale Ave. W., Guelph on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Election day is Thursday, Feb. 27.
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