The race for the Oak Bay Gordon Head riding is going to be an exciting one if Wednesday’s all-candidates debate was any indication.
Liberal candidate Alex Dutton and NDP candidate Bryce Casavant wasted no time in an attempt to expose holes in the platform and record of incumbent MLA and Green Party leader Andrew Weaver. Likewise, Weaver returned the favour. The University of Victoria Student Society hosted the event, with a student-centric crowd (of all ages) offering lively boos and cheers in the approximately half-full, 323-seat David Lam Auditorium.
The debate, moderated by CFAX’s Adam Stirling, started calmly focusing on topics such as increased access to post-secondary education and the expansion of open textbooks.
“There are more innovative ways we can go ahead and make sure every student in this province has the access to the 22 public college and universities available,” Dutton said. “We know that investment in specific areas such as tech, math and engineering are a priority… The B.C. loan forgiveness [program] is important. It allows physicians, lawyers and other professionals to go out and serve their community and… it makes sure post-secondary remains secure and affordable.”
Casavant took a more direct route, calling post-secondary tuition as out of control.
“It’s too high, students are paying out of pocket, and debt is the result,” Casavant said. “We need a properly funded education system, not just for wealthy that can afford access to a quality education but for all British Columbians.”
Casavant added that he, more than anyone on the panel, understands this as he is currently paying his doctoral tuition while working for the government.
“I was fortunate to achieve government employment upon graduation from my masters degree and I still find it difficult to pay the [doctoral] bills.”
Weaver, a longtime professor at UVic, brought up its campus food bank as a sticking point.
“It is simply unacceptable that we have a food bank on campus that is heavily used on campus at UVic, why is that the case,” Weaver said. “Because we have a track record of this government over the last 17 years of putting their interests ahead of people’s interests.
“When we talk about issues facing students like poverty, debt, the question we should be asking is not how do we get them out of debt, it’s why are they in debt in the first place?
“[My party doesn’t] just think about the quick fix, we ask why are we here in the first place.”
Things got heated later when Weaver questioned Dutton’s statement regarding the Liberal government’s track record of job creation. Dutton fired back, questioning the statistical validity of Weaver’s claim. Dutton’s response brought a smile from Weaver, which Dutton returned.
Another priority topic this election, the fentanyl crisis, brought out some differing ideas.
“Harm reduction is the direction we need to go,” Dutton said. “[The Liberal government] called this what it is, a public health crisis, and we were the first province to do so. When the feds dragged their heals, they wouldn’t approve supervised consumption sites, so what did we do, we came up with a solution to make sure there were overdose prevention sites. That’s what we could do, and what we did do.”
Casavant, however, said the opioid crisis is amplified in B.C. because of ongoing cuts to social services.
“The reason why we have this problem… is because of cuts to social services, public services and a lack of investment into mental health and addiction services,” Casavant said. “This lack of funding is the root cause problem, it’s a contributing factor.”
Casavant also questioned the Liberal government’s decision not to support an NDP bill from the fall which would have banned pill presses in B.C.
“These are the presses being used on fentanyl, and where is that [bill] today, it’s on the floor. Why is it not supported and protecting our children today? It doesn’t’ make sense, come on.”
Weaver addressed the fentanyl crisis in his response to how the Green Party would provide additional resources for support services, for mental health and sexualized violence.
“We’re not talking about the fentanyl crisis we’re reacting to it,” Weaver said. “Throwing more money at services isn’t dealing with the problem, you need to put people in homes.”
