Elections

Will your platform promote the growth of manufacturing jobs in Hamilton? If so, how? If not, why not?

Responses to the question: "Will your platform promote the growth of manufacturing jobs in Hamilton? If so, how? If not, why not?"

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16 Candidate Responses (top)

Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale
CandidateBrief ResponseFull Response
Anthony Giles Yes Our party does not discriminate based on job type. We would not come up with some sort of "manufacturing jobs" plan. However, we would make Canada a very attractive place for business people and entrepreneurs to invest. We would have almost no business tax and very few rules. If a business deals honestly, provides a safe work environment, and is environmentally prudent, there should be no other red tape for business to deal with. That type of business environment would encourage a lot of investment.
Dave Braden Yes The Liberal Platform recognizes a deficiency in funding innovation. We've increased support for training and education through the New Learning Passport but we need to promote and provide funding to commercialize ideas and inventions. We will consider conditional support of basic primary industry with legal consequences determined in advance. We will focus on long term, green industries where there is a strong potential for long term employment.
Jamile Ghaddar Yes The MLPC in Hamilton is at the fore-front of the work to oppose the nation-wrecking of the monopolies, and for manufacturing. We are part and parcel of the Canadians from coast to coast who are organizing and fighting on the basis Our Resources Stay Here! and Manufacturing Yes! - Nation-Wrecking No! Governments must do their duty and stop the rapacious monopolies like U.S. Steel, Vale Inco, Xstrata, BHP Billiton, Exxon Mobil and others who come to Canada and try to dictate to the Canadian people what is going to happen with their industries and resources.

The wrecking by global monopolies of the resource and manufacturing base of our economy has brought to the fore key questions for all of us. Who should profit from Canada's natural resources -- the people or global monopolies? Who should control the direction of the economy? What is the aim of the economy and Canadian society? Who decides?

Under neoliberal globalization, the resources which belong to the people and which are needed to build a society which recognizes the rights of all are being stripped away. Neoliberal globalization is destroying jobs, especially in the manufacturing sector, and reducing wages and benefits and the ability of retirees to live in dignity. Hamilton knows this scenario only too well, as USW 1005 members are still locked out by U.S. Steel, and we continue to lose the factories and jobs that made Hamilton a manufacturing town.

MLPC fights for public right, not the narrow selfish interests of domestic and foreign monopolies. These monopolies must be restricted so that they cannot simply do whatever they want to expand their empires at the expense of the workers who produce the wealth, Canada's socialized economy and social fabric. It is outrageous that these monopolies can mumble something about "rationalizing production, competition, production costs or inefficiencies" and then simply shut down plants, destroy entire industries as they have with forestry or ship raw resources and jobs south.

Public right must control the direction of the economy, not monopoly right. Public ownership of these resources where the people decide their use and development is required. This starts with workers organizing themselves so as to elect governments that permit the people to exercise control over the natural resources and social wealth for purposes of building a pro-social and self-reliant economy which enters into relations of mutual benefit with others.

At the very least, this requires that:

* Monopolies must not be permitted to shut down mines, mills, and entire industries, throwing workers onto the street and doing harm to the local and national economy;

* Resources must be upgraded, processed and manufactured in Canada and near their source.

* Wholesale prices must be publicly controlled, not left in the hands of the speculators and price-fixers.

* Monopolies who exploit natural resources must be held to agreements to provide a definite number of jobs at Canadian standard wages and working conditions, including pensions for retired workers.

* The public and governments have the right to decide on the claim of the owners of capital on their invested capital to ensure that the investment is of mutual benefit to both Canada and the investors and not one-sidedly to the narrow benefit of owners of capital and ripped out of the economy.

* The public and governments have the right to oversee and direct the impact of the project on the environment and to appropriate the needed funds from the monopolies to harmonize the project with the natural environment.

