Many people came out to the All Candidates Debate at the Centre in Dryden Wednesday night.
The debate featured Liberal Candidate Karen Kejick, Green Party Candidate Ember McKillop, NDP Candidate Glen Archer and PC Candidate Greg Rickford.
The questions focused on regional issues and what would be done to help people at a local level.
The first question was on how each candidate would go about being heard at Queen’s Park.
NDP’s Glen Archer says the NDP has always been a strong voice for the north talking about road infrastructure among other issues.
Liberal Karen Kejick says she doesn’t run away from difficult questions and will make sure to provide progress and bring concerns to Queens Park.
Green Party’s Ember McKillop says they are not held to a Green Party Mandate and can be more free with how they handle their region’s issues.
PC’s Greg Rickford cited previous work as a federal minister and also talks about his past work helping regional industries.
The second question asked what each candidate will do to assist the region’s economy.
Karen Kejick mentions how the Liberal Government put forward 85 million dollars towards Grassy Narrows when NDP and PCs voted against it and also mention they will be moving forward with highway twinning.
Ember McKillop says the Green Party will help small businesses deal with the sudden increase in minimum wage and lowering payroll tax rates too help compete with bigger companies.
Greg Rickford says the Conservatives will remove red tape, lower hydro rates, lower corporate taxes and ensure resource and income sharing remains in the region.
Glen Archer talks about how the NDP will lower hydro rates by 30 percent, protect jobs in the resource sector and work to get the Ring of Fire going again as well as increase broadband service.
The third question focused specifically what will be done about our high hydro rates.
Ember McKillop says the Green Party will stop pouring money into outdated energy sources like nuclear citing its cost to upkeep.
Greg Rickford talks about how the Conservatives will ensure dividends will go to customers not government, give tax credits instead of burying costs of conservation programs and not put a carbon tax on your bill
Glen Archer mentions the NDP will end mandatory time-of-use premiums, end unfair rural rates, put Hydro One back into public hands.
Karen Kejick says the dividends are used to pay for hospitals and schools, and they put Hydro One wages under review.
The fourth question was about what each party will do about regional health care.
Greg Rickford says the Conservatives will stop hallway healthcare, protect front line health workers, significant investments in mental health care, 15 thousand long-term care beds, address traveling far for health care.
Glen Archer says the NDP will help reduce traveling far for health care, end hallway medicine, lower wait times, introduce universal pharmacare and reduce over-crowding.
Karen Kejick mentions that the Liberals plan to improve health outcomes in the region, improve cancer care and dialysis care in the region as well as hip and limb replacements and bring federal partners to the table.
Ember McKillop says the Green Party will ensure home care for people who should have it, universal dental care, expand nurse practitioner access and access in remote communities.
Other questions were also brought up by the audience that discussed issues such as hydro rates, how the parties plan to pay for their promises and what will they do about the education system.
