Simcoe North’s federal election candidates faced questions from the business community, residents and the media during an all-candidates forum Thursday night in Orillia.
Mnjikaning Fish Weirs
The Orillia District Chamber of Commerce, which organized the event at city hall, kicked things off with a question about the Mnjikaning Fish Weirs, asking if the candidates were open to working with municipalities, Rama First Nation and Parks Canada to raise the profile of the National Historic Site by turning it into an interpretive centre.
“You can count on me to advocate for this project,” Liberal candidate Gerry Hawes said.
Incumbent Bruce Stanton, running for the Conservatives, said municipalities are “always in the driver’s seat” when it comes to projects like that, but added he would be “most happy” to help at the federal level.
Stephen Makk, of the People’s Party of Canada, said he’d like to see a study conducted that weighed the cost of the project against the benefit to “all Canadians,” but he seemed to be on board with the concept.
“The idea of having a facility that celebrates First Nations as technological innovators is particularly interesting,” he said.
A sign and a plaque aren’t enough to recognize such a historic place, according to Christian Heritage Party hopeful Chris Brown, who said he would support the project.
“As an Indigenous person,” NDP candidate Angelique Belcourt said she is “committed to working with Indigenous change makers” to ensure the project is done appropriately.
Green candidate Valerie Powell said she would make sure the Indigenous community would be the main player, and further noted the Green Party would implement all of the recommendations made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
High-speed internet
Candidates were asked about their plans to provide affordable high-speed internet for all Canadians.
Makk noted he is, as part of his job, designing systems for broadband wireless internet and said he would work with smaller providers to help defend them “from these monsters like Rogers and Bell.”
The Liberals have been “relentless in promoting competition,” Hawes said, adding that is the best way to bring down prices. He pointed to the government’s plan to make high-speed internet service available to all Canadians by 2030.
That’s not soon enough, Belcourt countered.
“We cannot wait until 2030,” she said.
Stanton said he would work with the private sector to ensure citizens’ needs are met, while Powell noted the Greens would commit $400 million over five years to address the issue and would amend Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission regulations to increase competition.
Brown was having none of it.
“I have some misgivings about 5G internet,” he said, adding it “quite frankly scares me.”
He worries about the effects of radiation on human health, and said his cellphone gives him headaches.
Mortgage stress test
The stress test potential home buyers need to pass in order to qualify for a mortgage loan has negative consequences, according to the Lakelands Association of Realtors, which sponsored Thursday’s event. It asked candidates about their thoughts on the test.
Stanton said he would “work on a fix” to the test and noted his party’s plan to allow for 30-year mortgage amortization.
The stress test “gives borrowers important wiggle room” during tough economic times, Hawes said.
“Watering down or eliminating the stress test is a bad idea,” he added.
It’s a measure that protects borrowers, Powell said, noting she would like to focus on increasing the housing stock.
“Then the affordability would follow along,” she said.
Makk doesn’t see any problems with the stress test, and Belcourt also sees value in it.
Affordable housing
The candidates were asked what they would do to ensure Simcoe County receives adequate funding and support for affordable housing. They were asked to share new steps they would take, not ones that have already been taken.
Hawes listed some of the steps the Liberals have already taken.
The People’s Party would take steps to “get government out of the way” and reduce the capital gains tax to make life more affordable for all.
Increasing housing density and implementing a guaranteed basic income would be a priority for Powell.
Belcourt agreed that a lack of a guaranteed income is a barrier to affordable housing and said the NDP would create 250,000 units in its first five years in office.
Stanton would work with provinces as well as groups at the community level to come up with a solution, while Brown wants to provide tax breaks for those who are renting.
Climate change
There were varied responses when candidates were asked how they would tackle the issue of climate change.
Brown reiterated his skepticism about the human contribution to the problem, saying “climate hysteria has a hidden agenda that isn’t about climate” but rather making more money for governments.
