St. Paul's electorate clearly miffed at HST

LIAM LAHEY

September 11, 2009

Though the cloud of a federal election looms, it didn't dissuade residents in the midtown Toronto riding of St. Paul's from turning out in strong numbers for a provincial all-candidates meeting Thursday, Sept. 10.

The forthcoming Sept. 17 byelection pits the main contenders - Sue-Ann Levy (Conservatives), Jullian Heller (NDP), Eric Hoskins (Liberal), and Chris Chopik (Greens) - in a tight race that many regard as an opportunity to "send a message to Queen's Park".

Others would suggest the riding is a bellwether of what's to come on a federal scale given its diversity. If that latter bit is true, then Canada could be in for one entertaining election campaign this fall.

Held at the First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto (175 St. Clair Ave. West), the public meeting also included six other candidates: independents Marius Frederick, Raj Rama, and John C. Turmel, as well as Danish Ahmed (Special Needs Party), John Kittredge (Libertarian), and Paul McKeever (Freedom Party).

Shortly after each made their initial comments, the proceedings turned whacky when Turmel, miffed at the attention the four main candidates were receiving from the audience, opted to leave the stage and wander about while bellowing his disapproval at the overall process.

Things got heated, and at one point Turmel found himself surrounded by residents that strongly urged him to either be quiet or to go home. In the end, he tired himself out and returned to his seat.

Meanwhile, for the electorate, the more pressing issue appears to have been the harmonized sales tax (HST) initiative the Liberal government is slated to implement for Ontario. Hoskins spent much of the night defending the proposal but that effort may have fallen on deaf ears.

"These are some of the most profound and progressive tax cuts, permanent tax cuts, which are combined with the HST implementation...we'll protect the vulnerable, increase jobs, and strengthen the economy," he said. "A byelection is not about changing the government or even about sending a message, it's about ensuring you have a strong, aggressive voice at Queen's Park, one that will work with the current government to advocate your rights and to ensure that St. Paul's prospers over the long term."

Hoskins may have felt like a dartboard. He did his best to downplay any notion the byelection was a chance to "send a message" to Premier Dalton McGuinty. But the other candidates weren't buying into that train of thought.

"St. Paul's voters are being asked to pass judgment on the record of the McGuinty government," Levy charged. "You are being asked if you approve of the spending scandals...if you approve of the power Dalton McGuinty has given to (Toronto mayor) David Miller to tax Torontonians to death. Most importantly, you're being asked if you approve of the massive tax grab Dalton McGuinty is trying to sneak in under our noses...the HST...will see rent fees go up, condo fees will go up; you will be paying more for gas at the pumps and for electricity."

"The HST is the wrong tax at the wrong time," Heller remarked. "It is unfair to seniors, to young people and students, to working people. Don't be fooled...what (the HST) does is it funds a $4 billion tax cut to those who don't need it. It is an unfair tax shift."

Of the four main candidates, the Green Party's Chopik was nearly the forgotten man. While Levy, Hoskins and Heller exchanged barbs throughout the night, Chopik remained primarily on the sidelines, but when he did enter the fray his comments had other candidates nodding their heads in agreement.

"We're at a critical point...the policies and decisions that are being made in Ontario today have a significant effect on the future of the quality of life in Ontario," he said. "You can choose to vote in this election with your deep conscious, recognizing that your vote is a relatively low-risk vote in this byelection. You're not voting for the leadership of the province, but you are being asked to send a strong message that indeed we care about the quality of life in this province, today and into the future."

Many of the "questions" posed to the candidates by the crowd were actually rambling monologues. Yet some had thoughtful inquiries. One elderly man asked all the candidates on the stage to name three priorities for the riding, how they would address them, and if possible, to do so in a non-partisan fashion.

This is where the NDP's Heller shined. He highlighted investing in public education, in public transit, and eliminating the Ontario Municipal Board, which drew loud applause.

Toronto city councillor Doug Holyday (Ward 3, Etobicoke Centre) was in the audience. He too has issues with the proposed HST as it stands.

"Why can't they harmonize the sales tax without increasing the tax on items that doesn't attract provincial tax right now? If something isn't taxed by the province right now, don't start taxing it," he said.

In the end, it was impossible to gauge who "won" the debate. But Turmel certainly left a lasting impression.