Federal candidates take centre stage at forum

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Published on Friday, October 9, 2015

By Kate Jackman-Atkinson

The Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press

Last week, about 80 Neepawa area residents had the opportunity to get up close and personal with the federal election candidates. On Sept. 30, the Neepawa United Church’s Mission and Services committee hosted a candidate’s forum in advance of the Oct. 19 vote.

While the forum’s main focus was child poverty, members of the public had the chance to ask general questions of the candidates for a portion of the two hour event. Four out of the five candidates running to represent this constituency in Ottawa attended the event: Laverne Lewycky (NDP), Inky Mark (Independent), Ray Piché (Liberal) and Kate Storey (Green). Moderator Lyle Watson explained that incumbent MP Robert Sopuck (Conservative) was unavailable to attend due to scheduling conflicts.

‘Why are you running’

The event began with the candidates’ opening remarks, the order of which was randomly selected and Piché spoke first. He began by explaining his motivation for running, “I love Canada, I’m sitting here in front of you because I have many concerns with the path this country is heading down. I’m appalled at the way this government is treating veterans. I’m concerned about the environment and the lack of team work displayed by the present government.  We need to get back on track and invest in our country.  We need to do it now. [The Liberal] plan will infuse money now, this is the time to invest, with low interest rates and too many unemployed Canadians looking for good jobs.”

Talking about children in particular, Piché said, “Every Canadian child deserves the best possible start in life and that a comprehensive approach must start early. High quality, affordable child care options are critical.” He added that the Liberals would work with provinces, territories and indigenous populations to create a new national early learning and child care framework, which would invest $20 billion over the next 10 years. He added that they will also introduce two new options for parental benefits to be more flexible for family and work circumstances. 

Storey used her opening as an opportunity to educate voters about the Green Party, “People often ask me, ‘Why do you want to run for the Green Party?’ And I tell them I’m running for democracy” She continued, saying, “Greens are the only party that gives you an MP who can vote with their conscience and represent you...  I’m part of a growing number of Canadians who are voicing their discontent with all the status quo parties.” The environment is the foundation of the party, but Storey explained that there is more to the party, “Greens understand that it’s the environment that creates jobs. Greens have even deeper roots as a party for peace and against poverty. We’ve grown into a national party with policies on everything… The Green party has the best jobs creation strategy. The Green plan is put an army of carpenters, electricians, plumbers and welders to work making homes more efficient.  Saving you money, while saving the climate.”

Talking about poverty, Storey said, “Dealing with poverty is one of the best things we can do to stimulate the economy, make our streets safer and lower our taxes.”

Independent candidate and former Conservative MP Mark came out of the gate swinging against current Conservative party leader, Stephen Harper. “I don’t think this country can afford four more years of Stephen Harper… I’m speaking from experience. I’ve never ever experienced a man so possessed with power and control over other people. This country is at a cross roads, either we restore democracy to the people of the this country, or we’re going to keep going down the same path. He governs for the one percent, the billionaires,” he said. 

Talking about poverty, Mark said, “It’s not only children who are impoverished, look at the senior citizens… Poverty exists at all levels.” 

Lewycky, a former MP, opened his comments referencing author and former Neepawa resident Margaret Laurence, “I thought, she must have some inspirational thoughts for us. What can I say about Margaret Laurence? She was characterized by an intelligent, forward looking attitude. She must have wanted to vote NDP” 

Talking about poverty, Lewycky said, “Recently, Mulcair announced that the NDP government will commit to reducing income inequality through Canada’s commitment to eliminate child poverty. Canada committed to eliminating child poverty by the year 2000, we’ve had all these Conservative and Liberal governments who agreed to that, and did absolutely nothing. Mulcair is encouraging all party candidates to recommit themselves to that issue.

Reducing child poverty

The candidates were first asked how they or their party would work to establish an overall strategy to reduce child poverty.

Mark answered first, saying, “If we attack the problem step-by-step, it can be fixed.  The problem is that there’s no will to fix it.  Issues like poverty get lost.” 

