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Feature Article April 29

Federal Election primer

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Scott Reid: Policy advisor turned politician

Scott Reid has just turned 40, but he is already a political veteran, having served as a senior policy advisor to the Reform party caucus from the partys beginnings in 1993 until his entry into electoral politics four years ago. He also served as advisor to the National unity critic between 1993-97 when Stephen Harper held that position in the reform party caucus. Reids family owns the Giant Tiger chain of department stores.

Scott Reid says his passion for politics came from my real interest in public policy. Having worked as a policy adviser I realized that an MP has the most impact on what policies are ultimately adopted.

As a partisan, and a reader of polls, Reid said last week I believe there is a very real chance that we will form a government, and if and when that happens I think the overall general issue of the neglect of rural Canada will have to be addressed by us.

Describing himself as a comparative historian, Reid likes to compare public policy with those employed elsewhere, particularly Switzerland and Australia.

The Swiss have a system of what amounts to a kind of equalization program for some of their counties. A similar plan has been proposed in the United States under the name of the Vermont program. Essentially it would mean providing subsidies for poorer regions within provinces rather than only for poorer provinces. It would obviously require cooperation with provinces, but it is something that might work here.

One of the debates that have been going on throughout this election campaign between the parties deals with the entire issue of regional development, and the Conservative party proposes to make significant changes in that area, leading the other parties to say the Conservatives would eliminate regional development programs.

Scott Reid acknowledges regional development would change under a Conservative government. Im not sure the whole idea of regional development has given much to this region and to regions in the vicinity of here, Reid said, and we will look at the entire area of regional development to make sure it is based on need rather than upon other considerations. Certainly LFL&A is an area of low average incomes.

As far as recent economic development activities, specifically the establishment of a Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) in Frontenac County, Reid said the viability of CFDCs will depend on each individual one and how well it is managed.

Another issue Scott Reid has broached at All-Candidates meetings is the question of property rights, which he says he would like to see entrenched in the Canadian constitution.

Obviously that would require the consent of seven of the provinces so it is not something that is going to happen soon, but the Federal government can start by entrenching it in law. One example of an application that I see is in cases where endangered species are found on peoples property. The endangered species act can be applied and this infringes on peoples rights to use their property as they wish. Recognition of property rights would mean compensation would have to be paid when property rights are affected by other laws.

Reid believes a property rights law would make the endangered species act more effective because when coming across an endangered species, people would be less like to try and destroy it before the Ministry of the Environment finds out and stops them from using their property as they wish.

Reid says that if property rights were eventually entrenched in the constitution it would not necessarily render Official plans and comprehensive zoning bylaws recently passed by many townships null and void, as critics of the proposal say. You can design the property rights provisions very narrowly, Reid said.

Overall, Scott Reid said there is a real attitude of profound scepticism around what politicians say and how true it is. Ive been emphasising this, and I have always tried not to make extravagant promises that I couldnt keep.

With the participation of the Government of Canada