For Hamilton specifically, the MLPC has various proposals which are outlined in our daily online newspaper (at cpcml.ca) which can be searched through google or other internet search engines.
Nancy MacBain Yes Absolutely. The NDP has a number of policies that will help promote the growth of manufacturing jobs in Canada. We'll

* End the fiscally irresponsible corporate tax giveaways that have failed to stimulate the economy
* Give manufacturing companies an incentive to create new jobs by introducing a Job Creation Tax Credit
* Reform Canada's foreign takeover rules to ensure that foreign investment creates quality Canadian jobs.
* Stop the export of Canadian jobs overseas by ensuring that trade agreements serve the needs of Canadians and adopting a Made-in-Canada procurement policy for the federal government and its agencies.
Peter Ormond Yes Yes, We believe that the shift to a low carbon economy provides a huge opportunity for the development of green jobs. One of the first opportunities is in "greening" our infrastructure. Retrofitting buildings to be more energy and water efficient provides income today and reduces our energy requirements in the future.

A smart economy is efficient. It relies on the lowest-polluting systems and energy sources. It ends waste. It reuses and recycles and considers externalities. This greater efficiency will bring greater competitiveness and prosperity to our Canadian Economy. Traditional manufacturing centers like Hamilton will have the opportunity to be re-invented.

Remediation of our brownfields and re-development of lands within Hamilton's established communities is a priority. For Hamilton, this includes Hamilton's waterfront district, abandoned industrial lands, and buildings or parking lots that cover prime land. Where items fall outside of federal jurisdiction, the Green Party will make any federal funds conditional upon completion of projects that re-build and re-establish communities. Hamilton is a city of tremendous potential, and grassroots innovation.

The Green Party does not support expansion around Hamilton's airport and resulting urban sprawl for obvious reasons related to peak oil and the cost of servicing new lands. Unlike other parties that observe silently on the sidelines, the Green Party will continue to voice opinions on such projects as an ongoing education measure. For example: Why invest in a project based on the most inefficient mode of transportation - air transport - when peak oil is upon us?

What are the reasons behind such an airport expansion project - who are the players, landowners, and corporate entities involved? If this project does not align with the interests of the average Hamiltonian, why is this project being promoted when it is based on assumptions from 50 years ago?

This situation is echoed in many communities around the globe. It signifies the control of an old guard or outdated system that needs to evolve if Hamilton, Ontario and Canada are going to ever achieve a low-carbon economy.

Excluding Green Party leader Elizabeth May from the debate also represents the need for system change in the political and media realms. Read our platform Vision Green, and you'll appreciate the need for Canadians to Vote Green.
Hamilton Centre
CandidateBrief ResponseFull Response
Lisa Nussey Yes The MLPC in Hamilton is at the fore-front of the work to oppose the nation-wrecking of the monopolies, and for manufacturing. We are part and parcel of the Canadians from coast to coast who are organizing and fighting on the basis Our Resources Stay Here! and Manufacturing Yes! - Nation-Wrecking No! Governments must do their duty and stop the rapacious monopolies like U.S. Steel, Vale Inco, Xstrata, BHP Billiton, Exxon Mobil and others who come to Canada and try to dictate to the Canadian people what is going to happen with their industries and resources.

The wrecking by global monopolies of the resource and manufacturing base of our economy has brought to the fore key questions for all of us. Who should profit from Canada's natural resources -- the people or global monopolies? Who should control the direction of the economy? What is the aim of the economy and Canadian society? Who decides?

Under neoliberal globalization, the resources which belong to the people and which are needed to build a society which recognizes the rights of all are being stripped away. Neoliberal globalization is destroying jobs, especially in the manufacturing sector, and reducing wages and benefits and the ability of retirees to live in dignity. Hamilton knows this scenario only too well, as USW 1005 members are still locked out by U.S. Steel, and we continue to lose the factories and jobs that made Hamilton a manufacturing town.

MLPC fights for public right, not the narrow selfish interests of domestic and foreign monopolies. These monopolies must be restricted so that they cannot simply do whatever they want to expand their empires at the expense of the workers who produce the wealth, Canada's socialized economy and social fabric. It is outrageous that these monopolies can mumble something about "rationalizing production, competition, production costs or inefficiencies" and then simply shut down plants, destroy entire industries as they have with forestry or ship raw resources and jobs south.

