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Go Bingham or go home

Liberal candidate wants to tackle big problems in a big way BY GLORIA J.
Bingham
Ian Bingham with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. SUPPLIED PHOTO

 

Liberal candidate wants to tackle big problems in a big way

BY GLORIA J. KATCH Special to the VOICE

The cannabis industry has both problems and potential, and in recognition of this, Ian Bingham, who is a federal Liberal candidate running to represent Niagara West, hopes to solve several of Niagara and Pelham's pot problems if elected. In fact, after speaking with the Voice, he was on his way to St. Catharines MP Chris Bittle's nomination party. MP Bill Blair, from Scarborough East, who helped usher in the marijuana legislation in Ontario, also attended. Blair was the former president of the Canadian Association Chiefs of Police, and made headlines on a variety of issues as the Toronto Chief of Police from 2005 to 2015, before being elected to office.

Bingham said they discussed hosting a meeting in Pelham regarding how ministers and municipalities could collaborate to solve some of the local marijuana issues. However, Bingham reported Blair is waiting for a Liberal candidate to be chosen in Niagara before he will commit, or be able to schedule a meeting.

Niagara is one of the largest areas in Ontario devoted to pot development, and millions of dollars are being pumped into local agriculture, Bingham said. The legalization of marijuana undercuts the black market, which results in fewer people prosecuted for this personal choice, which is ethically important to Bingham, a criminal lawyer.

However, one of Niagara's strengths as an agriculture producer is its capability to produce bio-fuels and renewable energy sources.

"I would like to see us specialize in green energy jobs," he said.

The windmills that dot many rural areas in Niagara are from other countries like Germany, and Canada need to build its own industry to mitigate and eventually eliminate its dependence on fossil fuels. More solar panels need to be implemented, as well. Bingham indicated bio-waste digesting, which he described as a "giant composting system," creates heat energy from decomposing materials underground. Ethanol production is another option. He believes investing in green energy would replace many of the industry and factory jobs lost in manufacturing.

When he was 18, Bingham recalls acting as a guide to younger Toronto students by taking them on canoe trips up north, and said he has always felt close to the environment. "After the kids stopped whining about their iPods," Bingham believed they learned to appreciate Mother Nature, and hopefully the importance of environmental conservation and preservation.

He loved science when growing up, and so the idea of acidic oceans and melting icecaps causing climate change and erratic weather patterns are catastrophic to him. This issue tops the list of the Liberal platform, and carbon tax and pollution pricing will be a part of the upcoming election, pointed out Bingham, adding, "There is a lot of information on that."

One of the reasons he chose to represent the liberals on a federal, rather than a provincial level, is that he wanted to deal with “larger problems.”

While education mainly falls under provincial jurisdiction, Bingham said the federal government does provide some revenue and can make changes in legislation to possibly curtail the provincial government slashes to educational programs. The Ford government has eliminated many of the grant programs in post-secondary education, implemented higher repayment plans on student loans, and, as of last week, there were proposals to change kindergarten from a full-day to a half-day program.

"That's the most shortsighted thing that we can do," he said. When young adults do not have education opportunities, it leads to a society fraught with problems. There is a close correlation between the lack of education to poverty, drug abuse and the criminal justice system, he noted. As a criminal lawyer, Bingham has had to deal with youths and minors charged and sentenced to detention facilities. He believes the criminal justice system needs an overhaul, and needs to be more rehabilitative, eliminating recidivist rates. He asserts that judges are also not educated on trauma and in dealing with sexual abuse cases, which affects how sentences are deliberated.

Judges also need to know more about child and youth crime resulting from behavioural problems, and mental health issues in general. He cited the rehabilitative systems in Scandinavian countries as being better models for improving society.

Bingham studied criminal law, and particularly common law in Moncton, New Brunswick in a French immersion program. He was stationed out east in the military. Even at that time Bingham knew that he eventually wanted to become involved in politics, which would require fluency in French. He began practicing as an employment and immigration lawyer, and once he passed the bar, he became a criminal lawyer.

The Grimsby resident litigates and spends most of his time in court, and consequently experiences antiquated and "unjust laws" that need changing. He says the time for complaining is over. The only way to make legal changes is through legislation, which is another reason politics is his next career choice. If elected, Bingham said he will "pass off" his private practice to devote full-time to his constituents. At 29, he plans to marry, but does not have any children, and can commit to his passion for politics.

For the first time in history, the number of seniors outnumber any other population group in Canada. The drastic demographic change requires a lot of changes with regard to health care and housing.

"They say humans require the most health care the first and last six months of their lives," Bingham noted.

As a result, the Liberals are attempting to develop a seniors department that links students up with seniors, which serves a dual purpose. Many students need housing while in school, and they can receive that by living with a senior, while in turn assisting them with household duties and chores. The linking program is beneficial for both generations to learn and understand each other, as well as to reduce the demand for support workers in each community. Bingham said the program would allow seniors to remain in their homes longer and improve their quality of life.

Liberalism is Bingham's preferred political choice. He believes the party thrives because of its "openness and healthy discourse." In the military, he said he felt there was "lots of discretion given to different levels of leadership.” Unlike what most people perceive of the military, he said it was more like, "a democracy within a democracy," which suited Bingham as he said he is "not a blind follower.” Similarly, he is confident about representing the needs of his riding, no matter the diversity of his constituents.

Bingham had an opportunity to meet briefly with Prime Minister Trudeau following his visit to Brock University on January 15. Trudeau gave a brief speech and said that in future there would be more complex problems to solve. His campaign slogan offering more "Hope and Hard Work" was well put, said Bingham.

The Prime Minister encouraged his audience to remain optimistic, and Bingham had a chance to exchange a few words with him in French. Bingham predicts Trudeau will win a second term of office. Of the NDP leader, he said Jagmeet Singh is not considered strong enough and may not result in heading the NDP federally if he loses in his B.C. riding. Progressive Conservative leader Andrew Scheer hasn't been able to "capture the hearts and minds of Canadians yet."

Bingham and Erica Commons, who is from St. Catharines, are the only two candidates running for the Liberal Party in Niagara West.

"Anyone can throw their name in the hat," he said.

The date for selecting the Liberal representative hasn't been set for the upcoming fall election as yet, but Bingham is ready. He's been ready for most of his life.

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