Grudge Over Sludge

Tuesday, April 23, 2002

Grudge over sludge

Eves faces tough crowd at riding's lone debate
By ALAN FINDLAY, QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU
ORANGEVILLE -- If this is what's called a political cakewalk, Premier Ernie Eves got
stuck in the byelection batter of a tough debate crowd.
In the first and only scheduled all-candidates' meeting for the Dufferin-Peel-Wellington-Grey
vote on May 2, the heavily favoured Eves was challenged
from his rivals and jeered from the loudest part of the 700-strong audience with boos
and taunts of "liar."
"He expects this byelection to be a cakewalk or a free ride," said Liberal candidate
Josh Matlow.
Matlow, an environmental activist, held up a jam jar full of sewage sludge spread
across the riding's farm fields and challenged Eves to stop its use.
"Our farmers are being lied to by the government telling them it's safe. Our food is
being poisoned and E.coli is being found in our wells," Matlow said.'
EARN THEIR TRUST
Matlow went on to criticize his own party's position supporting competition in the
hydro market, saying there's room for the party to reconsider.
Eves asked the gathering not to judge him based on news reports they have read,
saying he wants to earn their trust on the hustings.
NDP candidate Doug Wilcox challenged Eves to respect last week's Hydro One ruling and
scrap the plan for an initial public offering and cancel the May 1 market opening of
the electricity market to private generators and hydro retailers.
"Mr. Eves, you promised last week to listen to the farmers," said Wilcox, a town
councillor. "Well listen to them now and stop the Hydro privatization."
Outside the arena, striking OPSEU members picketed Eves' arrival alongside local
environmentalists protesting the proposed Rockfort dolostone quarry near Georgetown.