Storey explained, “The Green Party plan…includes looking at income, looking at housing and looking at the supports for families.  With income, we have to look at fixing the employment insurance program so that people can get the benefits that they paid into.” She added, “We have to address the fact that there are 11,000 children in care and that is leading children into poverty and into despair.”  

Lewycky explained that the NDP approach is multifaceted, “One of the hallmarks [of the] platform is the child care program.  The average family is paying $1,000 per month, per child. We want to have an affordable program, which means that we will create and maintain 1 million high quality child care spaces and cap fees for parents at no more than $15/day.”

He added, “This would alleviate a lot of the child poverty issues that many are facing. Because spouses who are working can further their career, we’d collect from them in income tax, yet the children would be looked after.”

Piché outlined the Liberal plan, saying, “The Liberal platform is very clear on this, our Child Benefit is the essence. We aren’t prepared to give the Canada Child Benefit to people who are in the one per cent.  We’re going to give that money to the people who need it.” The Liberal plan would provide $533 per month per child.

“If we want to grow as a country, all of us, we’re not bridging that gap.  We need to work together and grow together,” he said. 

Child care to support low income families

With child care being a major component of many of the parties’ platforms, the candidates were asked about the investment in affordable and accessible quality child care as a way to support low income families.

Storey was the first to answer, saying, “We would would start by creating community child care programs. These spaces have to be free to those in poverty… [they] would be a safe space, available 24 hours a day for kids to come, at any age, to have loving care, to have good food, to learn how to be cared for.”

Lewycky talked about how the NDP would fund their child care program, saying, “Currently, there are all these [tax] loop holes being used by CEOs.” He explained that the NDP would close those and use the money to enhance the working income tax benefit and national child benefit supplement. “The working poor and those who have a very low income would have an enhanced opportunity to receive a greater income,” he said. 

Piché emphasized his party’s timeline, “Not like the NDP, we’re willing to do this right away, not four, five and six years up the road… We need to deal with these issues immediately.” He explained their plan to talk to provincial, territorial and indigenous leaders and work on this issue immediately. With provincial programs already in place, Piché said, “It’s not fair for us to come in … and impose the will of the federal government on any provinces or territories. We’re much better to work with them and come up with appropriate solutions for each of [them].”

Mark sees the solution as bringing child care into the public sector, “Already, we have pre-nursery schools, it’s not a big jump backwards from pre-nursery to child care. We already have the infrastructure in place and you’re going to get better care because the people providing the care are better trained.” As for funding this, he said, “All we need to do is quit dropping a few more bombs and that would probably pay for the child care. We waste so much money in this country and we forget about the essential programs that the public really needs.”

Unequal funding for First Nations children

With 14 First Nations in the riding, the candidates were asked about the inequalities in funding for education and child welfare for indigenous Canadians.

Lewycky, who has worked on a First Nation, said, “I think that if we worked together with them, addressed the issues, we would be able to solve some of these problems”

“If we brought the education to them, made sure we have internet and other facilities for them, this would enable them to deal and cope with some of the issues they are facing.”

Piché talked about the work done by provious Liberal governments, saying, “The Kelowna Accord was the brain child of the Liberal Party and when the Conservatives came to power, after three years of working it, the document was basically tossed. The problem is that it addressed many of these concerns. We need to work with First Nations and have discussions and dialogue or nothing will get solved.  Immediately though, we will lift the two per cent funding cap on FN programs for education.  Right now the average First Nation receives about $5,500 per year per child for education, in Neepawa, it’s between $10,000 to $11,000.”

Mark, who has also worked on a reservation sees the Indian Act act the major road block. “The problem with a lot of the aboriginal issues is that until we get rid of the Indian Act, a lot of these problems aren’t going to disappear… The problem is that there’s too much control in Ottawa.”

For Storey, the answer lies in giving First Nations more control. “One of [the reservations visiting during campaigning] is very well managed, [with a] beautiful school and buildings in good repair… On a second one, the kids were going to school in a building I wouldn’t use to house cattle. Heating was almost non-existent.  Houses are falling apart.”