Public right must control the direction of the economy, not monopoly right. Public ownership of these resources where the people decide their use and development is required. This starts with workers organizing themselves so as to elect governments that permit the people to exercise control over the natural resources and social wealth for purposes of building a pro-social and self-reliant economy which enters into relations of mutual benefit with others.

At the very least, this requires that:

* Monopolies must not be permitted to shut down mines, mills, and entire industries, throwing workers onto the street and doing harm to the local and national economy;

* Resources must be upgraded, processed and manufactured in Canada and near their source.

* Wholesale prices must be publicly controlled, not left in the hands of the speculators and price-fixers.

* Monopolies who exploit natural resources must be held to agreements to provide a definite number of jobs at Canadian standard wages and working conditions, including pensions for retired workers.

* The public and governments have the right to decide on the claim of the owners of capital on their invested capital to ensure that the investment is of mutual benefit to both Canada and the investors and not one-sidedly to the narrow benefit of owners of capital and ripped out of the economy.

* The public and governments have the right to oversee and direct the impact of the project on the environment and to appropriate the needed funds from the monopolies to harmonize the project with the natural environment.

For Hamilton specifically, the MLPC has various proposals which are outlined in our daily online newspaper (at cpcml.ca) which can be searched through google or other internet search engines.
Michael James Baldasaro Yes Yes. Just think of the jobs farming Marijuana/Hemp will bring into the area. Spinning Mills, fuel depots and manufacturing of farm equipment specifically tailored to this Industry and the medical equipment, supply and distribution of Doctor Prescribed Medicinal Marijuana. Let's breathe the life back into Hamilton and make farm machines that feed us, right here in the Hammer! Wouldn't it be nice to bring back our Civic pride in the Stelco Tower and refill it with the riches of this ready-set-go Industry and think of the tax dollars it will bring into the G.H.A., the "Greater Hamilton Area" or as Mayor Bob Bratina referred to it during the Mayoralty Debate of 2010 at McMaster University as "THE GREATER HEMP AREA".
Hamilton East-Stoney Creek
CandidateBrief ResponseFull Response
Bob Green Innes Yes The Canadian Action Party intends to promote jobs in Canada by undertaking a critical review of the entire NAFTA and free trade systems which seem to have morphed into conduits for siphoning wealth into secrecy bound tax havens such as Delaware and the City of London. For example Google, of do-no-evil fame, uses the Irish Sandwich and Double Dutch technique.

Not only is there extreme anger in our ranks over such things as National Treatment Clause and Chapter 11, which arguably diminishes our ability to protect our natural and economic environments, but there is no doubt that the playing field is tilting dangerously toward complete corporate abdication of any responsibility toward the jurisdictions in which they operate. Please sign my petition to end or isolate tax havens.

Whether such jobs end up in Hamilton depends on whether the city can become more competitive, relative to its neighbours. While the fact that Hamilton has shouldered more than it's share of social services and other public entities should be redressed, I believe that Hamilton must work diligently on management problems that are beyond the purview of the Federal Government.

Further, while CAP has no policy on the matter, my own belief is that the unnecessary and ill timed Pan Am Games, and any similar undertakings should be canceled forthwith until such time as the global financial problems have been resolved, our recommended Monetary System Reform has been implemented and other pressing priorities have been dealt with, such as fixing the education boondoggle which sees too many new grads hobbled by excessive student debt. The entire practice of the federal government trying to control everything through funding only serves to disconnect the taxpayer from the equation.
David Hart Dyke Yes Yes, it will. While Canada has been insisting that it can't be done, Germany has created a green energy sector from scratch that now employs more people (in well-paid jobs) than its auto sector. I would work hard to persuade green technology manufacturers to move here and take advantage of Hamilton's excellent existing industrial infrastructure, educated workforce and geographic advantages.

