Review-Mirror

By Margaret Brand The Review-Mirror Candidates across the country and at least one contender from Leeds Grenville are describing the 11-week federal elec- tion as a marathon. The election was called on Sunday by the visit of Prime Minister Stephen Harper to the Governor General to dissolve parlia- ment more than a month early. "We are going to have more time to get to all parts of Leeds Grenville. Sometimes in a shorter campaign it's difficult to get to as many doors as I'd like to," said Conservative MP Gord Brown. "To be on the Canadian marathon kayak team I know a little bit about long races and marathons and I and my team are ready to go," said the long-time MP who is now facing his fifth election as a Conservative after first being elected in 2004. He ran for the Alliance Party in 2000. Brown's team will be having their campaign office in the former LCBO store at the Brockville Shopping Centre. His team is covering the riding with satellite offices to be opened in Gananoque, Kemptville and Prescott. Brown sees the longer campaign as an opportuni- ty to do more door to door campaigning. "I've got to get out there and see as many peo- ple as I can. I still have events that I'm attending that I've been invited to as the Member of Parlia- ment," said Brown who has been an MP for eleven years. "When you are very busy the time moves very quickly. It doesn't seem like 11 years but I'm very proud of the things I've been able to accomplish for Leeds Grenville in that time," said Brown who doesn't want anyone to doubt his enthusiasm for the job. "There is still more I want to do as a Member of Parliament," said Brown Green Party candidate Lorraine Rekmans is dis- appointed by the early election call but eager to get on the campaign. "I have a lot of interest in the campaign. We have volunteers. We have some money. We are looking forward to an exciting campaign," said Rekmans who was nominated by her party in January. Conservative coffers unlike the other parties are large enough to sustain a long campaign "Personally I don't think Democracy should be driven by money," she said. "The Green Party is really an underdog in this election and certainly it's going to put a strain on our finances to carry a cam- paign for this long peri- od," said Rekmans who is no novice to being a Green candidate in a Federal election. She was in two elec- tions in the riding of Algo- ma-Manitoulin-Kapuskas- ing before moving to East- ern Ontario in 2001. On Tuesday she was attempting to register as a candidate but was having difficulty to find out to who she should take her papers to on the ballot. Candidates submit a $1000 deposit along with 100 signatures. "I'm really proud to be on the ballot with two other women. It's really an exciting time to see so many women involved in politics," she said. Liberal candidate Mary Jean McFall has barely been off the campaign trail since last September when she declared her candidacy for the nomination and in December won her party's three-way race for the rid- ing's nomination. "We've been cam- paigning pretty steadily ever since," said McFall who opened her campaign office in Brockville on July 2 "The umbrella of rules changes but the activities stay the same" she said of her post-election call cam- paign. McFall isn't concerned about resources for her Justin Martin President 613-530-0773 RR 2 Westport, ON K0G 1X0 jtmartin@kingston.net 4 Septic Systems 4 Excavating 4 Landscaping 4 Road Work 4 Rock Excavating 4 Trucking 4 Residential & Commercial Snow Plowing & Sanding 4 Damp Proofing LTD. 75 units from 6'x6' to 12'x36' Easy year round access right in Westport 75 units from 6'x6' to 12'x36' Easy year round access right in Westport 75 units from 6'x6' to 12'x36' Easy year round access right in Westport 75 units from 6'x6' to 12'x36' Easy year round access right in Westport Soho's Self Storage Soho's Self Storage Soho's Self Storage Soho's Self Storage Soho's Self Storage 75 units from 6'x6' to 12'x36' Easy year round access right in Westport 43 Bedford St., Westport 613-273-8848 soho@rideau.net Mirror The Review Thursday, August 6, 2015 Serving North Leeds and area since 1893 Vol. 123, No. 31 $1 incl. tax "In the depths of winter I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer." Albert Camus Overlooking Lake, Locks & Falls at Jones Falls, Elgin Exceptional Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner Snack Bar Now Open 613-359-5500 Reservations Recommended. HOTEL KENNEY Since 1877 •Continued on page 3 Call 359-5660 53 Main St., Elgin duncan s TV & APPLIANCES Range •Self Clean •Hidden Bake Element •Express-Select® Controls Regular 899.95 Model #CGEF3030PW $ 799 95 Refrigerator •Custom Flex Door™ •Bright LED Lighting •Spillsafe® Shelves Regular 999.95 Model #FGTR1845QP $ 799 95 Continuing a 30 year tradition serving North Leeds - Delivery & Set Up Available Portland and its harbour will be even busier than usual this Saturday as the Big Rideau Lake Association celebrates its 100th anniversary and the annual Manotick Classic Boat Club comes to town. See pages 9-14 for more on the weekend and the region's rich boat building history. Sat., Aug. 15 See page 8 for the full 2015 line-up 100th Anniversary & Manotick Classic Boat Club Show Sat., Aug. 8. See page 9-14 Leeds Grenville candidates ready for federal election campaign The Westport and Rideau Lakes Chamber of Commerce is looking for more members to help the chamber's activities by paying their membership dues. Only 30 businesses have renewed or joined the chamber in 2015, which, at mid-summer, is serving its most important function for the communi- ty, operating the Welcome Centre on Spring Street. At its' high point in the last decade the group had around 140 members. Chamber vice-presi- dent Georgia Farrell is dis- appointed in the response to the membership drive but realizes the chamber directors didn't get the membership packages out soon enough. "They were late because we were develop- ing a membership pack- age," said Farrell who has also been renovating the chamber's web site. The new package includes multiple choices of benefits of web pres- ence and discounted coop- erative advertising. While chamber presi- dent Debi Stoness is tak- ing leave of some of her duties while she spends time in British Columbia working and visitng fami- ly, Farrell has been taking over some of her tasks. This summer traffic at the Welcome Centre has been high and the 18 vol- unteers have been taking shifts over and above the hours the student employ- ee works. The centre can some- times have upwards of 100 visitors a day as well as cottagers and visitors who use the free wifi access. Just what the Chamber has been up to, and what its future holds, was up for discussion at last week's Village of Westport Coun- cil committee of the whole meeting. The village's Economic Development and Tourism Committee has also been discussing a possible sur- vey of Westport business- es to see what their wishes for the future might be. For more, see Mike McIntyre's column on Page 4. Only 30 Chamber members paid up for 2015

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