Photo courtesy KClvey on Flickr.
Survey by Natasha Mooney and Chris Connolly
As you all get ready to decide which little box you’ll check off tomorrow, our election correspondents have continued their task of collecting a mix of useless, fun and thoughful information about our local candidates. Today we’ve got the Nepean candidates up – disappointingly, incumbent John Baird and Liberal Anita Vendenbeld didn’t respond, but we’ve got the NDP and Green’s answers below. Which one of them has a bit of a green thumb? The answer isn’t as obvious as you might think!
| Marlene RIVIER – New Democratic Party | |
 What are your roots in your riding and how have you been involved in the community
I am a lifelong resident of the riding and a social justice advocate. I am Chair of the Ottawa Health Coalition and have worked on national and provincial campaigns as well as advocating for public health care and fighting against privatization of health care in our community. I have been active in campaigns to establish a living wage/raise the minimum wage in achieving pay equity for women, defending women’s reproductive rights, poverty reduction and have served on boards of non-profit agencies. Why should our readers vote for you? The Health Accord with the provinces will expire in 2014 and my work as a health professional and public health care advocate makes me well suited to negotiate a renewal of this Accord with the provinces that will expand the system to meet the needs of Canadians for Home Care, Long Term care, health promotion and contain the cost of prescription drugs to assure health care is delivered according to need and not ability to pay. How would you contribute to the vibrancy of Ottawa’s arts and culture scene? I will promote local Arts and Culture and support the enactment of the NDP program ensuring that Arts and Culture thrive. We will increase public funding for the Canada Council and implement tax averaging for artists and cultural workers; strengthen public broadcasting with long-term stable funding for the CBC; implement matching grants for museums and introduce tax incentives to ensure the restoration and preservation of historic buildings. |
Favourite Things
Lunch hangout: How about brunch at Cora’s on Richmond Road Coffee shop: Starbucks at Woodroffe and Carling home of the Red Velvet Community group: I have to say the Ottawa Health Coalition Green space: The Ottawa River Parkway Iconic landmark: The Ottawa River Summer festival: The Folk Festival at Britannia Park which will move this year. Boo Hoo. Local product: Corn on the cob, the more varieties the better. Beavertail flavor: Brown sugar, cinnamon and lemon Arts venue: The CBC. Accessible almost anywhere you go. |
| Mark MACKENZIE – Green Party | |
 What are your roots in your riding and how have you been involved in the community
I started my business in the riding in 1987 where my first customer for Appleseed Snow Blowing and Appleseed Organic Lawn Care, now Appleseed Farms, was on Centrepointe Dr. and we have grown to over 8000 customers. We clear outdoor rinks after a snowfall for local community associations, sponsor minor hockey. We are working with Carlington Community Garden to look for new plots for them should they lose the garden area to development. Why should our readers vote for you? While the focus is often on the major parties in elections, the concept of local representation has been lost in the high stakes game of politics. These games have taken the focus off of good governance. Elected Greens from around the world are encouraged to take direction from local community leaders. As a Green MP, I will not by bound by the manipulations of backroom strategists of the major parties and will be free to gather and represent the views of local community leaders and concerned citizens. How would you contribute to the vibrancy of Ottawa’s arts and culture scene? I have donated to projects of local film makers. During the provincial by-election of 2010 in Ottawa West-Nepean, we issued a press release on the economic benefit from cultural pursuits and is still viewable on the website for the current campaign here: http://bit.ly/glKMux We will continue to highlight the importance of arts and culture in strengthening the economic and social fabric of the community. |
Favourite Things
Lunch hangout: Kelsey’s on Merivale Coffee shop: Timothy’s at College Square Bar: The Original Six, but that was a long time ago Greasy meal: I avoid them Healthy meal: Pre-made salads from Farm Boy Community group: Carlington Community Garden Green space: Anywhere beside water Iconic landmark: Hog’s Back Falls Summer festival: Bluesfest Local product: Appleseed Farm’s vegetables Beavertail flavor: I will have to try the Obama Place to waste a Saturday: Any good bike path with my boys Locally grown celebrity: Alanis Morissette Sporting venue: Scotiabank Place Arts venue:Britannia Art Gallery |
