Reader says most candidates are not very accessible

SooToday.com received the following letter from faithful reader and outspoken advocate, Karrie Oliver, asking our local candidates to be more accessible to their constituents.

************************** Dear editor,

I am writing in regards to Wednesday night’s televised debate and the first question posed.

How accessible are you to your constitutes?

Almost all of the response made me question if the candidates are aware of how they really are.

Jib turner does not live in Sault Ste. Marie.

If he wins will he relocate here?

If not will the tax payers have to pay for his traveling and lodging expenses when he is needed in the Soo?

David Orazitti’s office is as accessible as the Heritage Fund he likes to brag about.

I have called his office on multiple times and no one ever answers the phone.

The voice mail lists his three staff without stating what their job titles are - I am never sure if my concern is being left with the appropriate person.

We cannot leave a message directly for him.

I would love to know if anyone ever has had one of his staff or himself pick up the phone when they make the call.

Everyone I’ve asked always says they got the voice mail.

I had been calling since last week asking about information on the bio jet fuel project which is asking for $200 million in funding and has been given rights to the largest award of Ontario crown land ever in history, according to the May 12, 2011 Toronto Star article by Tyler Hamilton.

I was also looking for the child poverty reduction report he and 10 other MP’s were commissioned to do by last fall.

Your readers might remember the article Fighting The Poverty Trap published in the Star three years ago.

This was my first encounter with David, and his ability to answer my questions has not changed.

Getting no reply by phone, I went to his office and talked to a staff member from behind a glass security window.

She informed me that I could probably see one of his staff or David himself at his campaign office, which I went to.

I spoke to a volunteer, who kindly printed up their progress report.

As I waited outside for my ride, Carmen shows up, the staff member who I had left four voice messages with.

We talked about Rentech Inc., the bio fuel company.

He informed me that it is an Algoma-Manitoulin district issue and that it is MP Mike Brown’s project.

He suggested that I look up Rentech Inc. on the Ontario Environmental Registry website for any assessments that may have been done.

I did the search, Rentech was not to be found on the site.

I feel with David, my calls get screened like I was the ex calling about late child support.

As far as Luke Macmichael and his statement that he replies to every email - no he does not return every email.

At least not the one my good friend sent during the federal election.

He lost her vote.

Celia Ross admitted she does not return every email or is able respond to every phone call in a timely fashion.

That is realistic and honest.

Do I think if she becomes our MP that we will have to talk to one of her staff through security glass in order to enter her office, probably not.

On a side note, why am I comparing David’s accessibility to the accessibility of the Heritage Fund?

The last few weeks I have been working on a proposal for the board of one of our local non-profit organization.

I am dreaming of geothermal energy and solar power.

Every possible source of funding that I have come across, including the Heritage Fund, is reimbursed.

In other words if you don’t have a surplus budget to pay for the whole project up front, these ideas will stay a dream.

For most of us, it will make no difference how much the Liberals put into the fund.

Reimbursed money is money that most cannot afford to spend while they wait for it to be returned.

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