According to the Conservative candidate, the idea of civic engagement "absolutely must involve young people" within the process.

"We've got to get through to them. We've got to help them see the need to vote," says James.

When the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada and the Canadian Alliance merged a few months ago to become a new political entity, says James, it heralded a new opportunity to make these things happen.

"This new Conservative party is an absolute grassroots party. There is no hierarchy from the top down. It's the one party that can be driven from the bottom up. So they (younger voters) can have the things they want if they'll join," he says.

When James considers what the most important issues are for the Peterborough
region, he doesn't hesitate to go to a local issue that has received a lot of press over the last few years.

"Doctors, doctors, doctors," says James.

"We have to change the formula for new graduates interested in becoming a part" of the health care system, says James. "And we need more transfer payment money to flow from the federal government to make that happen."

James notes farm families are also an important part of local political issues, calling their situation "one of extreme crisis" for the 2500 farm families in the area.

"We have to get our (Canada-U.S.) border open again," to Canadian beef products, says the Conservative candidate, noting that Americans have faced a three to five per cent increase in their beef prices because the products are not flowing freely across the border.

"And we have a surplus of meat on this side," says James, adding this makes no sense.

James says a third issue of extreme importance for Peterborough is getting VIA
Rail to Peterborough again. "It's absolutely fundamental," he says, noting many people will choose to use VIA to commute to the Toronto area if the service were in place.

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