The first All-Candidates forum is in the books.
All five candidates took part in the first debate Thursday night in Red Lake.
Howard Hampton of the NDP says the Conservatives have done nothing to help the forestry industry in the north.
Hampton stated the downsizing of the Dryden mill is representative of what’s happening in the industry in the last decade.
He says the government has failed the Canadian economy.
Hampton says we’ve lost value added opportunities and jobs under the current plan.
Conservative candidate Greg Rickford fired back stating the government has invested millions of dollars to support the Dryden Domtar Mill.
Rickford notes the mill has been able to make major environmental enhancements and diversify its product through federal funding.
Liberal Bob Nault believes not enough has been done to diversify the local economy.
Nault says his goal is to diversify local economies and he’s focused on establishing Dryden as a “Regional Hub”.
The long gun registry also came up during the debate.
Greg Rickford highlighted their work in scrapping the registry, noting both opposition parties have been fighting changes to gun rules in Parliament.
Bob Nault says bringing up the issue is a fear tactic and Howard Hampton calls it a dead issue.
Green candidate Ember McKillop and Independent Chicago Kelvin-Boucher also took part in the forum.