“Climate change is real,” Belcourt responded. “I just want to establish that for any other parties that might deny that.”
She referred to the NDP’s pledge to eliminate subsidies to the fossil-fuel industry.
Hawes praised the Liberals’ record on climate action, including the carbon tax, while Stanton talked about his party’s 55-point plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Powell said the Greens have “stronger and more stringent” targets than any other party.
It’s the people of Canada who want to see movement on the issue, Makk said, urging them to take individual action.
“Don’t wait for government,” he said.
Opioid crisis
When asked about the opioid crisis, it became personal for some candidates.
Powell said three of her friends have lost their kids to opioid-related overdoses.
“It’s not limited to the lowlife on the street with a needle,” she said, noting friends and neighbours are among the victims.
The Greens would declare it a “health-care emergency” and would decriminalize all drugs.
Stopping drugs from getting across the border would be a priority for the Conservatives, Stanton said.
“We have to come at it on all fronts, and part of it is interdicting these substances,” he said.
Brown cited the success of safe-injection sites at preventing overdoses and helping people get off drugs.
“These sites do not encourage use,” he said.
Addiction is an issue best left to groups such as health agencies, Makk said.
“There are limited things the federal government can do because addiction is a personal problem,” he said.
Makk would want to look at the root causes of addiction. Hawes agreed, but added, “It needs action by all levels of government, agencies and communities coming together.”
Belcourt said three of her clients have died of overdoses in the past year. She wants it declared a public health emergency and would like to see the decriminalization of all drugs, as well as drug companies being held accountable “for their part” in the problem.
Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpott
When it came time for audience questions, Barb Shakell-Barkey brought up Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpott.
Wilson-Raybould, the former justice minister and attorney general, accused the Prime Minister’s Office of trying to influence her actions during the prosecution of SNC-Lavalin. She resigned from her cabinet post and was then expelled from caucus by the Liberal government. Philpott subsequently resigned from caucus.
Wilson-Raybould was Canada’s first Indigenous justice minister, and candidates were asked what they felt the controversy said about the government’s treatment of Indigenous and women MPs.
“That will really be for the public to decide,” Stanton said.
Hawes said he was “disappointed” about the loss of both MPs, “but it says nothing at all” about the role of Indigenous people or women in government.
Regardless of what it says about their role, the government needs to be more transparent overall, Belcourt said.
Powell referred to it as “an example of power differential.”
“That power differential between white males and any female is always there,” she said.
Brown told Hawes to take note — he was about to agree with him.
“I don’t think it had anything to do with these people being women or Indigenous,” he said, but acknowledged “the optics look bad.”
Makk said “cabinet secrecy” is preventing Canadians from learning all of the details surrounding the controversy. He quipped he had hoped Wilson-Raybould and Philpott would have joined the People’s Party, “but one can only dream.”
Working together
If the polls are any indication, there will be a minority government. That would mean MPs would have to work together and compromise to get things done.
Ken Szijarto asked the candidates to provide examples of how they have convinced others to join their side when there has been a difference of opinion.
Powell has worked with people who have dementia. At one point, they were not allowed to occupy psychiatric beds because they were told dementia wasn’t a psychiatric problem. She helped convince the health-care system it was.
Brown cited his time working in the fields of child psychology and family counselling. He often had to deal with courts, the Children’s Aid Society, police and many others.
Hawes cited his years of experience working behind the scenes in politics and said that would be helpful in the event of a minority government, which he believes can be “most effective.”
Makk is hoping for a minority government, “even if my party isn’t part of it.”
“Forget about your own self-interest, and listen, listen, listen,” he said.
It shouldn’t be about convincing people to take the same side, Belcourt argued, but about “open, creative dialogue.”
“Indigenous people have always had consensus governments,” she said.
Stanton pointed to his time as speaker and deputy speaker of the House, which required him to work with all parties.
Canadians will go to the polls Oct. 21.
