ROBERT QUAIFF

Ontario Liberal Party

Editor’s note: With the Provincial election just over a week away, the top three candidates from our region were asked five questions related to the most pressing issues on the minds of County residents. The Times reached out to the Bay of Quinte Green Party candidate, but as of press time had not received a response.

The White Pines wind project is unwanted by County government and the vast majority of residents. What will your party do about this project? What do you want your party to do about the Green Energy Act in general?

“I believe in the Green Energy Act, but there are certain components of the Act that I don’t agree with. I have been opposed to the industrial wind turbines for the placement of where they are being located. I’m part of the Wayne Fleet working group that developed the unwilling host status. I think we were one of the first municipalities to approve that. Nothing has changed regarding my opposition of the wind turbine project as a mayor, as a candidate and wherever I go I will oppose it where there is a community that deems itself as an unwilling host. This community is about being a good neighbour and all the Green Energy Act has done has been to pit neighbour against neighbour and that’s not acceptable. I need to get sent to Queen’s Park because I’ve dealt with the Green Energy Act, and I know what changes have to be made. For the PCs to say that they are just going to tear it up is a lame statement because they are not saying what they want to change.”

What are your party’s economic development plans for the Bay of Quinte Region, and more specifically Prince Edward County?

“Businesses are the backbone of our economy here. A strong business climate in Prince Edward County is pivotal for the Bay of Quinte. But I want to focus on the Bay of Quinte as a total economy because whatever happens in PEC is good for Quinte West and Belleville and whatever happens inversely is good for the County. It’s evident that 90 per cent of the taxes we raise come from our residents, of that 90 per cent, 64 per cent are senior citizens, so we must be careful with that demographic. We do have plans for a fair and more inclusive society, which means that we are providing free prescription drugs to kids under the age of 25 and [those] over 65. We are providing free daycare for kids age two to four to help parents enter the workforce faster. We have to build up our skilled work force. I’ve heard from developers and contractors that there is no skilled labour. Electricians, plumbers, carpenters are all jobs that we shouldn’t have to look elsewhere for.”

Like other rural communities, the County has a major problem in maintaining its infrastructure, especially roads. What would your party do to help solve this problem?

“This problem is huge and it’s the same for many rural communities around the province. Our Asset Management Plan shows that we would have to spend $38 million a year for the next 10 years just to bring those roads up to standard. That’s because we have 1,100 kilometres of roads in the County. For County Rd 49 alone, a recent engineering study shows that we need to spend $20 million on that 22-kilometre stretch of road just to get it up to standard. We simply don’t have enough money in the tax base to maintain the 1,100 kilometres of roads. The Liberal Party has just doubled the infrastructure granting. It went from $200 million to $400 million so I’m looking forward to see how that’s going to work. Now that we have an asset management plan, we can apply for those monies.”

Will your party see that there is a new hospital built in Prince Edward County? The County is home to an aging population. What are your party’s plans for Long Term Care?

“As soon as I became mayor, I started working with QHC. I was able to work with senior policy advisors and with Minister Hoskins himself to talk about the new hospital. Minister Hoskins came for a visit and gave a commitment that this hospital was going to be built in Picton. He also gave us a cheque for $500,000 to do the design and engineering. The commitment from the Liberal Party is there. I’m scared to death that if the PC’s get in, that there’s not going to be a hospital here in Picton.

Every time I hear Doug Ford say the word “deficiencies”, I shudder. Longterm care is also something I’ve worked hard on fixing. The Liberals have just created more long-term beds. Five thousand off the bat and that will increase to 10,000. We have already made an application for the 77 beds we lost, and on top of the 85 beds we have we can be self-sufficient. We know we have to rebuild HJ MacFarlane Home by 2025. We do need more nurses and PSWs The Liberal party hopes to create 3,500 new nursing positions.”

How will your party help battle the affordable housing issue, and more importantly food insecurity and poverty in the Bay of Quinte Region?
“As mayor, I’ve seen the challenges of food insecurity and affordable housing first-hand. My first golf tournament that I hosted was the “Golf for Good Food” where we raised around $6,000 for the good food box initiative. Hastings County does a great job with initiatives like this, I think the County could do better. One of the reasons the Liberal party raised the minimum wage up to $14 was to allow those people the ability to pay their bills and their rent without suffering every month. As far as affordable housing goes, the increasing BnBs in the area gobbling up every house under $300,000 doesn’t help the affordable housing market. I’ve been on council since 2000, and back then affordable housing was mentioned as one of their top priorities. It’s easy to talk about it, but not so easy to back it up. We did nothing about it back then, but this year I was pleased that our municipality committed $250,000 to the affordable housing issue. It’s barely scratching the surface but at least it’s something. I think there is other innovative ways to solve the crisis, like Pinecrest School and the Lovesong project. Next year Queen Elizabeth school is becoming vacant, maybe there is an opportunity there.”

CLOSING STATEMENT
“I’m running because of platforms like health care and free prescriptions. A lot of what I believe in is in line with this party. I want to make sure Picton Hospital gets built. I would love to be the next MPP for this area and make a difference. I’m offering the Bay of Quinte Region an opportunity to elect a member of a governing party and not a member of the official opposition all the time.”