Freedom Flyer 12

By JO ANN SMITH GIBSON
Staff Reporter

The big question at Tuesday night's all-candidates meeting in Mississauga East wasn't on free trade, bilingualism or school funding.

The question on the minds and lips of everyone was: "Where was John Sola?"

Liberal candidate Sola's decision to spend the evening knocking on doors rather than attend the all candidates meeting sparked angry comments from both P.C. candidate Bud Gregory and New Democrat Sal Manni.

"You have the responsibility that if you're running, you should be here to answer questions," said Gregory.

Manni called Sola an "enigma" and following the meeting said that a man with no interest in serving the community should not be chosen to represent it.

"He's someone who refuses to show his face publicly," said Manni.

But worker for the Sola camp, Bud Cockerton, says Sola's decision not to appear was based on a prior commitment to canvass with former Toronto MP, John Roberts.

"These meetings are all very nice, but you can't go to all of them," said Cockerton. "The majority of people who go to those meetings already know who they're going to support. The undecided don't go. You're better off going door to door."

Candidates who did attend the meeting, Gregory, Manni and Freedom Party candidate Bill Frampton enjoyed a lively debate before a largely right - wing crowd that was vocal in its support of free enterprise and dislike of government assisted housing and heritage language programs.

Tory incumbent Gregory used his 12-years of experience in the legislature to out-manoeuvre opponents Frampton and Manni and despite difficulties with the sound system, made points in his characteristically blunt manner.

It's never difficult to figure out where Gregory stands on an issue. He made it quite clear that heritage language programs are okay if the people who use them pay for them, he's against banning adult - only apartment buildings, and against free-standing abortion clinics, government-run car insurance and official bilingualism for Ontario.

Gregory's views, however, didn't go uncontested by political newcomer Manni. The 25 year-old restaurant owner started the evening weakly, reading prepared responses to questions. But as the evening wore on Manni tossed his notes away and came alive, especially on the issue of free trade.

A non-resident of the riding, Manni promised that if he's elected on Sept. 10, he'll be a resident of Mississauga East on the 11th.

"Does anyone know of a nice apartment," he queried the crowd of almost 300.

Freedom candidate, Frampton, made a low - key pitch for government based entirely on free enterprise. His quiet, but confident manner of addressing the crowd won him several supporters.

"Since when is it the government's responsibility to provide housing?" Frampton asked a crowd, which responded with applause.

The question prompted Gregory to respond that government should be a mix of free enterprise and social conscience, "and Mr. Frampton, you seem to leave out the social conscience."