In a riding with more than 100,000 residents, fewer than 200 turned up for the first two Dufferin-Caledon all candidates' meetings.

One held in Orangeville's Westside Secondary School last Wednesday night drew more than 100 area residents, but one in Bolton Tuesday night had an audience of barely 40 members.

A third session was scheduled for last night in Shelburne's Grace Tipling Hall.

At the Orangeville meeting, the first question to the candidates — Conservative incumbent David Tilson, Liberal Rebecca Finch, Green Party's Ard Van Leeuwen, Dean Woods of the Canadian Action Party and Jason Bissett for the NDP — was why they thought they would be a good voice for the people of the riding.

Mr. Tilson insisted he has been a determined voice for Dufferin-Caledon since he's been in office. "I'm a squeaky wheel," he said, "and I will always be a squeaky wheel."

Mr. Van Leeuwen pointed out that the Green Party "is grass roots, almost to a fault. We always encourage our people to speak up and I will speak up in Ottawa."

Ms. Finch pointed to her business experience. "I've been a manager for a long time," she said. "I don't take crap from anybody and I will take that attitude to Ottawa and speak up for Dufferin- Caledon."

For his part, Mr. Woods alluded to his profession of information technology. "As an IT person, you have to be a good problem solver. That's what I will be for this riding."

The candidates were also quizzed about the Conservative stand that youths as young as 14 who commit violent crimes should be tried as adults and have their identities disclosed.

"The Youth Criminal Justice Act is a complete disaster," said Mr. Tilson. "What about the victims of these young offenders? It has to stop."

Mr. Van Leeuwen said that if the Conservative plan is put in place more prisons would be needed. He said the country would be better off to spend that money building more community centres.

Mr. Woods pointed out that statistics show that number of violent crimes is actually declining in Canada while Ms. Finch defended the current act, saying 14-year-olds are not yet adults and should not be regarded as such.

Ms. Finch said later the Westside meeting was a positive experience.

"I think the first candidates' meeting was effective on my campaign because it demonstrated I can hold my own under normal circumstances and under fire from unsubstantiated accusation."

She had been confronted by an audience member who accused her of "marginalizing" the acts of Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin in her writings for the online magazine Metaball, for which she was the editor before resigning to run for office.

The same accusations had appeared on the Conservative Party website and were supported by Mr. Tilson at the candidates' meeting. "I read (the Metaball articles) and they were horrible," he said. Due to the time rules of the meeting, he couldn't make any specific references to any particular article.

His response drew jeers from the crowd, including one who hollered out: "You didn't even read them!"

Mr. Van Leeuwen hinted that the Tories should look at their own behaviour before expressing what he referred to as the Conservatives' "righteous indignation." Mr. Bissett pointed out that Ms. Finch's articles were written before she became the Liberal nominee and asked that the meeting not become a "he said, she said" argument.

"I haven't read any of Rebecca's stories," confessed Mr. Woods, "but I am definitely going to read them now."

He says the candidates' meetings have given him vital exposure. "I have received nothing but positive feedback," he said Monday. Having spent Sunday around Orangeville, he said many who attended the debate "came up and congratulated me on a job well done. They really like our platform and I think I have gained some votes."

While the subject of strategic voting and potential mergers didn't come up at last Wednesday's meeting, it has been a subject of debate in an election campaign which appears to have Tory support entrenched and the rest of the vote divided among four opponents.

In Bolton, the meeting hosted by the local Kinsmen Club treated the small audience to some frank and sometimes spirited discussions on a variety of issues.

While there was nothing in the way of knockout blows, a couple of candidates were able to score the odd point against one opponent or another.

In his role as incumbent and representing the governing Conservatives, Mr. Tilson was on the receiving end of a number of jabs, but he gave as good as he got, and frequently elected to be the first one to field specific questions.

Not surprisingly, several candidates used the occasion to elaborate on the policies their respective parties have been putting forth.

"The Green party is all about living within our means," declared candidate Mr. Van Leeuwen, who added that concept applies to both financial and environmental means. He lashed out at previous governments that allowed people to live beyond their means, stating that led to overconsumption and dependence on factors that are beyond people's control.

He also came down on the Conservatives for maintaining that Canada is not in great danger from the current economic woes impacting the United States and other countries, because, they argue, the economic fundamentals here are strong. He charged the Tories are either downplaying the problems or are incompetent.

The current problems are severe, Mr. Van Leeuwen said, but they could be addressed through co-ordinated efforts with other governments.

He said Canada cannot be completely reliant on one main trading partner. The government can start building a sustainable economy, and find sources of cheap and plentiful energy.

He also said the Greens are environmentally conscious, fiscally responsible and socially progressive.

Ms. Finch was quick to go on the attack against the Conservatives. The meeting started just hours after the Tories unveiled their election platform, which she observed came out just a couple of business days before the election, allowing observers little time to digest what it says.

She added the platform laments that the other parties are going to tax and spend, but offers little in the way of details on what the Conservatives plan to do.

"In short, the Conservatives have offered Canadians nothing," she declared, adding there are no details on which people can hold them accountable. "This is no time for vagaries."

Ms. Finch said the Liberals have a full platform, complete with costs, as well as a track record for getting the country out of recession and debt. She added there's nothing in the Grit platform that's not achievable.

She added that a Liberal government would take steps in the first 30 days of being sworn in to address the current financial crisis, involving meeting with the heads of various financial regulatory agencies, private sector economists and first ministers, as well as working with the provinces to identify infrastructure projects with the potential to stimulate the economy and create jobs.

