MP hopefuls share platform ideas at All Candidates Forum

Voters in the Cypress Hills Grasslands Constituency had a chance on October 10 to hear directly from the six hopefuls vying for a chance to represent the Southwest as the constituency’s new Member of Parliament in Ottawa.

An All-candidates Forum at the Living Sky Casino last Thursday was one of just two opportunities the six candidates had an opportunity to present their platforms and policies in front of a live audience. The only other all candidates event was hosted in Kindersley.

As an information session and not a debate, the candidates had a 10 minute opportunity to put their best foot forward, as well as a question and answer session which allowed them to delve into six topics.

A highlight of their opening remark presentation (in order they were delivered). to encourage growth and investment to your business and farm, and also exempt spouses from taxes on small business dividends.”

Peterson highlighted the ongoing cycle of Canada being held back by consecutive Conservative and Liberal governments.

“Decades of Liberal and Conservative governments have made life easier for super rich and the massive corporations, and harder for the rest of us.”

The NDP wants to break that cycle.

“We are on the side of working Canadians, not big corporations and lobbyists.”

“The NDP is offering a new deal for people. Expanding medicare to include a national pharmacare program, universal dental and vision care, mental healthcare for all.”

Lewans spelled out her vision for a utopian society and need to return to an agrarian way of life.

“We are on land that was never meant to be owned, and was never meant to be broken. Because it is broken. Politics is also broken. I think that’s something that we can all agree on. And to fix a broken system you can not rely on the same broken logic that was used to create it. So this election I am challenging you to keep an open mind, listen without judgement, and imagine the possibilities of what life could be like if we allow ourselves to think outside the box and demand better.”

With each party boasting a substantial ‘gift list’ to encourage voters to give them a mandate in Ottawa, Clary provided context for the comprehensive policies and platform offered by the Green Party.

“Climate Change is real, and its impacts are already being felt right here in Southwest Saskatchewan. And the Green Party is ready to take bold action to meet this most pressing issue and to begin to mitigate some of the worst impacts of climate change and live in a sustainable way in this new reality.”

He said the Green Party’s Mission Possible platform would align Canada with the science of Climate Change while achieving full employment and a robust social program while meeting reduction targets.

Harding challenged voters to truly look at the platforms of each party.

“I hope that you will have the openness to look at our platform and consider what it is that we bring to the table.”

He higlighted the PPC as the only party taking a stand on equalization.

“No one is winning under this ‘poverty trap’. The Conservatives have invented the system. When they brought it in in the mid 2000s they bragged that it was the most generous in Canadian history. And they also brought in the mechanism that would make sure that it increased every year.”

“The People’s Party stands uniquely alone in calling for radical changes there.”

Caton noted that the agriculte sector has some significant problems to deal with in the next few months.

“Trade Wars and adverse weather conditions have combined to put many producers in a negative margin position. Market access issues are a huge problem. Countries are throwing up trade barriers. China for canola, beef and pork. Italy for durum. And India for pulse crops.”

“A new Liberal government will work at solving these problems with trade agreements like new NAFTA, CETA, and TPP, broadening existing markets and working to establish new markets for agricultural goods.”

“A new Liberal government will also work with producers and farm organizations to develop safety net programs that actually work for producers.”

Additional forum details can be found online at www.swbooster.com.