In addition, the Green Party favours economic stimulus measures that would put Hamilton to work on a wide variety of projects intended to help the city's businesses, homes and infrastructure adapt to a world where energy costs will continue to increase. Measures to build and retrofit energy-efficient housing and small businesses, increase local food production, build better public transit, and more are part of our platform. And we have economist-reviewed means to make it happen without jacking up peoples' taxes.
Gord Hill Yes Yes, I have spent my life developing markets and products in the plastics industry. Things have changed drastically. My last business was in high volume injection moulding this was lost to mainly China. I decided to go into digital printing acquiring the highest quality machines available and led the City in technology this lasted only a short while as technology is moving so fast that it has become extremely competitive with many of the post secondary schools pumping out designers creating an over supply of designers and printers. What we need to do is look at products based on our Natural Resources and apply our Human Resources to them. We must be competitive on a World Wide basis. One example for me is to be the World producer of Stainless Steel Sinks we set up a manufacturing line from the beginning until the end product, utilizing Canada's Nickel, Iron Ore, etc. producing the roll in line and stamping the product out at the other. Our goal would be to manufacture all Stainless Steel Sinks for all World manufacturers under license, They design we produce. We look at products that would benefit from having a savings in freight and and the gain of opening the North American market to them those companies outside of North America with Patented products who are truly here for the purpose of growing and the utilization of our Resources that they could not get otherwise. We help Canadians by facilitating and helping them meet their goals of creating new products and markets - our Financial Institutions, Universities, Colleges and Governments are set up to promote these ideals.
Greg Pattinson Yes Libertarians are high on economic freedom. Canada is currently ranked number three in the world on economic freedom, which is why our economy fared so well and was the strongest of any industrialized nation during the '08 recession. Being number three means there is still room for considerable improvement. Even the highest ranked country could improve. By removing unnecessary bureaucratic restrictions it would not only promote growth in manufacturing but also in all sectors of the economy.
Wayne Marston Yes I have responded to two questions together, as the solutions are inextricably linked. No program to rebuild Canada's manufacturing base will succeed unless policies are in place to insure that Canadian materials are used in the production of Canadian goods.

Take steel, for example. The NDP will implement policies to promote the use of Canadian steel wherever steel is used in manufactured goods in Canada-in shipbuilding, automobile production, and so on.

There are over 50 small, steel related firms in Hamilton, and they will benefit enormously from the NDP plan to reduce the small business tax rate.

We will also extend the Accelerated Capital Cost Allowance for eligible machinery and equipment acquired before 2016. As part of our plan to promote small business and jobs, we will as well introduce a Job Creation Tax Credit that will provide up to $4,500 per new hire.

We will likewise continue funding projects such as the metallurgical research currently being undertaken at the McMaster Innovation Park. With more and more R&D being undertaken locally, businesses are more likely to locate and/or remain in Hamilton.

As for foreign investment, last November the NDP tabled a motion to amend the Investment Canada Act. We believed then and believe now that the Investment Canada review process is too secretive and has failed to ensure incoming direct investment is, in fact, in the interest of Canadian workers.

The NDP motion does away with much of the secrecy that currently surrounds the takeover approval process, and would allow more transparency by requiring public hearings on the bids and public disclosure of the government's reasoning for bid approvals.
Wendell Fields Yes The MLPC in Hamilton is at the fore-front of the work to oppose the nation-wrecking of the monopolies, and for manufacturing. We are part and parcel of the Canadians from coast to coast who are organizing and fighting on the basis Our Resources Stay Here! and Manufacturing Yes! - Nation-Wrecking No! Governments must do their duty and stop the rapacious monopolies like U.S. Steel, Vale Inco, Xstrata, BHP Billiton, Exxon Mobil and others who come to Canada and try to dictate to the Canadian people what is going to happen with their industries and resources.

The wrecking by global monopolies of the resource and manufacturing base of our economy has brought to the fore key questions for all of us. Who should profit from Canada's natural resources -- the people or global monopolies? Who should control the direction of the economy? What is the aim of the economy and Canadian society? Who decides?

