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1/ I believe in the right of recall and its' ability to keep government clean, and to force those who govern to keep their promises. This should be extended to every municipality across the province. This must be enshrined in law.
2/I will hold town hall meetings in every town on major issues. I will hold these in a revolving manner, through every community, allowing you to voice your opinion on the issues that confront us here in Oxford, and to vote directly on them and I will reflect that vote in the legislature for you.
3/I believe that the only opinion that matters is yours, the voter, and not some political party that cares less for your concerns, and who owns your MPP's opinion and his vote at present.
4/My Ontario includes everyone, poor and middle class, disabled and seniors
are on my agenda. Seniors in our nursing homes should not be receiving a smaller
food allowance than people in jail.
5/I believe in a better deal for the agricultural sector, and would ask that
farmers join me in a united front and take this issue to the legislature in a
forthright manner.
6/As the parent of a child with Autism, my son and my family have been deeply affected by the lack of supports, and the accumulated failures of the successive governments of all three major parties, beginning in 1992 when Bob Raes' NDP failed to address this issue, to the present broken promise of Dalton McGuintys' liberals. I will fight for Autism therapy to be included in the public school system.
7/ I will fight for stronger environmental laws that will lead to better water protection, and green space protections that will benefit all of us and our children.
8/People come first.
9/We are an independent minded people here in Oxford, and an independent candidate is the only one who can truly reflect the will of the people in their riding. No party bosses, just the will of the people for the first time in Oxford. True representation with no party conflicts.
10/I will stimulate the debate with new and fresh ideas. Free your vote from party influence, and you will free your conscience.
I'm Jim Bender, and I will work for you in the same hard working, efficient and accountable manner that has made me a successful businessman, with a strong social conscience. You can call me, or you may write me.
354 Dundas Street, Woodstock, Ontario N4S 1B4
519-537-8144
e-mail: ladygodiva@sympatico.ca
Following is a copy of one of the speeches given during the debates:
Hi...
I'm Jim Bender
It is good to see so many people interested in democracy...
There are many issues confronting us in this provincial election that these large parties are refusing to inject into the dialogue...that is why I am here.
One of the most interesting and important ideas that we are missing...or perhaps they are afraid to discuss is the all important right to recall that should be enshrined in electoral law. Without the ability to remove your MPP if he fails you, then your democracy is weak and open for abuse at the hands of those who are elected to defend your interests.
The new proposed Mixed Member Proportional system addresses some shortfalls, but not nearly far enough.
One thing we hear with some degree of regularity is how these parties all intend to spend your money. They just never tell us how they plan to raise these infinite dollars that seem to fall from trees.
The NDP has made some spectacular promises with a tentative spending increase of $16.8 billion dollars, not including Autism therapy funding which could be hundreds of millions in itself.
On top of that pre-planned increase in spending, the NDP have plans to reduce taxes (the dreaded health care tax) and to reduce electrical rates to big business. They also propose "freezing tuitions for college and university at pre-2003 levels, and an expansion of OHIP financed services which would cover physiotherapy, optometry and chiropractic medicines, all at an undetermined cost to the province at this point. These costs could be staggering to us, the taxpayers. And besides that, the numbers do not add up.
I would suggest repairing the current system before expanding it.
The Liberals' monster of a platform which resembles a creature from the black lagoon promises $14.7 billion in new spending by 2012. They have no idea on the costs of their new tax cut programs and credits at this point. Highlights from their plans include funding a full day pre-school program, cutting taxes on corporate assets and hiring 9,000 new nurses. (I'll believe this when I see it) They too have promised to address the Autism issue, but have no idea how. After the promises made on that issue last election, I will suggest that they are liars, just as before.
The Conservatives are promising $14.1 billion in additional spending by 2012 as
well as tax cuts totaling $3.8 billion. Tory promises to fund faith based
schools (an absolutely stunned idea), eliminate using 905-area taxes for
services in the G T Area and phasing out the health-care tax. He has no real
idea where he will get the money from, but it will come from us. His promise to
"take care of Autism" rings empty for parents as he has no firm
numbers on how he intends to pay for this either.
