All candidates debates continue with Professional Engineers of Ontario hosted event

By Mallory Clarkson

The Professional Engineers of Ontario hosted a fairly sector-specific all candidates debate Thursday (Sept. 15) at the Greek Canadian Community Centre.

Over 75 people came out to hear what their London area candidates had to say about engineers’ role within provincial politics. While invitations were sent to all candidates running in London West, London Fanshawe and London North Centre, only five came to the debate. The Conservatives were the only party with no representation.

London West NDP candidate Jeff Buchanan said engineers are experts who have an important role to play and have the ears of all levels of government.

“We need that expertise in order to make our cities work, our bridges and all the infrastructure,” said Buchanan, who was joined by London Fanshawe NDP candidate Teresa Armstrong.

“It’s a vital part of the planning process and making everything work,” Buchanan added.

London Fanshawe incumbent Khalil Ramal agreed with Buchanan, saying engineers help shape policy. He was joined by London West incumbent Chris Bentley.

“They’re always at the table (for) any bill we introduce, they come, present to us and give us advice,” Ramal said. “I think it’s important to have engineers on our side because engineers will help us reconstruct the province of Ontario.”

The Green Party’s London North Centre candidate Kevin Labonte noted there’s nothing stopping engineers from building a better Ontario. Labonte was the only Green candidate represented at the debate.

After engineers’ role within government was discussed, candidates received a barrage of questions relating to the sector, mainly about green energy.

When asked a pointed question about the economics of the Green Energy Act, all three parties noted nuclear power is of the past.

Currently, hydroelectric power is the cheapest form of electricity, followed by nuclear power at four cents a kWh, wind at 12 cents a kWh and solar at 80 cents a kWh.

Through the Green Energy Act, people, businesses and local governments can sell electricity to the province at a set rate for the next 20 years. While the Liberals say this has created 16,000 jobs for Ontarians, the Conservatives want to scrap it.

Ramal argued, while green energy is more expensive now, it will pay off in the long run.

“When we start any technology, it’s going to be very expensive,” Ramal said. “As we go towards the future, that technology will become more efficient and cheaper.”

He noted although the province loses three cents on every kilowatt, money should be made on the resource in five years.

To see the real savings of green energy, Labonte said external costs must be looked at. He said the cheaper nuclear cost don’t reflect the construction of the plants.

“When we’re building these plants, we have to mine uranium, we have to ship it (and) it has to be refined. We have to build, we have to use a lot of concrete (and) a lot of water,” he said. “When we’re looking at the cost of building a windmill, it’s a bunch of steel, some paint, put it in a field and let the wind turn it — that’s it.”

Labonte added that if elected, the Green Party would also introduce a Carbon Tax to help encourage the efficient usage of electricity.

In the end, all candidates agreed engineers will continue to play a significant role in policy making.

Bentley noted one way to do this is have engineers in the room while discussing hot topics.

“There has been a huge amount and ever-increasing involvement of engineers in the formulation of legislation… whether it’s under the Green Energy Act (or) the Water Opportunities Act,” he said, “Which has shaped legislation and helped us get it better.”

Buchanan added that will only work if the experts are able to participate in a nonpartisan way.

The poll stations for the provincial election open on Oct. 6. For more information on the election, visit www.elections.on.ca.