{"id":3915,"date":"2015-09-16T23:23:20","date_gmt":"2015-09-17T03:23:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huntsville.dopperonline.ca\/?p=3915"},"modified":"2015-09-17T12:18:48","modified_gmt":"2015-09-17T16:18:48","slug":"full-house-at-port-sydney-and-utterson-chamber-agm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/huntsville\/full-house-at-port-sydney-and-utterson-chamber-agm\/","title":{"rendered":"Full house at Port Sydney and Utterson Chamber AGM"},"content":{"rendered":"

[ratings]<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was standing room only at the Port Sydney\/Utterson & Area Chamber of Commerce AGM on Tuesday evening as the Chamber said its farewell to retiring president Gord Haig, swore in its new board and president and honoured area businesses.<\/p>\n

\"Incoming<\/a>

Incoming Port Sydney\/Utterson and Area Chamber of Commerce President Karen MacInness.<\/p><\/div>\n

Incoming president Karen MacInnes has lived in the Port Sydney area for most of her life. She\u2019s been with the Chamber as secretary for seven years. She worked for the Ministry of Natural Resources for 12 years as well as the Victoria Order of Nurses. She has moved to Huntsville with her husband to be closer to health care, but remains steadfast in her support for the Chamber.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am looking forward to it,\u201d said MacInnes of becoming president. \u201cI\u2019ll be able to carry on with what Gord has done.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Chamber\u2019s business of the year award was presented to Moore Propane.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve been members since 2006 and they\u2019ve always provided good service\u2026 I think they were really deserving of it,\u201d said MacInnes.<\/p>\n

\"Outgoing<\/a>

Outgoing president Gord Haig is honoured with a cake.<\/p><\/div>\n

The new business award went to Jeff Pearson HVAC Services.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe also like to recognize new businesses in the area,\u201d noted MacInnes of the new business award.<\/p>\n

The meeting, held at the North Granite Ridge Golf Club also included a generous flow of wine and special guests. Candidates running for the upcoming Federal election in Parry Sound – Muskoka, spoke briefly to the crowd gathered.<\/p>\n

The candidates speak, Clement is up first.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Candidates were asked to pick numbers to see who would be up first to the podium \u2013 PC Tony Clement got first.<\/p>\n

\"Tony<\/a>

Tony Clement picks a number from new Chamber president Karen MacInnes and is up first to speak.<\/p><\/div>\n

He spoke of the importance of small businesses and told those present that before becoming elected he had a small business in the Information Technology sector.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I know a little bit about the joys of being a small business owner and some of the trials and tribulations,\u201d said Clement. \u201cI was very delighted when the Prime Minister gave me the responsibility four years ago to help small businesses by cutting red tape.\u201d<\/p>\n

He noted that that bureaucratic red tape costs small businesses $3 billion per year and credited his government and himself, as Treasury Board President, with easing that burden, He said it saved Canadian small businesses over \u201c200,000 hours of time that they would\u2019ve spent filling out forms, so that they can actually use that time to grow their businesses, to hire people and to be successful in their goods and services business.\u201d<\/p>\n

For his efforts, Clement said he was nominated with the Golden Scissors Award by the Federation of Independent Business. \u201cSo I\u2019m kind of proud of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Clement also said his government would reduce taxes to small businesses by two per cent.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I look at the help we have given to MBRP or Crofters Organic of Parry Sound or to our amazing craft brewing industry \u2013 five craft brewers right here in Parry Sound – Muskoka. Those are just a few examples, Muskoka Roaster and Muskoka Rocks\u2026 it means more jobs, more opportunity, more growth and more success here locally as well,\u201d said Clement.<\/p>\n

He said one of the things he promised four years ago is that he was going to concentrate on helping small businesses grow in Parry Sound – Muskoka.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs there more to do? Yes there is, but I believe that I\u2019ve made a very positive impact over the last four years and I want to continue to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Canadian Action’s Gordie Merton.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a surprising course of events, yet another candidate stepped forward to the podium. Gordie Merton, who ran for mayor of the Town of Bracebridge, is now running federally for the Canadian Action Party.<\/p>\n

Merton said he wants to re-instate the Bank of Canada so that government can borrow money interest free.<\/p>\n

\"Gordie<\/a>

Gordie Merton is running for the Canadian Action Party.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cPresently when we borrow, the government borrows money from the private sector, which is added on to with compounded interest, which means we pay ten times the amount of principle. We want to eliminate that so that we don\u2019t have as much debt.\u201d<\/p>\n

His party would also eliminate income tax gradually. \u201cWe have many other taxes that our government can make money from. We don\u2019t need to tax hard working people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Merton said his party wishes to create a “direct democratic process” in this riding and involve constituents by holding public forums when it comes to \u201cbig bills in the House of Commons that would affect our riding, along with many others.\u201d<\/p>\n

His party would fight for an inquiry into the missing First Nations women and work together with First Nations communities in the riding and across the nation to rebuild trust in government.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to uphold the treaties and respect the First Nations on this land and we want to progress in a very good manner not in the manner that this government has been doing.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Merton said he and his party want to eliminate poverty by supporting Canada\u2019s agriculture sector through funding and research into more efficient and eco-friendly ways to farm. He called on more research into chemicals used for Genetically Modified Organisms, mandatory labelling of GMO products and \u201cno hidden names or fancy names to cover it up.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said his party would also eliminate tuition, provide greater support for the childcare sector and more tax breaks for families earning less than $20,000 a year, and raise funding for seniors or people with disabilities to “get them above the poverty line.”<\/p>\n

\u201cAll these projects will require money and we can use our National Bank of Canada to fund these programs, and so much more, with zero interest, this will help set our economy to a course of action.\u201d<\/p>\n

NDP’s Matt McCarthy<\/strong><\/p>\n

NDP candidate Matt McCarthy said he looks forward to putting his communication skills to work on behalf for the riding in Ottawa. He said this election is about change.<\/p>\n

\"NDP<\/a>

NDP candidate Matt McCarthy.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI think after 10 years of Conservative government people are still waiting for change on many important issues in our area,\u201d he said, adding that not enough has been done to create good, year-round jobs, the provision of proper health care in all communities and the protection of the environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think I need to convince anyone in this room that we do not have to choose between the environment and the economy. Protecting our lakes and rivers is something that will help all of us. For everyone here our livelihoods depend either directly or indirectly on protecting our environment. \u201d<\/p>\n

McCarthy then turned to the topic of small businesses and said he understands the value that goes into building one.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve had to work hard myself, putting myself through two university degrees and after graduating from political science at the University of Ottawa, I went right to work, working for a small business serving international clients… and I understand that Parry Sound-Muskoka needs change.\u201d<\/p>\n

McCarthy said his government would also decrease taxes by two percent but said Clement, when the tax break for small businesses was first proposed, voted against it because it was an NDP proposal.<\/p>\n