Youth served by Niagara West candidates
Liberal Joe Kanee is the oldest in the race at 27 while Tory Sam Oosterhoff and New Democrat Curtis Fric are both 20 and Green candidate Jessica Tillmans is 18
If you believe the old saw that young people don’t care about politics, you might want to check the debate between the Niagara West candidates showing on Cogeco’s local cable website.
At 27, Joe Kanee, the Liberal candidate in the riding, is the oldest member of a group that includes two 20-year-olds, incumbent Sam Oosterhoff of the Progressive Conservatives and Curtis Fric of the New Democratic Party.
“Whoever wins, we are going to have a youthful representation in parliament, and I think that is very important because we are going to have people who bring fresh ideas and who understand the issue at hand for young people in the modern economy,” Fric said.
The debate in the Cogeco studio lasted about an hour Tuesday night. Candidates were given 90 seconds for an opening statement, and one minute to answer each question that came from viewers and stakeholders. The candidates had five wild card rebuttals they were allowed to use when they signalled the moderator, Mike Balsom.
Oosterhoff holds the title of youngest MPP in Ontario history when he won the seat for the Tories in 2016 when former party leader Tim Hudak resigned.
“I want to work to build a prosperous Ontario that works for the people, not the insiders,” Oosterhoff said Tuesday echoing party leader
Doug Ford.
Fric, a student at Brock University, asked viewers to imagine a province where seniors get the care they need, where hospitals don’t have to deal with substandard funding and where everyone has drug and dental coverage.
He said the NDP can make it happen and has a platform that puts people first and ensures services won’t fall victim “to privatization and funding cuts.”
Kanee grew up in Alberta and is managing a soon-to-open fitness centre in Niagara.
“I was up this morning at 6 o’clock to get in my eight hours before I could make it in here tonight to speak to you,” he said. “I think that work mentality and real-world experience will make a difference in this race.”
The youngest candidate, Jessica Tillmans of the Green party, declined to participate in the debate. She is 18.
Balsom queried the candidates about topics that included the minimum wage, inter-provincial trade and hydro rates.
Fric, Kanee and Oosterhoff traded barbs over which party would do the best job of protecting the Greenbelt.
“I see no need to develop it, which is something Doug Ford suggested in a back room with some of his developer buddies,” Fric said.
Kanee also took a shot at Ford for saying “he was going to give the Greenbelt away.”
“For a party that is touting it is for the people, and not the insiders, that is a fundamental flaw,” he said.
Oosterhoff portrayed Ford’s flip-flop as a sign of strength.
“I think it is important to understand that the true mark of a leader is being willing to listen and change your mind when you make a mistake,” he said.
“Doug Ford has made mistakes, but he is willing to hear the people … Let me be unequivocal. We will not be touching the Greenbelt.”