The last question allowed from the floor seemed to generate the most interest at the Lumby All Candidates Forum Wednesday.
Neville O’Grady asked all the candidates what their parties would do about GMO (genetically modified organisms), which are banned in several countries around the world, and how GMO will affect Canadian farmers’ ability to sell their produce internationally.
“This is a life and death struggle,” said O’Grady.
All candidates, Greig Crockett of the Green Party; Janna Francis of the Liberals; Colin Mayes of the Conservatives; and Alice Brown, speaking for Nikki Inouye, the NDP candidate who could not be present because she is taking a short university course in Toronto, responded to the question.
“The scientific community has researched and approved GMOs but it does need to be monitored,” said Mayes.
An audience member commented, “How are you going to control it? You can’t stop the wind.”
Crockett said simply, “The Green Party says no to GMOs.”
Brown said that the NDP is against GMOs and is also concerned about increasing electromagnetic radiation in the environment.
Francis admitted that she has heard science on both sides of the argument. “I would take a more active role in government in dealing with this.”
The All Candidates Forum was hosted by the Lumby Chamber of Commerce and moderated by president Bill Maltman and director Dwayne Hackett. There were about 40 people in attendance.
Each candidate had a chance to make an opening statement speaking about their personal background and their parties’ policies, then answered questions prepared by the Lumby Chamber of Commerce, then took questions from the floor.
The candidates recognized the seriousness of the issue as well as that of sustainability and the use of fossil fuel on the environment.
“Fuel is the basis to our economy and so long as we are held hostage to oil we will have problems. The goal of the Green Party is to move us gradually off oil to renewable energy sources,” said Crockett.
He added that this can be done as shown in Sweden where 44 per cent of the electricity is from the wind and in Germany where wind and solar power technology is creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs.
Francis said: “We need cleaner oil sands development in the process of reducing dependence on fossil fuels, government regulations and incentives to invest in emerging technologies.”
Mayes spoke about his government’s bill to provide penalties for gas price gouging and the goal to have 90 per cent of electric generation be carbon free by 2020.
“The high price of oil is good in that it is forcing us to change our ways. We have to think about the oil brokers who look for excuses to drive prices up.”
Brown talked about the carbon tax which is set to go up and increase fuel prices which affects truckers who are going broke because of high fuel costs.
The last chamber question asked candidates what they would do to reduce the federal deficit.
Francis outlined the Liberal plan to reduce the deficit, lower tax rates and introduce spending discipline while Mayes explained the necessity of government spending to help the country recover from the recent recession. Brown focussed on the current government for spending wastefully and the lack of high-paying jobs. Crockett agreed that Canadian manufacturing jobs are being given away and that any increased tax burden should not fall on the middle classes. His party favours a carbon tax to decrease demand on fossil fuel, with relief for rural users.
The first question from the floor was emotional: “I don’t think I can make a difference anymore. I’m tired of the dirt digging. We didn’t send you to do that. You all have good ideas. What would you do to co-operate to help the country?”
Mayes answered first. “We have a monkey wrench in the works, that is the Bloc, which has one plan and that is to break up the country. It makes it difficult for any party to get a majority,” he said. “I do believe that parliament is somewhat broken. What we are seeing is a big influence of the media on public policies. It’s been skewed as it’s been messaged out by the media. We’ve got to get the facts out. It’s important to try to work together.”
Brown said, “The New Democrats have always worked with minority governments and we get things done, things like health care and pensions.”
Francis said her party is not afraid of collaboration.
“Politicians can be very uncivil to each other. We must agree to treat each other with respect and work toward cooperation in the House of Commons.”
Crockett noted that the Harper government could have had the support of parliament at the time of the budget and that no other government in Commonwealth history has been found in contempt of parliament, which means that the government was not providing sufficient information to parliament as seen by the other political parties. Crockett would like see some form of proportional representation in parliament which promotes cooperation.
The candidates were also asked about how they would help solve local issues.
Crockett said it was as simple as talking to people. Mayes stood on his government’s accomplishments and contact with local leaders.
“Nikki has indicated to me that she intends to have an open-door policy,” said Brown.
Francis said, “For me, it is about listening, it is about engagement.”
There were still a number of people with questions when it was time for the candidates to sum up.
“We’re in this election because the government was found in contempt of parliament. To me, that’s a very serious issue,” said Francis, citing a number of government services that were shut down without consultation, including the office of the Veterans’ Ombudsman.
Crockett said, “ The big question is who are you going to trust with democracy?”
Mayes asked voters to look at his government’s record.
“Why isn’t parliament working? People are criticizing our leader. We have been getting the job done for Canadians. There was no reason to have this election. It could have waited for another 18 more months.”
Brown re-iterated the NDP record of getting things done when in a balance of power in parliament.
