WHITBY-OSHAWA RIDING

Flaherty fever

Jim Flaherty has defeated his opponents and reclaimed his title as MP of Whitby-Oshawa. Gathering at the usual spot last night at the Whitby Legion, his supporters were than 200 people that filled the room. they wore Conservative nametags, shirts and other signs indicated without a doubt that they were proud to be Flaherty's fervent followers.

Various media outlets started showing up at 10 a.m. to set up but the man of the hour made his appearance close to 11 p.m. He thanked everyone there for their unwaivering support and spoke a few motivating words to the audience.

"We are all fortunate to live in this great country," he said. "This is a country with boundless potential, majestic beauty and a caring and compassionate society. Our workforce is one of the best skilled technical workforces in the world. Global companies invest here because they know people in Whitby-Oshawa and across the country produce quality products and provide quality services. My friends, there is nothing this country can't do when we put our minds and energy behind it. There's nothing Canadians can't do when we focus our creativity and our talent. I believe Canada has a brilliant future (and) Whitby-Oshawa has a brilliant future."

Students grill candidates again

Following in the footsteps of Sinclair Secondary School -- the first time the candidates were on stage together debating during this election -- another Whitby high school organized a political forum yesterday. This time, it was at Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School Tuesday morning in the school’s cafeteria with about 300 students.

Led by civics and law teacher Lisa Ricciuto, the students asked the candidates a variety of questions from how to improve the manufacturing sector and what their solutions are for dealing with Canada falling into a recession. The event was held to expand the students’ interest in the political process and emphasize the importance of voting in general, Ms. Ricciuto said. Judging by the genuine interest displayed throughout their questions for the candidates, I'm guessing it worked.

Candidates flipping burgers for you

Whitby-Oshawa candiates are being put to work tomorrow at Lick's Ice Cream and Burger Shop, serving customers from behind the counter. It's a fun opportunity for both local candidates and voters to come face-to-face with one another.

The event is being held to push the store's "burger poll" that asks customers to cast their vote after every purchase for an advance glance at what election day might hold. The now 20-year-old tradition of the restaurant tabulates ballot results at each store every night and the results are compiled by head office for an update every morning.

Most candidates are expected to arrive between 12 - 2 p.m. but the event will run from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. so drop by anytime.  Owner Brent Martin said the event usually attracts hundreds of people to the site and this year will be no different. Lick's is located at 1111 Dundas St. E. in Whitby.

Lots of chances to catch Rogers TV candidates debate

Whitby-Oshawa Debate on Rogers Television (Cable Channel 10)

- Airing in Ajax & Pickering:
-- October 2 at 7 p.m., 11:30 p.m.
-- October 3 at 11 a.m.
-- October 13 at 9 p.m.

- Airing in Oshawa:
-- October 2 at 7 p.m., 9 p.m., 11:30 p.m.
-- October 3 at 11 a.m.
-- October 5 at 10 p.m.
-- October 7 at 11 a.m., 9:00 p.m., 11:30 p.m.
-- October 12 at 8 p.m.
-- October 13 at 9 p.m.

Coming together against the Conservatives

Strategizing against Jim Flaherty and Stephen Harper's Conservatives will be the top item on the agenda tonight at a meeting being held at the Whitby Public Library. The Department of Culture -- a growing community of Canadian citizens concerned about ensuring the social and cultural health and prosperity -- is hosting the meeting to discuss the upcoming election.

The focus of the meeting will be to create and implement initiatives in the Whitby-Oshawa riding against the development of a Conservative majority government in Canada. The group welcomes anyone from the public interested in participating in or supporting the efforts.

The meeting will take place from 7:30 - 9 p.m. in room 2 at the library's central branch, located at 405 Dundas St. in Whitby.

Workers to present Flaherty with a boot load of arguments

Workers will be demonstrating and collecting old work boots outside of Conservative candidate Parm Gill's campaign office in Brampton today to highlight the Conservative government's lack of action on manufacturing job loss and a sinking economy.

The boots will then make their way to Whitby on Oct. 6 where they'll be presented to Flaherty at 11 a.m.

It's part of the "Give Flaherty the Boot" campaign that started in Windsor. Thousands of jobs have been lost since Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty took the helms in 2006. Hundreds of pairs of boots have been collected -- in Oshawa, Toronto and Oakville to name a few places -- each with their own personalized tag signed by their previous owner.

Debates around the corner

Now just over two weeks away from election day, it's time to pencil in dates for all-candidates debates:

Thursday, Oct. 2
Rogers TV debate broadcast
301 Marwood Dr., Oshawa
7-8 p.m.
no audience

Tuesday, Oct. 7
Westminster United Church
1850 Rossland Rd. E., Whitby
7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 8
Oshawa Senior Citizens Centre
150 Beatrice St. E., Oshawa
12:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 8
UOIT/Durham College campus
2000 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa
2:30 p.m.
Closed to public due to space restrictions

Wednesday, Oct. 8
Whitby Chamber of Commerce
128 Brock St. S., Whitby
7 p.m.

Yes, that's WHITBY-Oshawa, not Oshawa.

I just got off the phone with CTV news in Toronto. I called to inquire about a release on their website listing Whitby-Oshawa as one of the four key ridings that will be featured in a special event they're holding. Voters will get to meet their local candidates over coffee at a shop or pub next month to discuss issues with them. It showed the date (Wednesday, Oct. 1) but no location so that's why I called. Turns out, the event is actually for the Oshawa riding. Judging by the person I talked to, this is how it seems people outside of the region differentiate between the two ridings: Oshawa is "the one with the GM plant" and Whitby-Oshawa is "the one with Flaherty." Impressive.

Candidates flip flop on whether they'll make class debate

The in-class debate scheduled for 3:40 p.m. today at UOIT won't go as originally planned anymore as there will be only two parties involved. Event organizer Nicole Pitre received word that NDP for Oshawa Mike Shields wouldn't be coming as originally believed but then was told Durham NDP candidate Andrew McKeever would come (UPDATE: he didn't). She was also originally notified that Liberal Brent Fullard wouldn't be able to make it either due to a scheduling conflict but luckily, he changed his plans last minute. Pitre also finally heard back from the Conservatives who said they'll be going to the bigger debate at the school instead, taking place Oct. 8. Pitre said she's disappointed as all parties were given notice at least two weeks ago and she has faced nothing but difficulty with responses. But she's happy that the debate can still happen with Fullard, as well as already expected Greens Doug Anderson and Pat Gostlin.

It's greener on her side

It's time to kick off another candidates debate. It's going to be held at a school again but this time, it'll be at a post-secondary one: the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) in Oshawa. Students in the political science program have invited the candidates from every riding to an in-class forum. So far, Green Doug Anderson and Liberal Brent Fullard (Whitby-Oshawa) as well as Green Pat Gostlin and NDP Mike Shields (Oshawa) have confirmed they'll be there. No representatives from the Conservative Party have confirmed their attendance but both have been contacted.

Nicole Pitre, an 18-year-old student at UOIT and devoted volunteer for the Green Party, organized the debate as part of a class project. It's to allow students to speak up about the issues in front of the candidates and hear what they've got to say, she said. The event is closed to the general public so that the focus remains on the students.

Pitre and many other student volunteess will take part in a rally tonight for Green Party leader Elizabeth May at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. They'll be welcoming her as she completes the first part of her nation-wide whistle stop tour. The rally starts at 9 p.m. and runs until 1 a.m.