Local debate draws a packed house

By Ken Johnston
Editor

In front of a packed house of more than 100 people Tuesday evening, the four candidates, for the May 2nd federal election, debated issues and answered questions.
First to take the microphone was the Conservative candidate, Maureen (Moe) Comuzzi-Stehmann bringing a message that she repeated throughout the evening. Stehmann said she believes in the leadership of Stephen Harper and that he has steered the country through tough economic times and needs to continue to do so. “This election is an opportunistic one not provoked by us, but by the other parties...It is silly and we need a majority and to get back to work on our economic action plan.” Stehmann added later that she feels that the electorate of the Thunder Bay-Rainy River riding need a seat at the table and that with a Harper majority, that seat would be her if elected.
Incumbent John Rafferty, New Democratic Party, championed his record, saying he has worked hard over the past 2.5 years to be accessible to constituents, travelled home to the riding every weekend and believes that he and his staff have done great things for the people of the riding. He spoke of his efforts to get a bill passed to protect pensions and blamed the conservatives for its dying as the election was called.
Liberal candidate and former M.P. for the riding, Ken Boshcoff also spoke on his record of working for constituents when he was M.P. two terms ago believing he has the best skill set of communication abilities and political experience to get things done in the riding.
As for the election Boschoff said, “For the first time in history a government was found in contempt of democracy. It is shameful and embarrassing on the world stage. I will work to restore credibility and transparency in government if elected.”
Green Party candidate Ed Shields said he is running to create “jobs, jobs, jobs and for the future generation.” He, a PHD scientist, believes that parliament needs more diversity and specifically scientists. “I am running because of Stephen Harper and his lack of willingness to listen to scientists. Parliament needs good information and leaders need to listen to good information, not just tell people what they think. It bothers me that Harper won’t listen to facts.”
Throughout the evening there were approximately 16 questions asked by members of the audience. Perhaps the most polarizing with the crowd was that asked by Jason McQuaker, of Stratton, on gun control and how if elected each candidate would deal with the fate of the Long Gun Registry.
Boshcoff said, “I would keep it and work to improve it and make it an effective policing tool.”
Stehmann said, “It is wasteful and targets law biding citizens and it has to go.”
Rafferty, who McQuaker pointed the finger at for his party killing efforts to recently to abolish the registry, said that he polled constituents and 97% told him to scrap it. “I worked hard to convince our caucus to vote to get rid of it. I voted that way.” He said if reelected he would poll the riding again and do what people wanted him to.
Shields, who said he grew up on a farm and is a gun owner, said that the problem with guns is the perception amongst urban people. “Many Canadians are concerned about crime and they equate all crimes with guns.” He feels that the message is not getting to them about the needs of rural citizens.
Tom Morrish, of Devlin, asked the candidates if they were elected if they would be willing to commit the federal government to being a partner with farmers and the province in the recently announced provincial Risk Insurance for farmers.
Shields said, “Anything that helps family farms as opposed to agri-business, I am in favour of.”
Stehmann said that the federal government supports farmers through transfers of funding to the provinces.
Rafferty said that his party’s platform does support risk management for farmers and that they will work with the provinces on the matter.
Boshcoff said his party plan includes a full review of all farm programs with input from the farmers with hopes of improving them. He also noted that one problem that exists in the country is that every province has their own ideas and needs when it comes to farming; making it hard for a single federal response to the issue. “It would be better for the provinces to come together nationally rather than a bunch of different provinces asking for different things from the federal government.”
Ken McDonald, of Stratton, asked why one party, the Bloc Quebecois, can run in Quebec and be called a national party.
Rafferty said that the Bloc candidates are duly elected and, “I will always defend their right to be there.”
Boshcoff echoed Rafferty saying, “They can in fact run candidates in every riding in Canada if they choose to.” He said that they follow all the proper procedures, being 18 or older, getting 60 signatures of support and putting down $1,000 when they file their candidacy. “That is our democracy.”
