Hard choice

Todd Smith has been a strong representative for Prince Edward County. He has stood and argued tirelessly in the Ontario Legislature for sensible energy policies in this province and against the scourge of industrial wind turbines and massive solar farms that blight rural Ontario, in order to ease urban guilt.

Todd Smith has battled fiercely for the producers of wine, beer and cider in this province seeking to modernize Ontario’s dusty and arcane liquor laws—to enable our producers better access to their customers across the road or around the world. It is shameful and a bit embarrassing that the Ontario Teachers Pension Fund owns a chain of wine stores across the province, but County wine, beer and cider makers remain barred from opening a store in this or any other community to compete against them. That the province has eased some market access regulations for these producers is surely in no small part due to Smith’s hounding on this file.

Smith has worked hard to advocate for better health care in this community—specifically the effort to build a new hospital in Picton and advocating for more long-term care beds in this aging community. He has been a clear and consistent voice in Queen’s Park and in many an anguished meeting in the County.

He has doggedly challenged the Liberal government to reconsider its decision to close schools in this community and across the province. He has loudly and persistently made the case that rural schools represent the economic, social and community centre in our hometowns—that when the province closes them—the fabric begins to unravel. Our future diminished.

Candidate meetings have revealed, in vivid detail, the fact that Smith knows and understands these issues vastly better than the other contenders.

He has carried unpopular fights in the legislature—low profile initiatives, unlikely to inspire voter enthusiasm. About fairness. For example, he championed a bill to enable realtors to incorporate. Few folks likely care that real estate sales persons are barred from limiting liability through a corporation— but Smith argued it is unreasonable and unjust to continue to block a single profession from the same protection most others take for granted.

Smith has also put his time and energy into reaching out to new Canadians here and in and around Toronto.

Smith has been everything one could ask of a member of provincial parliament. His track record says much about his character and values. Reasonable. Sensible. Visible. Fair. Passionate. Perceptive. Caring.

Yet some are considering casting their vote elsewhere in this election. While they may agree, more or less, with this assessment of Smith’s track record, they are unable to abide supporting Doug Ford.

I understand. The PCs made a lousy choice as leader. There can be little debate about this. While, in fairness, some of the criticism is either premature or simply off the mark, the anxiety Ford induces in voters is real and well founded. It is mystifying to many voters, including this one, that a strain of the electorate seeks to register their unhappiness with government in general, by electing a buffoon as its leader.

It highlights a dangerous polarization of the electorate. Two forms of populism, far left and far right, shouting at each other across an empty centre. It should worry us all.

The question is, however, should we join in this race to the extremes? Do we huddle with our tribe on the edges of the political spectrum? Or do we hang onto the centre as best as we can?

Some argue it is necessary to set aside your beliefs, your values and hopes for the future to ensure that Doug Ford fails in his bid to become premier. At all cost. That the risk is too great. I worry this reasoning puts Ontario in a worse place.

How do we return to moderate politics? By choosing good people. By electing moderate and responsible representatives. Folks who have earned our support and trust.

None of the criticisms of Doug Ford apply to Todd Smith. Smith represents the moderate, sensible centre. That is his track record. Tested and proven.

We will elect a new government this week. Isn’t it better that we put reasonable folks in Queen’s Park? Either to dampen Ford’s wackier instincts, or to illuminate the risk the NDP’s disregard for Ontario’s staggering debt is inflicting on our future and that of our children?

A vote for the NDP or Liberals in the Bay of Quinte means rejecting the good work Todd Smith has done on our behalf. It means abandoning a voice of reason and moderation, for an untested rookie in an untested party

It is Todd Smith’s name on the ballot. He has earned your vote, even if his party hasn’t.

rick@wellingtontimes.ca