The local and national economy, First Nations concerns, the environment and youth; all issues covered Wednesday night at the Kenora All-Candidates Forum in Dryden.
A good crowd was on hand to hear four of the candidates outline their ideas.
Liberal candidate Bob Nault and NDP candidate Howard Hampton spent the evening sparring against one another, primarily on climate change, the economy and previous decisions when both were in provincial and federal office.
However, Nault also turned his attention to Conservative Greg Rickford at the end of the evening.
He says Rickford is promising a lot of little goodies for the area but is doing nothing to stop a growing unemployment rate.
Nault noted the regional unemployment rate is 13% and is rising every day.
He stresses the Conservative agenda simply isn’t working.
Nault adds he doesn’t have to take political advice from Greg Rickford and Howard Hampton as they have never balanced a budget or voted for a balanced budget.
He points out he succeeded with that for a seven year period when he was an MP.
Rickford stuck to his guns by reflecting back on his past seven years as MP and what he was able to accomplish.
Rickford says his government has refocused its economic priorities of northwestern Ontario, especially in the forestry and mining sectors that were on life support.
He says if re-elected he will again stand up for the values of the region, pointing to gains and promises made during the elimination of the long-gun registry.
Rickford says previous governments destroyed local infrastructure and he’s spent the past seven years fixing it.
He also took a shot at the previous record and decisions made by Bob Nault and Howard Hampton.
The NDP candidate says current Conservative policies aren’t helping the Canadian economy.
Hampton says big corporations and high paid Canadians need to be paying more.
Hampton says the government must take a close look at where to invest funds and not just give it away.
He notes they need to establish a sustainable model to pay for education and health care, two areas he says have been ignored over the years.
Hampton stresses Canada can’t keep borrowing money and local residents should be asking questions on where the money is coming from.
Green candidate Ember McKillop basically stuck to her party’s platform on the economy and the environment.
She encouraged the crowd to look at the “innovative” game plan of the Green party.
McKillop noted she will be able to vote on the wishes of her constituents, without fear of being punished in the end.
She says they need to bring respect back to the House of Commons and end needless bickering.
Independent Kelvin Chicago-Boucher wasn’t in attendance.
The final debate is next Wednesday in Kenora.
