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Questions for the Candidates – Nick Clayton, Green Party

September 9, 2021   ·   0 Comments

Questions by Wendy Gabrek

Full Name: Nick Clayton

Town of Residence: I have lived in The Blue Mountains for 12 years, and I am your candidate for the Green Party of Canada in Simcoe-Grey.

Primary reason you’re running: I am running in the federal election because I believe the federal government has an important role to play in improving the health and prosperity of Canadians while addressing the climate crisis.

Political Experience: I have no prior political experience. I am politically engaged, passionate, and have channeled that energy into volunteering with local advocacy groups, writing to elected officials, writing op-eds, and signing petitions.

Campaign objectives:

I want to be a voice for progressive social, environmental and economic policies in Simcoe-Grey. This riding is a Conservative stronghold, but the majority of voters in the last election cast ballots for the more progressive parties, and their concerns need to be heard. Each and every vote for the Green Party counts, as it lets the elected party know that they can’t take their constituency for granted.

What is your leadership style and how will that positively impact the riding?

I am a consensus builder. I can find common ground with anyone and I engage in respectful debate. The political climate is becoming increasingly polarized, and I want to bridge that gap so that we can move forward together.

What are the most important challenges facing the riding of Simcoe-Grey today?

The biggest challenges we face in Simcoe-Grey are affordable housing, the climate crisis, access to clean drinking water, and sustainable land use.

What is your policy/opinion on COVID-19 passports, vaccinations?

COVID-19 is here to stay. We are in a fourth wave as the highly contagious Delta Variant continues to spread. More VOCs (Variants of Concern) are emerging that may bypass vaccine-induced immunity. The best case scenario is to move from pandemic to endemic, where COVID-19 becomes a background infection not unlike chicken pox or the measles – it’s just a matter of how and when we get there. Current data confirm that people who are fully vaccinated have far better health outcomes. If implemented properly, the vaccine program is what will get us through this and into pandemic recovery mode. I support vaccine passports for the duration of the pandemic, because they are a valuable risk management tool for non-essential businesses, events and spaces. They are largely supported by small businesses who want to avoid further disruption, and who also feel responsible for the safety of their employees and patrons. Additionally, non-essential businesses have the right to refuse at their discretion, just like individuals. I would, of course, support existing exemptions to vaccine requirements, such as medical reasons or those made on the basis of Charter rights. I share concerns that this will create a two-tiered society, and further exacerbate existing polarization. The pandemic has exposed many societal cracks, and division may be just one more issue we are being forced to confront. It is important to listen with an open mind, be objective, and keep a respectful conversation going.

How have you seen change in the riding since COVID-19 struck?

I understand that people are fed up with lockdowns and public health restrictions. It’s been a long pandemic and the pushback against government interventions is completely understandable, and we have certainly seen an uptick in libertarianism in the rise of the anti-lockdown/anti-mask movement.

As it pertains to COVID-19 specifically, what can our riding do to ensure the safety of community members now, and into the future? (What has COVID-19 taught us?):

There is always a balance to find between individual autonomy and public good – we need to look out for ourselves AND each other, and public health measures are the most effective way to do both.

As it pertains to New Tecumseth specifically, what can constituents expect under your leadership?

The main issue I’m concerned with in New Tecumseth and the surrounding area is the quality of tap water. I have only recently become aware of the woefully inadequate municipal water treatment in Tottenham and surrounding areas, and I think it is a completely unacceptable situation. I will advocate for cooperation between all levels of government and to see that residents in Simcoe-Grey receive access to clean drinking water.

What are your thoughts on the timing of this election?

It’s hard not to be cynical about this election. The minority parliament was perfectly functional, and cooperation between parties has only strengthened legislation. It is hard not to see this as political opportunism. The Liberal Party sees this moment as their best shot for a majority, so here we are having an election overlap with the beginning of the school year during a fourth wave of a pandemic. Additionally, Elections Canada has cancelled the Campus Voting program for this election, making it more difficult for post-secondary students living away from home to cast a ballot. I encourage all post-secondary students to go to elections.ca to order their special ballot voting kits before September 14.

What are your priorities for change in our riding – both in the short-term and in the long term?

The Green Party is proposing a Green New Deal in order to position Canada as a leader in the transition to a no-carbon economy. The transition is already underway, and it is important to seize the opportunity to stabilize climate systems while also bringing economic and social prosperity to county residents. I would ensure that the county is poised to benefit from federal funding to support green initiatives, such as the home energy-efficiency retrofit industry, which is projected to employ 800,000 people in Ontario alone.

Our economy is highly dependent on agriculture, which is dependent on a stable climate. Regenerative agriculture is a climate solution that improves soil health and creates resilient and profitable farms that don’t depend on expensive inputs. I would see that any farms in our county wishing to take part in the transition to sustainable agriculture would receive the support needed to do so.

What are some of the fiscal challenges facing our riding, and how can we address them?

The main financial stressor in Simcoe-Grey is affordable housing. This is the main factor driving inflation at a time when wages remain stagnant. A feasible portion of earnings to spend on housing is about 30%. However, due to surging housing prices, would-be homeowners are being priced out of the market and renters are having to allocate 50% or more of their income just to live in the communities in which they work. This is not sustainable, and contributes to poverty and food insecurity as people are forced to make hard choices about expenditures. We need a National Attainable Housing Strategy to stabilize housing prices and remove the financial burden that has been downloaded onto municipalities over decades. The Green Party would coordinate with all levels of government and scale up investment in affordable housing, creating sustainably built co-operative and non-profit housing units in numbers sufficient to abate the crisis.

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