Candidate Views - Douglas North
Click to viewWhat is your view on health care provision on the Island?
No answer currently available
No answer currently available
It is key to the successful provision of health services in the island that resources are managed effectively and targeted to maintain an embracing service. Health care should always be free at the point of delivery.
Financial support needs to be increased to support delivering improvements in all aspects of health. This is priority one.
Click to viewDoes the Island provide a good education?
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No answer currently available
Ensuring that the children of today have the best start to their careers is essential for a prosperous and healthy society. Whilst academic subjects should be provided so should vocational matters be dealt with in the same way. The investment in education that has taken place must not be lost. We must adopt policies that are aimed at the needs of the island rather haplessly copy policies elsewhere that may be irrelevant or ill suited.
Yes. Second to health, education needs to be developed and maintained to a high standard.
Click to viewShould the Island be independent?
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No answer currently available
This is a very emotive subject given the current climate, but very careful consideration needs to be given to this idea. Firstly the residents of the island should be consulted by referendum, to establish whether there is an appetite for change, and secondly, any timetable to establish independence must be determined by ensuring improvements in the quality of good governance in the management of the islands affairs.
It is equally essential that the provision of external services currently provided in the United Kingdom, that are of benefit to the island, such as medical care, are not compromised, or are obtainable elsewhere.
The new government needs to conduct full and detailed assessments of the Islands position due to the severe reduction in revenue in order to provide a clean view of the direction Tynwald must take in the future. This exercise will take time and must inform the Islands residents of a reliable and robust way forward.
Click to viewWhat are your views on the islands taxation regime and VAT?
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No answer currently available
The current low tax status of the island is crucial to the success of the economy and indeed, to some extent mitigates the high costs of living experienced by everyone.
The VAT position with the United Kingdom and the recent changes in the agreement have highlighted how vulnerable we are to them and we should now be looking very carefully as to whether or not it would be more beneficial to create our own system of indirect taxation to fund the services and life we enjoy.
Raising taxes to increased funds to pay for services is not an option and that due prudence in Government spending should be a priority.
The new VAT Sharing Arrangement has been finalised. Careful negotiations need to be undertaken with the UK, with political allies on board at that time with good relations being fostered now.
An all powerful taxation commission should be setup to advise Tynwald on the way forward providing the foundation for future policy.
Click to viewIs inflation hurting the Isle of Man?
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No answer currently available
Pay and social benefits seldom keep pace with or ahead of inflation and rising costs reduce the income and spending within the island and its businesses.
To remain a competitive trading partner with the rest of the world Government needs to focus very carefully on those areas that have the biggest impact on maintaining a good competitive partner.
We have witnessed how badly some matters, such as the User Agreement and the management of the affairs of the MEA have been handled, which has had financial consequences for everyone. Some a lot harder than others.
Residents have resorted to purchasing goods via the Internet to make large savings. This will harm retailers and damage our economy.
Click to viewShould there be state owned monopolies or free market competition?
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No answer currently available
It can be argued that the Government is providing services that normally would be considered to be operated within the private sector as distinct from a nationalised operation. We have seen widespread privatisation in the United Kingdom that has not been successful, for example the railways, for which the UK tax payer is now paying more for this than when it was a nationalised industry. This does not mean that it is not a viable consideration if it is carried out correctly.
Given the island status we have, any privatisation must be conditional on the Government retaining a stake in it to ensure that the services remain for the benefit of the island and not become a pawn on the stock market.
We have seen this with the Steam Packet and the Airline.
A full review of state own monopolies required to be urgently undertaken to assist the review of revenue following the reduction of VAT.
Careful consideration of each entity remains to be undertaken before Tynwald decides on a way forward.
Click to viewShould we have an open seas policy like the open sky’s policy?
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No answer currently available
Yes! Provided that it is properly regulated to ensure that affordable travel is maintained in order to ensure that our trading and tourist economy is allowed to flourish.
However whilst the Link Span agreement is in place, any decision to progress this matter cannot be considered until comes to an end in 2026.
I would be wary of promoting an open seas policy due to the past failures to operate more than one carrier. Fair and reasonable controls need to be promoted on our sea carrier to ensure fares are fair.
Click to viewDoes the Island do enough to protect its environment?
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No answer currently available
More could be done in this field to achieve greater energy efficiency both to protect our environment and profitability by encouraging more households and businesses to seek solutions to non-carbon forms of fuel, the harnessing of tidal and wave power and the promotion of electrically powered vehicles.
Given the beauty of the Manx countryside the use of wind power needs to be very sensitively dealt with so that it doesn’t prejudice the visual amenity and enjoyment of it.
More is done to protect our environment by legislation and social attitudes.
The work done by voluntary organisations in the countryside should be commended.
Click to viewWhere do you see the future of the Islands economy?
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No answer currently available
The future success of the islands economy will be determined by demonstrating open, effective and efficient governance and that the island is an affordable and accessible place to do business both in the finance sector as well as tourism and manufacturing. The Government has made excellent progress in encouraging diversity such as the aircraft and shipping registers but need to go further to obtain other areas of trade. There needs to be a balance of economy so that no one area dominates the market, thus ensuring a spread of income sources.
We must continue to diversify the Islands economy in all sectors.
The development of small industries would provide sustained employment and assist all areas of our economy.
Click to viewWhere do you think new jobs can be generated?
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No answer currently available
We need to encourage businesses to develop all over the island and not just in a particular region so as to bring prosperity to all given the infrastructure spin offs that can result. We would seek to form a charity to lease suitable sites and with the assistance of organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce, the Institute of Directors, successful businessmen and businesswomen encourage investment into these areas.
With a country of this size, in the end it is only the Government that can create the correct environment for new jobs and businesses.
I would support investment particularly in small light industry initiatives. ( for the above reasons)
Click to viewShould the Chief Minister and MLC’s be publicly elected?
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No answer currently available
Yes! The Chief Minister should be popularly elected from the members of the House of Keys. We believe that prospective candidates at a General Election should announce their intention to stand as Chief Minister and provide a manifesto as to their policies if successful. MLCs should be subject to public approval.
I have always supported public election for members of the Legislative Council and will continue to do so.
I would only support public election of a Chief Minister if a properly though through bill contains the transparent machinery which was clearly understood by all.
