Candidates united on farmland protection
Candidates vying to become MPP for one of the London region's largest ridings squared off Tuesday night in Watford, leaving only two more scheduled head-to-head meetings ahead of the May 2 Lambton-kent-middlesex byelection.
THE EVENT
The all-candidates night for the Lambton-kent-middlesex byelection was organized by the Christian Farmers' Federation of Ontario, an organization that advocates for family farmers and policies that encourage Christian stewardship, according to its website. The event was touted as a chance to engage in community dialogue, and a place voters could meet with candidates and hear about their visions.
THE CANDIDATES
Five of the eight candidates on the ballot were present: Liberal candidate Cathy Burghardt-jesson, NDP representative Kathryn Shailer, Keith Benn of the New Blue Party, Cynthia Workman with the Ontario Party and Stephen Campbell of the None of the Above Direct Democratic Party. Absent from the event were Progressive Conservative candidate Steve Pinsonneault, the Green Party's Andraena
Tilgner and Family Rights Party candidate Hilda Walton.
THE VENUE
Held in the gymnasium at the recently renovated East Lambton community complex in Watford, about 80 people showed up to engage with candidates over refreshments and snacks followed by a question-and-answer period.
THE FORMAT
To kickstart the event, each candidate was given two minutes to introduce themselves followed by a question-and-answer period. Candidates were given 90 seconds each to answer questions, the first two of which they were given in advance, followed by questions posed by audience members and vetted by organizers. Candidates were permitted two minutes each to address the audience to close the forum.
KEY ISSUES
The significance of agriculture and the importance of preserving farmland was brought up numerous times. Candidates expressed the need to keep rural lands for agriculture, protecting it from development. Burghardt-jesson said: “We have to look at land use planning that takes all sectors into consideration,” adding it was important to have municipalities involved in discussions to balance the power of developers, so “precious agriculture land can't be changed on a whim." Shailer said preserving “prime agricultural land” is essential, “because once it's gone, it's gone.” Benn said “greenbelt-type protections for prime farmland” are necessary.
APPLAUSE METER
Nearly every response by each candidate regarding protecting farmland was met with cheers from the audience. When a healthcare question was brought to the candidates, Burghardt-jesson was met with applause for her view that Queen's Park must better address the shortage of health care workers by “opening up more spots in medical schools” and streamlining ways for immigrants with medical backgrounds to attain certificates to work in the medical field. Benn found it “mind-boggling” the government of Premier Doug Ford hasn't brought back health care workers who lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic, when vaccine requirements were in place.
INTERESTING MOMENT
Although the evening was mostly cordial, Benn referred to the NDP as “one word: Marxism,” in his closing remarks adding he feels he represents “the only choice for voters who seek a return to common-sense conservatism.”
BYELECTION, IN CONTEXT
The riding has been held by the Progressive Conservatives since 2011. The byelection is being held to replace Monte Mcnaughton, a cabinet minister who exited politics last fall. It's one of two in Ontario on May 2, the other being in Milton to replace former cabinet minister Parm Gill.