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Elmira, Ontario, Canada | observerxtra.com | Volume 30 | Issue 06
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Living Here | 23
With the writ dropped, the gloves come off in Kitchener-Conestoga
Future of Menno Street remains an unknown
Julian Gavaghan
Steve Kannon
Observer Staff
KITCHENER-CONESTOGA MPP MIKE HARRIS JR. defended his boss Doug Ford calling a snap election for February 27 after rival candidates fighting for his seat said the vote was unnecessary and accused the Ontario Premier of “grandstanding” over the American tariff threat. The Conservative, who also serves as Minister of Red Tape Reduction, said it was vital to give his own party another fouryear term to provide a stable provincial government during Donald Trump’s full period in the White House. “We have laid out our plan. We have said, ‘Here’s what Ontario is going to do,’ and we feel that it was important to go out to the people to get that mandate,” Harris told The Observer on Tuesday. Among the measures Ford has proposed is a $22-billion stimulus package to support workers if Trump does launch a trade war, after the American leader paused planned 25-per-cent tariffs on virtually all Canadian goods at the last minute on Monday. “So far, I can tell you, from the folks that we’ve spoken with, the overwhelming majority of them are quite keen on seeing us
continue to fight and marrying up that four-year term with the U.S. presidential term. “Because the last thing we need is, six months to a year from now, going into an election where things could be really in upheaval. We want to make sure that we have a stable government here in Ontario that will be able to match what’s happening in the U.S. from a timing perspective.” He also said that Ford, as premier of Canada’s biggest province, had a vital role in defending the national interest from economic attacks. However, both the NDP candidate Jodi Szimanski and her Liberal rival Joe Gowing said there was no need to call an election now, given that the Tories already have a big majority and did not need to go to the polls until June 2026. “I think it’s a waste of taxpayers’ money and it’s a waste of time,” said Gowing, a 42-yearold businessman who first ran in the riding in 2018. “We had 16 months on a regular general election fixed date, we should have let it go. There was no need to call this, other than for personal gain. “That being said, am I happy there is one now? Yes, because I’m able to now show that Mike isn’t the person that we need.” → CANDIDATES 4
Observer Staff
Elmira’s Jenn Basler with her golden retriever Griffin on Sunday at Riverside PS before heading out with her pack on their 3-km walk, which can help work on Andrea Eymann dog training and socialization. See story on p. 12.
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ADD “DO NOTHING” TO THE list of options for Menno Street as development promises to disrupt that section of Breslau. Planning for the future extension of Ottawa Street from Kitchener, Woolwich has been looking at renaming a portion of Menno Street. The changes would also fit in with the new Madwest subdivision that would see some 1,500 new homes on about 145 acres of land between the existing Elroy Acres subdivision and Fountain Street. With the township originally looking to retain the Menno Street label on the residential stretch, council was leaning toward maintaining the name on the section between Fountain Street and Shantz Station Road following an appeal last month from Conestoga Meats. Meeting Tuesday night, councillors suggested another option, change nothing, before opting to defer the matter. The residents of the 15 homes on the small stretch of the street are asking the Menno label remain with them. Matthew VanderMeer said every homeowner signed a petition asking the township to do just that. Pointing to a longstanding policy that uses numbers to → MENNO STREET 7