By Chad Ingram

Published May 15 2018

Brooklynne Cramp-Waldinsperger says she’s proud to stand behind a number of Liberal programs that are making life easier for Ontarians.

Cramp-Waldinsperger was named the Liberal candidate for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock in the June 7 provincial election during a nomination meeting in Lindsay on May 7.

“I really see the way that OHIP Plus publicly funded tuition and the basic income pilot are making a positive difference in people’s lives” Cramp-Waldinsperger says.

The soon-to-be-22-year-old is a fourth-year political science student at Western University was born and raised in the City of Kawartha Lakes and currently resides in Lindsay. Lindsay is one of a handful of communities that was selected for the provincial government’s basic income pilot project which got underway last year.

The OHIP Plus program provides free prescription medications for residents under the age of 25 and the Liberals are promising to expand the program to include those over the age of 65.

The province’s new Ontario Student Assistance Program is providing free tuition for more than 200000 students from low- and moderate-income households as well as increasing OSAP grants to reduce student debt.

Cramp-Waldinsperger says she’s grateful to be studying at the post-secondary level “however I know many of peers aren’t able to do so because of financial constraints.”

As MPP she says she would continue to advocate for increased access to education which has demonstrated correlation to opportunities in life.

Cramp-Waldinsperger has volunteered with a number of organizations within the riding including the Centennial Place long-term care facility in Millbrook and the Lindsay Rugby Football Club where she’s an assistant coach. She’s also worked for the Learning Disabilities Association which she says showed her the riding requires better services.

“Rural transportation is something our community could definitely benefit from” she says adding that Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock could use heightened social services in general.

Cramp-Waldinsperger told the paper she doesn’t see her age as a drawback but as a strength.
“I see my young age as a benefit rather than a negativity” she says.

“I really think it’s time for a fresh voice in Queen’s Park” Cramp-Waldinsperger continues. “We need somebody who is happy to advocate for constituents.”

On incumbent PC MPP Laurie Scott Cramp-Waldinsperger says it’s Scott’s lack of action on local priorities that has spurred her to run for office.

“Truth be told she hasn’t done a lot for our community” she says.

She adds that Scott and PC leader Doug Ford would cut the $15 minimum wage the Liberal government has set to come into effect next year says they have given up the fight on climate change and will cut public sector jobs.