Doug Ransom running as an independent
By Bill Rea

Pottageville resident Doug Ransom believes people's rights have been gradually taken away of the year, so he wants to try and spread the word about that.

A good place to do that is from an election platform, so the retired Toronto police officer is running as an independent in Oak Ridges - Markham in the Oct. 10 provincial election.

Ransom said he has "no illusions" about his chances of election, but added his candidacy might turn out to be a "media event."

He is concerned that successive provincial governments over the last several years have have brought in legislation that "takes away rights that we believe we have."

Access to information is one of the areas where he believes rights have been eroded. He said the freedom of information legislation actually offers all kinds grounds to withhold information, thus forcing people into litigation.

He also said none of the parties seem to be addressing this, "because they all reap a benefit."

"We are substantially over-legislated in the area of the flow of information," he remarked.

"This is the largest riding in Canada," he added. "Getting the word out there is a key issue."

Ransom also said he has positions on other issues. "You certainly can't win an election by being a oneissue candidate," he observed.