Shields pointed to the flaws in the democracy we have saying, “Last election the Green party received one million votes and received no seats. The Bloc received just a bit more than that and got tons of seats. I think this is wrong and would support proportional representation.”
Stehman said, “If you vote Liberal, New Democrat you will get a coalition and you are going to get the Bloc.”
Cecil Ogden of Emo asked if the candidates support higher or lower taxes and how they would pay for their plan.
Shields said he does not mind paying his fair share of taxes but does not agree with Harper’s tax breaks for the rich. “The middle class is dying out because of over taxation.”
Stehmann said, “GST-7%. GST 5%. We are lowering taxes. The Liberals want to increase them.”
Rafferty said his party would give small businesses a 2% tax break. “We all know they are the engine that drives our economy.”
Boshcoff referred to the Liberal platform and said, “There are no tax increases in the Red Book.”
Ed Carlson of Emo asked the candidates, if elected, would they get rid of the cash-cow Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)?
Shields said he does not own a t.v. but does enjoy radio programming from CBC.
Boshcoff said, “I would not get rid of any device we can use to communicate in Northwestern Ontario.”
Rafferty said the services of CBC need to be looked at separately. “CBC overseas and CBC radio French and English are all cost effective. But we need to have dialogue about t.v. Do we want it to be more like BBC? National broadcasters that are commercial free?” Rafferty implied that as a federally funded company it should not be competing with private interests. “We need to decide things like does CBC need to do things like Hockey Night in Canada? I am sure private stations can do Hockey Night in Canada!”
Stehmann noted that CBC media shows are not always friendly to Mr. Harper. “We need more balanced news when it comes to all parties.”
Rainy River Mayor Debbie Ewald pointed to the huge downloading of social housing costs from the province to municipalities and asked if elected, if their respective parties would be willing to have the federal government become a funding partner, easing the burden on municipalities.
Stehmann said that the Conservative government does transfer money to the province. “As your M.P. we will do what is necessary to find a resolution. We all need to work together.”
Rafferty pointed to data that he says shows almost 300,000 seniors live in poverty. “We do have a national housing strategy but if we give the Guaranteed Income Supplement a 15% raise that would ease pressure on social housing.”
Boshcoff said the municipalities can resolve this problem through political channels. “As reeves you can go to N.O.M.A. (Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association) and from there to the province and then to the federal governments. It is a process that works.”
Shields said that through his party’s efforts to create bio-industries they would increase their tax bases and need less help from the government.
Amos Brielmann of Stratton said that the recent contempt of parliament ruling against the Conservatives bothered him and wondered what the candidates would do to make it easier for him to get the information he needs?
Shields said, “We need honesty in government.”
Stehmann said, "The country is in the worst economy since WW II and that they have a plan and the election was not provoked by them. “We need to get parliament back to work and get our economic action plan back on track.”
Rafferty said, “This is what this election is about. I am about open door government. We as M.P.s (in opposition) need information (from the government) to do our jobs. We were not getting it from this government.”
Boshcoff said he would do as much as he could to bring transparency to government and restore credibility.
A young person in attendance noted that a youth program she belongs to has had its funding cut and wondered if the candidates would do anything to help the youth remain active and engaged in society.
Stehmann said that her party has active youth involvement and that they have been engaging them through social media such as Facebook and Twitter. She also encouraged them to get out and vote.
Rafferty expressed concerns about government cuts. “Mr. Harper has said he is going to cut $11 billion but has not told us where. This is another example of the government not giving us the info. we need. I would fight for programs the people need.”
Boshcoff echoed Stehmann noting, “We have an active youth division and are engaged through social media.”
Shields said the youth need to get out and vote to have their voices heard.
In their closing remarks the candidates reiterated much of what they said throughout the evening. The election is next Monday, May 2, 2011. All of them encouraged people to get out and vote.