Debate held at Tofield School five days before Oct. 19 federal election

By Patricia Harcourt
Editor

A full discussion of issues took place at the Tofield School’s federal election debate for the new riding of Battle River-Crowfoot, even though two of four candidates were not present due to unforeseen circumstances.

Attending were Conservative candidate and incumbent MP Kevin Sorenson and Green Party candidate Gary Kelly. Two other candidates, Liberal Andy Kowalski and NDP Katherine Swampy were unable to come after Kowalski suffered an accident and Swampy attended a family funeral instead.

Swampy’s campaign manager Ellen Parker, who has been a candidate in the past, took over for Swampy. But the Liberal platform was left absent from the discussion.

Students brought forward questions for the candidates, starting with a request to explain what in their background lead them to want to become an Member of Parliament.

Sorenson said his grandfather homesteaded in the Killam area, becoming a municipal councillor for many years and a local MLA for a time. Sorenson said he expected to be a municipal politician but never expected to be an MP for so many years.

Kelly said he was “very passionate about politics in Canada,” adding: “I believe in democracy. I’m running because I want to bring the values of the Green Party forward,” about the economy, the community and the future.

On behalf of Swampy, Parker read a letter explaining her family has had three deaths since Oct. 1st. Having missed one funeral she was unable to miss another, she explained. Parker said Swampy was born to be a politician, carrying with her strength of character, wisdom beyond her years, a deep heart, as well as being a graduate in economics from the University of Alberta. She is on leave from a public service job to run in the riding.

The candidates were then asked what each considered the most important issue in the 2015 federal election campaign, which will be held on Monday, Oct. 19.

Kelly cited the need to diversify the economy, and bring in new technologies to help increase new jobs. “There are some fantastic technologies out there,” he said.

Parker worried that “many people have been laid off,” locally due to the provincial downturn of oil and gas prices affecting labour. “We will work hard to create alternate energy in order to create jobs,” she said. Other issues were student debt, childcare and accountability in Ottawa.

Sorenson cited “security of our country,” and the need “to keep Canada safe.” But his primary issue was the economy, and the “slow recovery” from the global recession several years ago.

He said he hears from people telling him in his riding that they aren’t working any more but still have their payments to make. And he defended his Conservative government’s emphasis on trade agreements, stating “we have to be able to trade” because Canada is an exporting country. His party’s three-pronged approach was to keep low taxes, create jobs and develop labour skills, and get trade agreements to export agriculture, energy and manufacturing products to other parts of the world.

Candidates were asked what role is most important to an MP, with Sorenson stating that representing his constituents in caucus and cabinet, and listening to them was the most important.

Kelly agreed with Sorenson: “We will listen to you, take the message back (to Ottawa) and will fight for you,” he said, promising his party would never “whip votes” to make a member vote a certain way in the House of Commons. He promised to either vote his conscience or the will of his constituents, if that is apparent.

Parker said there are many under-represented voices and groups in society and the NDP’s job is to take those voices with them to Ottawa. But the parties must work together on Parliamentary Committees, which she says is not happening now, in order to get things done. She hearkened back to the days of Tommy Douglas, who co-founded the CCF-NDP movement on the Prairies in the 1930s and is considered the father of medicare, and the late Jack Layton, who created the “orange wave” as the NDP leader in the 2011 election campaign.

The role of the Senate was another question for the candidates. Kelly said the Senate provides a check and balance to the power of the MPs in Parliament by vetting bills that are passed by the House of Commons.

“The Green Party would bring everyone together, have a conversation on if we need the Senate,” before proceeding with necessary amendments, he said. “Personally, I believe the Senate should exist but with rules that reflect transparency,” and elect Senators instead of appointing them.

Parker decried the power centralized within the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the block voting that occurs in Parliament and the erosion of Parliamentary Committees in their ability to work on and improve bills as they move through the system. As for the Senate, “we’ve come to the conclusion it’s time to abolish it,” she said, referring to the NDP.

Sorenson provided some context on the institution by stating the Senate was put in place to offset the power of the more highly populated areas in the eastern parts of the country. “I think the Senate is good thing to keep but it has to be reformed,” he said. Trying to abolish would be too divisive requiring the re-opening of the Constitution.

Regarding the issue of student loans being a burden on those attending post secondary institutions of learning. Parker said it is now twice as hard for graduates to find jobs. The NDP proposes to wait until a grad is making $26,000 per year before requiring them to start paying back their student loans. Plus, the NDP advocates more grants for students and to reduce the annuity interest on loans.

Sorenson’s campaign manager Steven Snider spoke in the final part of the forum to allow Sorenson to leave and attend a funeral, as well. Snider said giving a completely free education might prevent the hard work students often do in order to qualify for grants, and the government already subsidizes adult education significantly.

Kelly said the Green Party wanted to give students “a leg up so they are not crippled by loans when they get out of school.” Plus, the party would cap the amount of student loans that must be repaid to $10,000.” As for abolishing tuition fees, he said the party would look at how countries offering free post-secondary education are faring if that was the political will. But he feels that the federal government should be giving more money to the provinces for education.

The final question dealt with candidates’ opinions on how best to protect people’s individual human rights while also trying to keep everyone safe from terrorism, citing Bill C51, which was passed in the last session of Parliament.

Parker said the country is a safe one and people should not be acting out of fear. “We don’t need to whip up a climate of fear,” she said, due to conflicts happening overseas. She suggested providing support and understanding for frightened youth to prevent escalations into hate crimes; “Bill C51 doesn’t help, it names everyone a terrorist if you stand up and fight something or march for a cause.”

She suggested making people feel included and welcome in their communities, rather than taking away rights in defence of security.

“Bill C51 gives far too much power to the police and CSIS,” said Kelly, saying a person could be named a terrorist if they oppose something peacefully.” The Green Party would repeal that legislation if elected, he said. “We already are safe. We have a fantastic police force.”

Snider said the Bill C51 brought Canadian laws in line with its international allies to stop terrorists. These powers are necessary to find and stop those who want to do harm to others, he said.