By Ray Spiteri Niagara Falls Review Posted 5 hours ago
Constituents should be able to "fire" their MPPs mid term if they feel their representatives have not been accountable at Queen's Park, says indepedent candidate Tim Tredwell.
"I stand for the recall vote, like in British Columbia," said Tredwell, responding to a question about government accountability and transparency during an all-candidates debate in Niagara Falls Monday evening.
"You can't have accountability if you don't have consequences. We need to make politicians more independent in how they support residents. A recall vote gives voters in Ontario the opportunity to ... recall you and ... fire you if they wish."
Government accountability was one of five topics the eight candidates running in the Niagara Falls riding addressed during a debate at Club Italia.
Other issues included the economy, the harmonized sales tax/taxes, education, and hospital/health care.
Liberal MPP Kim Craitor said he is a vocal supporter of government accountability and transparency - going back to his days on Niagara Falls city council.
Craitor said as an MPP for the past eight years, he introduced a private member's bill focusing on increased government accountability.
"I have probably been the most vocal (politician) about accountability," said Craitor.
Since 2003 when the Liberals formed government, fixed-election dates have been set, the auditor general now has the responsibility to outline Ontario's finances six months prior to an election - not the sitting government, and public agencies and boards have been forced to open up their previously held closed-door meetings, said Craitor.
NDP candidate Wayne Redekop said while Craitor has fought for greater government accountability, his government as a whole has not.
"Government works best when it's open and transparent, when government actually listens to the people," said Redekop.
"Currently, we have a government consulting frequently after it has made decisions."
Redekop pointed to decisions to cut hospital services in Niagara and contracts signed by public agencies without first seeking a competitive bidding process.
Progressive Conservative candidate George Lepp said his party introduced a Truth in Government Act - a five-part plan the majority Liberal government voted down.
"The PC party believes in more access to travel and hospitality costs, full disclosure of all goods and service contracts over $10,000."
Green party candidate Byrne Smith said governments should allow for more local consultations and local control over local decisions.
"All municipalities should be in charge of how their money is being spent, more access to how their contracts are being signed. There should be more scrutiny when deals are made.
"The Green party supports ending back-room deals to make ourselves more accountable to the public so there is more confidence in our government to make decisions."
Libertarian party candidate Adam Hyde said government accountability starts with the constituents - the voters who elect politicians.
"It starts with you," said Hyde, adding if there was more private intervention and competition in provincial decision-making, politicians would be forced to be more transparent.
"A Libertarian government would end the monopoly over a lot of the departments and programs - we would look at all ministries and departments."
Family Coalition candidate John Jankovic said it's time for politicians to stop paying "lip service" to constituents.
"If you plan to do something, do it," said Jankovic. "Accountability means doing what is right."
Independent candidate Jeannette Tossounian said because of the very nature of party politics, 'I don't think governments will ever be accountable.
"The more rules you put in place, the more they'll just hide," said Tossounian, adding the issue is one opponents use to endlessly attack one another, rather than solve problems facing constituents.
"What is accountability going to do to help the poor, to give people jobs, to provide for education, or help people pay their rent?"
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