It was a heated night last Wednesday when Conservative candidate Jim Hillyer did not attend the Picture Butte election forum.
Halfway through the night an update, gleaned from his election website, was read a loud explaining Hillyer’s absence. It indicated he will not be in attendance at anymore election forums, instead he will be door knocking for the remainder of the campaign.
Green party candidate Cailin Bartlett was also not in attendance with no reason offered.
Picture Butte and surrounding residents heard from NDP candidate Mark Sandilands, Liberal candidate Michael Cormican and Christian Heritage Party candidate Geoffrey Capp.
Following a few minutes of introduction by each candidate the evening’s moderator Roelof Scholten opened the floor for questions from the audience.
Sandilands opened by complimenting his previous main opponent, retiring MP Rick Casson, for being at all of the forums over the years, seeing as Hillyer was not in attendance.
Sandilands said he had seen Hillyer earlier and he was fine and that there were rumors that the conservative candidates were urged not to go to the forums.
“We can put aside games one practical step at a time,” he added.
A few of the plans Sandilands had to offer included giving small businesses a break from nine to 11 per cent, strengthening pension and retirement savings, and better access to child care and education.
Let’s go back to the “Canada we used to have, where we help each other, family is first and nobody is left behind,” said Sandilands.
“There needs to be respect for democracy and families need to be first,” said Cormican. “We’ll look at health care, secure retirements, supporting families and helping students directly with tuition.”
Capp’s focus was on building strong families, creating a family care allowance of $1000 per month, legal protection for the unborn, restoring traditional marriages, a debt free Canada in 25 years time and secure borders.
“We’ll bring peace and prosperity back to our country,” he said.
Issues ranging from abortion to legalizing marijuana to immigration were brought up by audience members. When candidates were asked how the public is supposed to vote for the candidates not in attendance and to be able to keep the public’s feet on the ground all the candidates responded with the same answer: To not give the absent candidates their vote.
Audience members raised same sex marriages and abortion issues.
Sandilands responded by saying that someone should be able to form a union with the person of their choice and that those in a same sex marriage can also participate in adoption.
Where abortion isn’t allowed abortion numbers are still the same,” said Sandilands. “Making it illegal will not erase number.”
Cormican said abortion is a tragedy but women should have the choice.
“Abortion should be safe legal and rare.”
As for same sex marriage he said everyone is equal and should be treated with respect and dignity.
Capp’s response was that legislation for legal same sex marriage was rushed through and that a relationship between a man and a woman is that of the highest order.
Tom White commented about the government’s bad track record for holding such frequent elections.
He asked if plans were going to be around for a coalition government so there wouldn’t be an election every 18 months.
All three candidates responses favored proportional representation with elections every four years.
The issue of legalizing marijuana came up. Both Sandilands and Cormican said to decriminalize it and allow medicinal marijuana.
“Possession in small amounts should not result in a criminal record,” said Cormican.
When it came to the cattle industry the candidates said money should be invested to have better food safety inspections. Cormican emphasized having a partnership with farmers beginning within the first year of Liberal leadership.
In closing the candidates were each given two minutes to give a summary.
Cormican began his closing statement by first pointing out all the things he feels the NDP party is doing wrong and then went on to say,
“We’ll improve healthcare, educate our teenagers and protect our seniors.”
“We recognize family as the foundation and strength of our country,” said Capp in closing. “We’ll create child care allowance and tax reliefs so kids can be raised at home and not by daycare workers.”
Sandilands’ closing remarks included promising to fix and clean up Ottawa as well as increase transparency and information.
“We’ll hire more doctors and nurses, create tax cuts and help family budgets.”