All six of the candidates in the York-Simcoe riding were present for the Bradford Board of Trade’s (BBT) Meet The Candidates Night at the Bradford Community Centre on Wednesday.
The two hour event allowed for each candidate to answer six specific questions previously submitted from the public.
Hot topics of discussion throughout the night included taxes, the environment, job creation and health care.
Mediator for the evening was Rick Turner from the BBT who fielded the questions for the candidates.
To start, each candidate was given a few minutes to introduce themselves and speak a bit about their party’s platform.
On the panel from left to right, sat Conservative incumbent Scot Davidson, People’s Party of Canada's (PPC) Michael Lotter, New Democratic Party’s (NDP) Jessa McLean, the Green Party’s Jonathan Arnold, the Liberal Party’s Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux and the Libertarian Party’s, Keith Komar.
Davidson was first to speak.
“Canada’s Conservatives have a plan that will lower taxes and put more money into your pockets and create better, high paying jobs in the community that we love,” he said.
PPC's Lotter emphasized his party’s need to “protect our identity as a country, protect our environment and make sure every Canadian is taken care of.”
McLean from the NDP noted that “we are at a pivotal moment in history” where climate change and inequality can be addressed across the country. Their platform is aimed at making life more affordable for all Canadians.
Arnold from the Green Party introduced himself as a family man with a small business. “I am running because we have division and divisal politics that are taking over our country and dividing our communities, and I want to see us go in a progessive way.”
Wesley-Esquimaux from the Liberal Party noted that there are many issues that still need to be addressed but “for me, my focus is on child welfare and indigenous issues and making sure that the Liberal party holds to the promises it’s made.”
Komar of the Libertarian Party stated how the “government is upside down” and how it promises everything to everybody. He and his party would like to see it brought down to a “referee” position, thus leaving more money in the pockets of the people.
When asked how each party will ensure transparency and accountability and address conflict of interest within the government, Lotter insisted the government is too big and needs to be shrunk down in order to keep everyone accountable.
Davidson said it is all about “being transparent” and that his door is always open for people to come speak to him.
McLean rebutted, “It’s nice that your door is open but we know corporate influence is a huge part of how the Conservative party does business.”
Arnold stated Davidson and the Conservatives are hiding behind the Lake Simcoe issue “because the Conservative government doesn’t have a strong climate action platform, and that lacks transparency.”
Davidson responded that he is “certainly not hiding behind it” and just listening to what the people of York-Simcoe want. He said the Lake Simcoe clean up fund is important to the riding and “a jewel in our community" and needs to be kept clean.
Talking about job creation and sustainability, specifically in the York-Simcoe riding, Wesley-Esquimaux noted how the job market today is changing, and it all boils down to education. “We have to train our children about different types of work,” she said.
Arnold boasted the Green Party has the most aggressive plan when it comes to creating good jobs, by stopping oil subsidies and transferring work to a local green economy, which would create 300,000 jobs nationwide.
But Lotter noted the 300,000 jobs wouldn't be immediate and could take up to 20 years to get there. “Some people can’t wait 20 years to get a good paying job,” he said.
McLean said the goal of the NDP is to create local infrastructure projects, raise the federal minimum wage and make it easier for people to join unions.
Lotter said the PPC party would lower taxes on businesses, reduce corporate tax from 15 percent to 10 percent, and abolish capital gains taxes, which would put $7 billion back to the corporate world.
“The government doesn’t create jobs, we create jobs,” said Komar. He made reference to the Canadian dollar and how it has been devalued. He said the Libertarians would employ a flat tax for everybody which would create a better environment for people to open up businesses.
When asked how the parties will be able to put more money back into lower and middle income households, McLean brought up Pharmacare, and the goal for head to toe healthcare coverage, providing free transportation and cutting the costs of cellular phone service in Canada.
Arnold mentioned the Green Party’s plan to start taxing large e-commerce businesses like Amazon and Google, and making post secondary education more affordable or “free like other G7 countries.”
“I don’t know anything that’s free on this planet, like education and healthcare, someone is working on the other end,” said Komar. His idea is to work on these issues at a local level, not federally. “Stop handing the money to Ottawa, that’s the solution to these problems right here,” he said.
Davidson mentioned the Conservatives plan to scrap the carbon tax, take GST off all heating and energy costs, making maternity benefits tax free, making transit passes more affordable, and implementing the children’s fitness and arts tax credit as well.
“A two party system will never make life more affordable for you,” said Arnold. Noting that both Conservatives and Liberals have “corporate interests in mind.”
Lotter said the PPC would keep money in Canada by stopping payments to the United Nations. “It frustrates me to know that the money I am paying in taxes is going to other countries and their issues.”
In the middle of the debate, a Yes/No question was asked to the panel:
Will your government support the addition of required food labelling for GMO ingredients in products?
All answered Yes, except for Lotter.
In terms of tax cuts, McLean noted the NDP would close tax loopholes and end fossil fuel subsidies and handouts to oil executives, and tax the rich.
Lotter said the PPC believes in fair taxation for everyone, with three levels of tack brackets, and those making $100,000 a year or more would be taxed at 25 percent.
Davidson mentioned the Conservatives plan to cut foreign and corporate welfare and “make large tech companies pay their fair share of taxes.”
McLean rebutted that some of the large tech companies are the largest donors to the Conservatives and Liberals and that taxing them is “not going to happen.”
Komar called out on every single party saying each would run a deficit.
Wesley-Esquimaux said the Liberals would tax lower income people less, and put luxury taxes on vehicles and boats. “ I think it’s important that we look at where resources come from. We have to start thinking together to keep our government accountable, we can’t have free everything, it doesn’t work that way.”
Toward the end of the meeting, the candidates were given two minutes to make closing remarks.
Komar reassured residents that he is willing to be the “squeaky wheel” if elected. “You can go for the status quo, continue to vote for the promises, or vote for someone who wants to represent you.”
“We have to speak up and vote,” said Wesley-Esquimaux. She apologized for her late candidacy but said she is prepared to take the riding’s words with her to Ottawa. “There’s a lot to do,” she said. “I am here because I care.”
Arnold noted the many challenges that lie ahead, but sees them as an opportunity for change. “We can agree that burning fossil fuels is going to come to an end, and pollution is pollution. Please take into consideration that our environment is our economy.”
McLean urged the crowd to break their old habits and invest in people.
“People didn’t pour into those advanced polls because they wanted the same old story. Stop voting how your parents voted, it didn’t work for them and it’s not working for us and it won’t work for your children. Think differently, be hopeful,” she said.
Lotter noted that we are on a “slippery slope” and that on Oct. 21, there is an opportunity to end the cycle. “We have an option to vote for the PPC which will bring about change, leave money in our pockets and grow our economy.”
Davidson was last to speak, noting that he will continue to work hard for the riding as he has been since the by-election in February. “We will put more money in your pockets and make life more affordable for you. I look forward to earning that trust one more time.”
After the debate, candidates returned to their respective booths located around the room and had a chance to speak with some of the members of the audience.
“I felt like it went really well,” said BBT President, Tina Morrison. “I know they have a lot to say."
She said sometimes what people want to hear from the candidates gets lost when there is too much debate and rebuttals, but this format allowed everyone a chance to speak and be heard.
“Which is what the purpose of this was,” she said.
To learn more about the York-Simcoe candidates, check out our special Federal Elections Page here.
Election day is this Monday Oct. 21. Polls will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. To learn more about where you can vote, check out the Elections Canada website here.
