Schmale and Scott touch on healthcare, housing, and crime as focuses for parliament and legislature this fall

Like many Ontarians, fall finds local MP Jamie Schmale and local MPP Laurie Scott returning to work. Both spent the summer months touring the riding, talking to local people about their concerns for the future, such as issues of affordability and health care. Both expect their fall sessions to be jam packed as both levels of government potentially prepare for elections in 2025.

Schmale, in a telephone interview with the Advocate, said that the issue of making life more affordable for all Canadians will be the priority for the opposition federal Conservatives.

“Life is not getting any easier,” Schmale said. “Affordability is a massive issue. It costs a lot to keep the lights on for the average Canadian. We have houses being developed and more coming, but prices are too high. Interest rates are too high.”

Schmale distributed a survey to voters in Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock earlier in 2024 and discovered that access to health care and concerns about crime and mental health are also at the top of voters’ minds.

“Access to health care is a very important issue,” Schmale said. “People want access to a family doctor. We should be better using the immigration system to attract more personal services workers, nurses and doctors. We should be working with the provinces to quickly certify new doctors upon their arrival.”

Schmale said the survey also pointed out the legitimate concerns that Canadians have about crime, addictions and mental health.

“The Liberal policies on bail reform and reducing maximum sentences have been a failure. Bail is too easy to get. By reducing maximum sentences criminals are spending less time in jail, and many are committing more crimes once released.”

Schmale is also part of the shadow cabinet of Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, with responsibility for Crown-Indigenous relations, and will continue to push the federal Liberals to focus on economic reconciliation with Canada’s Indigenous people.

“We need to reduce the idea that Ottawa knows best in relationships with our Indigenous people,” Schmale said. “That policy keeps Indigenous communities in poverty. We need to better share the wealth that will be generated by developing the ‘Ring of Fire’ in northern Canada. Those funds are not being adequately shared and the mines should pay the bands directly rather than the money being routed through Ottawa.”

Schmale would also like to ensure that Indigenous bylaws passed by local bands are fully enforceable by Indigenous police.

When asked if he expects Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to lead the federal Liberals into an election in October 2025, Schmale believes that will be the case.

“If he (Trudeau) had wanted to go, he would have stepped down this summer,” Schmale said. “It would be a big gamble for the Liberals to change leaders so close to an election.”

If it should happen, Schmale said they will “remind Canadians that only the bus driver has changed, not the bus.”

The local MPP, Scott, agrees with Schmale that pocketbook issues centred on the rising cost of living are a key concern for voters in Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock, but she says the solution requires help from the federal government.

Scott said an important solution to combat rising prices is axing the federal carbon tax, something the majority of provinces in Canada support.

“We will continue to fight against the carbon tax,” Scott said. “We would like it gone. The carbon tax affects everything people do in their lives.”

Scott told the Advocate in a telephone interview that she also expects more cooperation between the province and the municipalities to get “the right kind” of housing built in Ontario.

“I am lucky that I get to work with very good local councils,” Scott said. “We need to figure out how we can get more houses built. We need to figure out how we can get stuff built faster.”

Scott also expects to see Queen’s Park focus on reducing red-tape and regulation to keep small businesses growing, the expansion of access to natural gas and cellphone service in the riding. She also expects there to be provincial investment to encourage innovation and the use of cutting-edge technology in the agricultural sector.

On the issue of health care, Scott says she expects to see more money allocated here.

Scott said that the Ford Conservatives are working to make it easier for international doctors to come into the province and start practicing. Scott also wants to see it easier for medical professionals to move from one province to the next and qualify quickly for work.

The MPP said that the province’s commitment to open three new medical schools and an increase in the number of spots available for doctors in training to qualify should help the residents of Kawartha Lakes in the long term.

When asked about more assistance for Kawartha Lakes in dealing with the pressing issue of homelessness in the city, she said that through both the municipality and private agencies partnering with the province, “some stuff is going on already.”

“I think our municipality has done some very creative things on the issue so far,” Scott said. “It is a hard call what to do. The park (Lindsay’s Old Mill Park) behind my office has changed immensely. Hopefully more treatment beds are coming.”

On the issue of an early election in 2025, Scott said the provincial Conservatives haven’t ruled out anything.

“We are keeping our options open”, Scott said. “Set election dates come with caveats. There are outside factors that influence election calls like what is going on in the United States, the world, or what is going on in Ottawa.”

Whether the election occurs in 2025 or 2026, Scott would like to represent the riding again.

“I will put my nomination forward,” Scott said. I would like to run again. There is still lots to do. I get up every day and try to make changes that are good for the voters in this riding.”