Georgina
September 19, 2007 06:46 AM
Voters get chance to hear from MPP hopefuls and get lowdown on referendum question on change to electoral system
By: John Slykhuis
Who will be the best MPP for Georgina?
Residents and businesses will have a chance to put questions to all four candidates for the upcoming provincial election on Sunday at 2 p.m. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. at the Stephen Leacock Theatre in Keswick.
Presented by the Alliance for a Better Georgina, the all-candidates forum allows each candidate a short opening and closing statement, will provide a window for the press to ask questions, then it’s open season for audience members to seek answers to their questions about education, health, the protection of Lake Simcoe and more.
Simcoe Shore Toastmasters members Paul Nicholls and Suzette Leeming will moderate and provide timekeeping to keep things moving along.
Challenging MPP Julia Munro (Conservative) who has been in the Ontario legislature since 1995, are entrepreneur and diplomat John Gilbank (Liberal), Nancy Morrison who works in police services (NDP) and engineer and former business owner Jim Reeves (Green Party).
Also on hand will be Barbara Baguley from Elections Ontario with a brief presentation about the election reform referendum also on the ballot on election day Oct. 10.
Hosts, the Alliance for a Better Georgina was formed in 1998 as a proactive citizens group dedicated to making Georgina a great place to live and work.
Its members seek to bring people together, to increase public awareness and to encourage greater citizen involvement.
The alliance is a founding and active member of the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition, is spearheading a “blueprint” vision for Georgina’s future and is working with citizens in eight Georgina communities to create maps capturing citizens’ most valued historic, social and environmental features.
Four maps are now complete — a map of the historic lakeside communities is under way.
The alliance has about 100 members and needs more. Membership is $25 for a group or individual.
The volunteer board consists of 10 members and new participation is welcome.
Briefly, ahead of the all candidates forum, the alliance will hold its annual general meeting.