Editor's Note: This story was previously posted on StratfordToday.ca.
Brian Saunders came into Thursday night with hope that he might hear something that indicated leadership or original thinking. The Sebringville resident was looking for one of the four gathered candidates to set themselves apart from the crowd.
Instead, he came away disappointed.
“I’m disappointed that the solution to each party was to just throw money at the problems like that’s some kind of solution,” he said. “I was hoping to hear more about community input, but the candidates were just focused on their parties – nobody really shared their own opinion up there.”
Saunders mentioned that the four candidates – Conservative incumbent Matthew Rae, Ashley Fox of the Liberals, Jason Davis of the NDP and Ian Morton from the Green Party – all talked about investing but he felt their words lacked substance and detail. Being the father of four kids, he was looking for clearer answers that would give him a better idea of what the candidates have in mind if they get elected. He wanted to know that things weren’t going to be hard all the time.
“My concern is we (as a province) are going broke right now,” he said. “I make a decent income but it’s stretched all the time, and my tax dollars aren’t being used for good purchases.”
While he wishes municipalities had more control over their own fate by taking back some power from the province, Saunders still has a choice in front of him when he gets to the voting station. As someone who manages people at work, he was looking for a leader to step out on the debate stage, so having to reconcile what he heard with having to choose between them left Saunders with a lot to think about.
“I was looking for a leader,” he said.
There were others at the debate who came away with different impressions. Lucas Swartzentruber and Sophia Amstutz came with ideas already in mind as to whom they wanted to support, and for Swartzentruber that notion was confirmed.
“I was particularly impressed by Ian Morton and the Greens, mostly because he reinforced what I was already thinking,” he said.
For Amstutz, she appreciated that some of what she heard came without the typical sugar coating politicians sprinkle on statements to make them go down easier.
“Jason (Davis) came in with facts and he had clearly studied and that’s something I appreciate,” she said. “In terms of this election, it’s really critical and I think that’s how a lot of Ontarians are feeling – I appreciated his honesty and his candor around certain issues like child care.”
Amstutz and Swartzentruber are a couple in their 20s and, like generations before them, will have to bear the weight of decisions made by the next government for decades. Amstutz said that was a conversation the two were having just recently, and she noted that she wished they had talked more about things like climate change and the climate crisis.
“I thought for sure that would be a key point that would be addressed, and it was my question around the climate adaptation that was read which, unfortunately, they focused more on the ag-tech than I hoped,” she said. “I want to know what the plan is for businesses to adapt to the climate crisis that is inevitably coming. I have to admit that as a younger voter, that was something that was definitely missed from tonight’s discussion.”
Among the many topics that were covered was housing and affordability, something both Swartzentruber and Amstutz say is concerning to them as they begin looking for their first home. The may be forced to make a choice of buying a home in an area other than Stratford, depending on how prices progress and what is done about future city planning and development. Amstutz said that while she’s lucky enough to work from home, her partner has a 45 minute commute to work daily and that is also a factor they have to account for.
“We’re not sure how long that can be sustainable, and we would love to stay in Stratford but yeah, housing affordability is a huge issue,” she said. “My sister and her husband want to move to Stratford and they were looking at houses a few weeks ago but they can’t afford anything in this area. Jobs are limited as well, so yeah it’s a huge issue.”
Swartzentruber agreed, indicating it was just one of many factors pointing the couple to seek new leadership.
“To be honest, I’m not really impressed with what’s been done to this point,” he said. “The Green Party and NDP really seem to have a plan in place, which is encouraging. I think housing, being an immediate priority, and I think food security. We’re fortunate enough that we can afford the groceries that we need, but I know it’s a huge issue for so many people.”