The candidates hoping to be elected in the Cariboo-Prince George riding tackled issues ranging from reconciliation with Indigenous peoples to improving care for seniors to the opioid crisis during an on
Incumbent Conservative Mline debate on Monday night.
The all-candidates’ debate, hosted by the Prince George Citizen, Prince George Chamber of Commerce and Real Estate Board of Northern B.C., was streamed live online. Due to technical difficulties a recording of the debate was lost, and won't be available to view online.
Incumbent MP Todd Doherty, Liberal candidate Garth Frizzell, NPD candidate Audrey McKinnon, Green party candidate Leigh Hunsinger-Chang, People’s Party of Canada candidate Jeremy Gustafson and Christian Heritage Party candidate Henry Thiessen took part in the debate.
Debate moderator and UNBC political science professor Gary Wilson put a series of 12 questions to the candidates, who each had between 30 and 60 seconds to respond.
The Liberal government has made progress on the issue of reconciliation, including the introduction of the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation happening on Sept. 30, Frizzell said.
“We got a lot of work done in the past six years,” he said. “We have to keep moving on this path.”
McKinnon said the NDP have committed to fully implement the 94 calls to action identified by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, unlike the half-measures delivered by the Liberals.
“First we need to find every child and bring them home,” McKinnon said.
Thiessen said it’s time to scrap the Indian Act and update it.
Doherty said the Conservatives would invest in public health care and improve long-term care for seniors.
“We have failed our seniors when they needed it the most,” he said.
By contrast, Gustafson said his party would look to the private sector and mixed private and public health care systems to improve care.
“We would adopt a European model,” he said.
Hunsinger-Chang said the Green Party would look at drug decriminalization as a way forward to combat the supply of deadly street drugs fueling overdoses in Canada.
“The opioid crisis needs to be addressed as a health care crisis, not as a criminal crisis,” she said.
General election day is Monday, Sept. 20. If you did not receive a voter information card in the mail, which tells you where and when to vote, you can register to vote online through Elections Canada until Tuesday or in person at any Elections Canada office.
You can also register at your assigned polling station on election day. To register to vote you must be a Canadian citizen, be at least 18-years-old on election day, and prove your identity and address.
There is also still time to apply to vote by mail, the deadline for applications is Tuesday.
The Elections Canada website has further information on voting, polling stations, ridings and more.
