There was a full house in Bracebridge on Monday night for the first of several federal candidate debates in the riding. The questions from audience members stuck to mostly issues that were affecting the nation.
This included a question on the lack of a poverty reduction strategy. Green candidate Glen Hodgson brought up the idea of a $15 minimum wage. Canadian Action candidate Gordie Merton says supporting local farmers and providing cheaper food would help lower the poverty rate. NDP candidate Matt McCarthy responds that there was a strong need for new jobs and affordable child care. Conservative Tony Clement mentions the need to keep younger generations living and working in the area. Trisha Cowie with the Liberals says their plan is to tax the top one per cent income earners. And Marxist Leninist party member Al Smith says he would like to see more young people working with the elderly.
Another hot topic was the issue of Syrian refugees. Cowie says the Liberal party had stated earlier that Canada should take 25,000 refugees. Clement says their ideal amount is 35,000. Smith suggests the refugee crisis was caused, in part, by Canada’s involvement in the Syrian war. McCarthy responds immediately with ‘we need to get people out’. Hodgson says the refugee crisis was brought up several years ago by his party. Merton says a more peaceful solution would be to set aside money for aide.
Finally the issue of sweeping social programs while keeping a balanced budget was brought up. McCarthy says the NDP has a plan similar to one in Quebec where families pay seven dollars for daycare. But Clement shoots back saying Quebec had recently admitted the program was too expensive for them to run. Cowie joins in warning small businesses to be wary of the NDP party targeting small them with higher taxes. Hodgson suggests stopping the production of expensive fighter jets, and imposing a carbon tax. Smith says there should be a proper rate on resources exported. And Merton agrees there is a need for these family-based services but they could cause debt.
The next debate will be held at the Stockey Centre in Parry Sound next Tuesday, September 22nd.