A provincial all-candidates night for Huron Bruce hopefuls in Kincardine brought out the usual number of issues that candidates were able to handle.
Just over 100 people attended the meeting Thursday night — asking questions about education, health, taxes and energy.
Interestingly, a question on the wind turbine controversy wasn’t asked until 90-minutes into the two-hour meeting.
One of the more recurring subjects was the pending closure of the jail in Walkerton.
A questioner pointed out that not only would the jobs of those working at the jail be lost but for those prisoners serving their sentences only on weekends, there was a possibility they may lose their jobs as well if they’re transported to super-jails throughout the province to serve their time.
Incumbent Liberal MPP Carol Mitchell admits the intermittent sentence issue is a “gap in the map” in the Liberal’s plan to close the jail.
Mitchell says more work needs to be done on the issue and she plans to work with the community to see what kind of solution there is.
Grant Robertson of the NDP says the problem would be solved if his party is elected as the government because they’re on record as keeping the Walkerton facility open.
Robertson says even with a change of government they would still have time to beat the October 31st deadline for closing the jail, not only in Walkerton but in Owen Sound and Sarnia.
Progressive Conservative Lisa Thompson says the problem of intermittent sentencing and the economic impact is exactly why her government would do a study before deciding if any jail is going to be closed.
Thompson says they need the facts and figures before making a move in any direction.
Independent candidate Dennis Valenta says any decision to close the jail in Walkerton should be a local one.
Valenta believes it would be far more economical to have intermittent sentences served in Walkerton rather than in some super jail elsewhere in the province.
There were two no-shows at the meeting.
Patrick Main of the Green Party and Christine Schnurr of the Family Coalition Party did not attend.
The all candidates meeting was put on by the Kincardine and District Chamber of Commerce.