The NDP's Mr. Bissett, speaking without notes, said he entered the race motivated as a parent and citizen. He said he's concerned for the economy, as in the course of his job he frequently sees manufacturers disappear or cut back on shifts. He's also concerned about health care, education and the environment, wondering what's going to be left behind for future generations.

Mr. Bissett also said he goes to work every day, and has even taken a second job to help support his family. He added there are a lot of families trying to cope, without having to worry about corporate welfare.

Mr. Woods said the Canadian Action Party was launched in 1997 by former Liberal cabinet minister Paul Hellyer, who was concerned by what he saw as Canada being sold out to bankers and multinational corporations.

Mr. Woods also commented on last week's leaders' debate. "It was the best two hours of comedy I've ever seen," he remarked, adding there were few facts on what individual leaders actually planned to do.

Contending his party is the only one that has identified the causes of problems, he said the Bank of Canada was started in 1938 so Canada could borrow against its own infrastructure, but today it's $600 billion in debt, with $40 billion in compound interest payments going to private bankers annually. He said half that debt could be paid off, with the $20 billion in savings going to investment in green technology.

He also termed cuts to the GST "a tax cut for the multi-billion dollar corporations," and blamed NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Agreement) for many of the country's problems, stating it was rammed down the throats of Canadians, and resulted in jobs moving to other countries.

Mr. Tilson told the audience they can choose between strong leadership that will build in the gains that have been made, as opposed to weak leadership and uncertainty.

The Conservatives, he said, have set out clear priorities, listened to Canadians and responded to their needs. He added they have proven that minority governments can work by sticking to their principles. The result has been positive impacts felt all over the country, including in Dufferin- Caledon. He cited the fact the GST has been cut, infrastructure has been improved, there's more money for community groups, the environment and cultural heritage, and small businesses are benefiting from lower taxes.

As well, he said, Canadian families have benefited by some $3,000 annually through targeted tax relief, and the Conservatives realize there's more that can be done. That includes a tax credit of up to $5,000 for first-time home buyers to cover their closing costs. The Tories were also planning children's arts tax credits, and more opportunities for self-employed Canadians to take advantage of maternity leave, etc.

Noting that the Liberals plan to impose a new carbon tax, he declared: "Every single family will feel this tax," and suggested the revenue will go toward paying for spending promises the country can't afford.

Several questions from the floor were aimed at one particular candidate, such as the one from a man from Alton who said Ms. Finch had been quoted as saying she wouldn't be satisfied with sitting in the back benches if elected.

The Liberal candidate attempted to clarify that she would want to be a strong voice for her constituents in Parliament, and not sit quietly and do nothing. "I don't have political goals for myself."

But Mr. Tilson was quick to respond that part of the job of being an MP is helping constituents solve problems, and he said he thinks he's done a good job on that. He added it's important to take whatever job the leader offers.

Mr. Van Leeuwen said the role of an MP should be to speak up for constituents, and he charged Mr. Tilson has not done that because he belongs to a party where that is not allowed.

Green is different, he said, because it's grassroots, with members encouraged to speak up.

Mr. Tilson countered that he has opportunities to speak up, both at committee and in the House. "I'm not restricted in any way."

Addressing the idea of a carbon tax, Van Leeuwen said the truth is it's not new. He added there will be associated tax cuts. People who drive 25,000 kilometres annually would pay about $300 in taxes, but that revenue will go to other tax cuts. "A carbon tax would be completely revenue neutral."

Ms. Finch agreed that the concept is nothing new. She said the Liberals' proposed carbon tax rate will be $40 a tonne, while the Green rate would be about $50.

Mr. Tilson countered that both the Greens and Grits propose taxing fuels to run people's cars and heat their homes, asserting that it would amount to between 15 and 30 cents per litre. Pointing out many people in the riding must do a lot of driving, he said a carbon tax would have a "very profound effect" on the local economy.

Mr. Woods said individual Canadians are already over-taxed, and one solution would be to get rid of the large corporate tax breaks.

"Big corporations, big polluters," Mr. Bissett commented. "That's where we're focussing."

When one woman observed that the Van Leeuwen campaign literature said the Greens are the real conservatives, the candidate replied that the party is considered right of centre in economic issues, so there's an overlap with the Tories.

"He's not a conservative," Mr. Tilson countered. "Their policies are opposite to what the Conservative party believes in."

Addressing health care issues, Mr. Tilson agreed it has been a concern, but said there have been improvements over the last couple of years. For example, he said wait times have been reduced. He added the federal government has been working with the provinces and pointed out more doctors are returning to Canada from the U.S.

Mr. Woods pointed out that five million Canadians have no family doctors. He also stressed the need to look at the roots of illnesses, such as fluoride in drinking water. "I think we need to educate our citizens, not medicate them."

Mr. Bissett said his is the only party with a firm belief in universal medicare, pointing out it was Tommy Douglas who came up with the idea. The NDP planned to recruit more doctors, nurses and health care workers, and forgive loans to doctors who agree to work in remote areas.

Ms. Finch said Premier Dalton McGuinty has been trying to fix a health care crisis in Ontario created by the previous Conservative government when Mr. Tilson was an MPP. While agreeing that Mr. Douglas as premier of Saskatchewan developed a plan for medicare, she noted it was the Liberals who implemented it federally.

Mr. Tilson shot back that he watched then premier Bob Rae complain about how Paul Martin had cut back on health-care spending, and then Mike Harris had similar complains. "The Liberals cannot throw rocks on this," he said.

Mr. Van Leeuwen called for more emphasis on preventive health care, which had been practised in dentistry for years, while people tend to consult their doctors only when something is wrong.