Under neoliberal globalization, the resources which belong to the people and which are needed to build a society which recognizes the rights of all are being stripped away. Neoliberal globalization is destroying jobs, especially in the manufacturing sector, and reducing wages and benefits and the ability of retirees to live in dignity. Hamilton knows this scenario only too well, as USW 1005 members are still locked out by U.S. Steel, and we continue to lose the factories and jobs that made Hamilton a manufacturing town.

MLPC fights for public right, not the narrow selfish interests of domestic and foreign monopolies. These monopolies must be restricted so that they cannot simply do whatever they want to expand their empires at the expense of the workers who produce the wealth, Canada's socialized economy and social fabric. It is outrageous that these monopolies can mumble something about "rationalizing production, competition, production costs or inefficiencies" and then simply shut down plants, destroy entire industries as they have with forestry or ship raw resources and jobs south.

Public right must control the direction of the economy, not monopoly right. Public ownership of these resources where the people decide their use and development is required. This starts with workers organizing themselves so as to elect governments that permit the people to exercise control over the natural resources and social wealth for purposes of building a pro-social and self-reliant economy which enters into relations of mutual benefit with others.

At the very least, this requires that:

* Monopolies must not be permitted to shut down mines, mills, and entire industries, throwing workers onto the street and doing harm to the local and national economy;

* Resources must be upgraded, processed and manufactured in Canada and near their source.

* Wholesale prices must be publicly controlled, not left in the hands of the speculators and price-fixers.

* Monopolies who exploit natural resources must be held to agreements to provide a definite number of jobs at Canadian standard wages and working conditions, including pensions for retired workers.

* The public and governments have the right to decide on the claim of the owners of capital on their invested capital to ensure that the investment is of mutual benefit to both Canada and the investors and not one-sidedly to the narrow benefit of owners of capital and ripped out of the economy.

* The public and governments have the right to oversee and direct the impact of the project on the environment and to appropriate the needed funds from the monopolies to harmonize the project with the natural environment.

For Hamilton specifically, the MLPC has various proposals which are outlined in our daily online newspaper (at cpcml.ca) which can be searched through google or other internet search engines.
Hamilton Mountain
CandidateBrief ResponseFull Response
Marie Bountrogianni Yes Manufacturing is an important element of employment in Hamilton, and across Canada. We need to protect as many manufacturing jobs as possible, and draw manufacturers to Canada through our international competitive advantages: a skilled, educated workforce, and a labour pool rich in technological know-how.

The platform of the Liberal Party commits the party to creating jobs in micro-technology and green technology. These areas in which Hamilton is particularly competitive, given our vibrant university sector and educated population.
Stephen E. Brotherston Yes Greens believe we should be actively encouraging green companies to be locating in Canada instead of Germany or the USA. A focus on helping growth industries locate here instead of sunset industries.

If we want the Steel industry to survive in Hamilton – and we should – we need to help them become the greenest steel producers anywhere – to be leaders in their industry and a model other countries want their steel mills to follow. Canada can’t afford to let our existing major industries continue to slide into brown fields.
Niagara West-Glanbrook
CandidateBrief ResponseFull Response
Stephen Bieda Yes The QEW corridor between Vineland, Grimsby and Hamilton is ripe for high tech and green collar job creation. It is unfortunate that Hamilton already missed a terrific opportunity to land Think City electric vehicles a opportunity that would have brought 200 manufacturing jobs to the region, but there are other alternative energy manufacturing related jobs that can be brought to the region with strong supporting Federal policy like Electrification of transportation and further incentives for solar, wind and geothermal.

Response Summary (top)

Brief ResponseCount% of Total
Yes16100.0%
No00.0%
Maybe00.0%

15 Candidates Have Not Responded (top)

Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale
David Sweet
Hamilton Centre
Annie Tennier
David Christopherson
James W. Byron
Hamilton East-Stoney Creek
Bob Mann
Brad Clark
Michelle Stockwell
Hamilton Mountain
Chris Charlton
Henryk Adamiec
Jim Enos
Terry Anderson
Niagara West-Glanbrook
Bryan Jongbloed
David Heatley
Dean Allison
Sid Frere