Storey explained that in the first case, “They are in control of the decisions that happen.”  In the second case, she explained, “That band is under the thumb of the government…. Those kids are in desperate need because their resources were stripped away, rivers polluted and place where they hunt were taken away from them.”

Affordable housing is a challenge for many families, especially those with low incomes.  The candidates were asked about their parties’ plans for more affordable housing.

Piché said, “Affordable housing is a problem.  It’s been around for many years and never really been addressed. This is something that we take seriously, this is part of our infrastructure plan, part of where we want to go. It’s an essential part of growth for any families.”

Mark explained, “Affordable housing affects everyone.  I’ve always supported public involvement in low income housing and certainly, this place needs it as much, if not more, than other communities.”

Storey explained that this is part of the Green Party’s plan. “The Green Party has already made a commitment to municipalities to help them with things like affordable housing by committing 1 per cent of the GST to municipalities directly. We’ll also help families through the Guaranteed Annual Income Program, this provides a low level of support to all families that need it.”

Lewycky explained, “The NDP wants to work with municipalities with respect to infrastructure funding and we want to make sure that pensions are raised, so that seniors can afford to be in housing that is acceptable.”

Mincome

The candidates were asked their thoughts about “Mincome”, a experiment done in Dauphin from 1974 to 1979, to test the viability of a guaranteed income. All of the candidates supported further study of the program, although they noted that it would require changes to the tax system as well as a major overhaul of existing welfare programs. 

Debate covered a range of topics

Candidates also answered questions about a potential ban on Roundup and other glyphosates;  ways of improving attendance at schools, especially on reserves; overcome issues that dissuade welfare recipients from going to work; staying in touch with this diverse constituency; the end of the Canadian Wheat Board; the affordability of post secondary education and pension protection.

“What kind of country do you want to leave your grandchildren?”

As the event came to a close, candidates had one more opportunity to persuade voters. Lewycky closed first, saying, “I’ve been listening to voters and if elected, that’s exactly what I would do. I am proud to be with Tom Mulcair NDP party, we have a workable plan for families and we’re going to put it to work. NDP will balance the budget, stimulate the economy by asking corporations to pay a little bit more, to pay their fair share… I’m willing to put my federal, my provincial, my municipal, my first nation, all my academic and other experience to work as well.  I’m very excited to be part of the change that I believe we need in this country. We can repair the damage that has been done. 

Mark re-iterated his concern for he country under Prime Minister Harper, saying, “Can Canada stand another four more years of Stephen Harper? I believe three out of four Canadians say, ‘No, we want change in Ottawa.’ You all know now I operated as a former Member of Parliament, I always put you first, not some leader or some party.  I leave you with one question, what kind of country do you want to leave your grand children?”

Storey continued to promote the benefits of a Green vote, saying, “People are telling me they don’t know who they’re going to vote for, and then they say, they love Green leader Elizabeth May, but they’re hesitating to vote Green. I say, ‘Well, why not? What’s holding you back?’ When did you stop feeling empowered and when did you stop owning your vote?  The Green vote is a worthwhile vote because we’re non-whipped, I don’t have to follow the party line, I can vote with my conscience.  Greens don’t split the vote, we grow the vote. We have the best policies, we’re brave. I’m running for democracy, it’s time to feel good about your vote.” 

Piché was the last to speak and criticized Sopuck for not attending. “On July 24, even prior to the writ being dropped, this debate was set up, all five candidates agreed to be here. And now, here we are, [Robert Sopuck’s] not here tonight. He shows a very great lack of respect towards us, the candidates and most of all, towards all of you who attended here tonight hoping to see democracy at its best. He has failed us again in my opinion.  The Liberal platform has lots of issues involved in it, but the bottom line is that we are trying to make Canada a fairer place, we are trying to grow Canada as a whole.  We need to grow Canada for this to work. The most common message we are hearing is ‘We want change’, this is a similar message across Canada. I am presenting myself as the best choice.  Bring the voice of the riding to Ottawa, not the will of Ottawa back home, which is what has been happening for far too long.  It’s time to get back to grass roots.”