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The Brampton Guardian
Tuesday October 7 2008
 
BRAMPTON - In six days’ time voters across the country will be asked to elect a new government that, among other things, can steer Canada through turbulent economic waters not seen in many years.
It is a decision voters should not take lightly.
For the past month we have seen the party leaders in action on the campaign trail and in televised national debates. Sadly, we have been suitably unimpressed.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has played the political game well during the campaign, avoiding major mistakes, but offering little of substance for voters to chew on. His penchant for playing his cards close to the vest may be politically astute, but does little to endear him to voters who already wonder if he can be trusted.
That said, his main challengers—Liberal leader Stéphane Dion and the New Democrats’ Jack Layton— provide even less hope for optimism. Dion has failed to shake his reputation as an aloof intellectual and only days into the campaign backed away from promoting his Green Shift plan which clearly failed to capture the fancy of voters. Layton has been more aggressive this time out, obviously smelling blood in the Liberal waters. However, his party’s tax and spend policies remain the same as ever and are as unappealing today as they have been in the past.
In Wellington-Halton Hills incumbent Conservative Michael Chong is challenged by Bruce Bowser (Liberal), Noel Duignan (NDP), Brent Bouteiller (Green Party) and Jeffery Streutker (Christian Heritage Party).
Streutker’s religion-based party barely garnered 1 per cent of the vote in 2006— a clear indication the vast majority of voters do not share his party’s views.
This is Bouteiller’s fifth campaign as a Green Party candidate and his performance has improved by leaps and bounds since 1999. However, he only took 6 per cent of the vote in 2006 and while an improvement in the Green Party’s fortunes is quite possible, they will likely be satisfied in just getting a member elected. Unfortunately for Bouteiller, it won’t be here.
Duignan has long been the NDP’s sacrificial lamb in this riding (and before that Halton). He drew 12 per cent of the vote last time and may see a slight increase this time out but it is unlikely he will see a repeat of the surprise provincial NDP win of the early ’90s.
Bowser is a new face on the political scene for the Liberals and in his favour he has a strong business background. He is articulate and appears to have passion for the political game. While his efforts at all-candidates meetings have been good, he has at times looked the part of a political rookie. Experience is his biggest shortcoming.  
Chong, who won the riding by more than 11,000 votes in 2006, has been a solid representative for the riding and with his resignation over the “Quebec as a nation” issue, showed he cannot be bullied into toeing the party line. He has come to know the needs of Halton Hills well and has not made outlandish promises in this campaign. For example, he told local municipal leaders last week that additional infrastructure money may not be coming under the current economic conditions. It wasn’t what they may have wanted to hear, but it was brutally honest. It is our view that Chong deserves to be returned to Parliament.
That said, we urge all voters in Wellington-Halton Hills to make their own informed choice Oct. 14.