The Quinte West Chamber of Commerce held their all candidates debate on Tuesday night for the five people hoping to represent the Bay of Quinte in Ottawa later this year.
The debate was held at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Trenton and almost every seat was filled by people of varying ages, who all came out to hear Tim Durkin of the Conservative Party, Danny Celovsky of the Green Party, Neil Ellis representing the Liberal Party, NDP candidate Stephanie Bell and People’s Party of Canada representative Paul Bordonaro speak on national and local issues.
Climate change and the economy dominated discussions in both pre-submitted questions and those from the floor.
Global Warming/Climate Change/Environment
One question from the floor had to do with the local flooding the Bay of Quinte region has experienced twice in three years and what is being done about it.
Federal election Liberal Party candidate Neil Ellis at the Quinte West Chamber of Commerce all candidates debate at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Trenton on October 1, 2019. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)
Ellis answered first as the question was directed at him and he stated he has met with the International Joint Commission and asked them to review if not stop Plan 2014 but the IJC feels they will be able to lower water levels over the winter. He says he doesn’t believe that but the IJC is an independent board.
Durkin says he is sick of people having meetings to discuss the flooding issue because it is costing people hundreds of thousands of dollars. He stated there are three issues causing this; high water levels in every Great Lake, climate change and Plan 2014. He said the government cane only change one of those.
Celovsky felt the decisions made “upstream” need to be dealt with and if the judicial system is how the problem gets dealt with, that is the way to go.
Bell felt it’s a complicated issue and there needs to be proper public discourse to know why it is happening, what can be done to stop it and how to compensate people effectively for their losses.
Bordonaro said to return to the old plan and take the IJC to court. He said the government needs to get involved and take action in court.
The candidates were also asked what they would do to help stop global warming.
Ellis stated the Liberal Party is looking to ban single use plastics, continue with carbon pricing, $40,000 interest free loans for home renovations for energy savings or flooding protections, planting two billion trees over the next decade, being net zero by 2050 and protecting 25% of our lands and oceans. He said they believe they can hit the Paris targets.
Durkin replied they aren’t on target to hit the Paris targets and the carbon plan from the Liberals is not an environmental plan but instead a tax plan. He said they need to scrap the carbon tax and build the pipeline. Durkin said their two best resources are business and technology, not taxing people to death. He stated we also need to make changes, from the consumer to the businesses.
Federal election Green Party candidate Danny Celovsky at the Quinte West Chamber of Commerce all candidates debate at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Trenton on October 1, 2019. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)
Celovsky disagreed in regards to the pipeline and said we need to reduce carbon emissions by 60% by 2030 and net zero by 2050. He said the carbon tax is critical right now and those who make under $50,000 are rebated and made more than whole. He says we need to produce the things we need here, and there needs to be legislation, policy and bans for businesses when it comes to packaging and single use plastics because we need to clean up after ourselves as well.
Bell told those in attendance that her party has a plan similar to the Green New Deal called New Deal for People and the need to train people to work within the green economy and living within a green economy and end subsidies for fossil fuels. She said the changes need to start happening now.
Bordonaro said his party agrees building the pipeline is a good idea and it needs to be done. He says his party is looking to protect not just the air, but the soil and water as well. He says we are a throw away society and businesses need to drastically change and be told to make those changes.
A question from the floor asked the candidates their feelings in regards to the garbage situation and if they would be in favour of incineration.
Federal election Peoples Party of Canada candidate Paul Bordonaro at the Quinte West Chamber of Commerce all candidates debate at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Trenton on October 1, 2019. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)
Bordonaro agreed incineration would be something to look into as we are bringing in too much waste from China from pre-packaged materials.
Bell was in favour of exploring the idea as she is aware of Norway and Sweden both using this as a way to deal with their garbage issues but was concerned about the toxins from the leftover ashes.
Ellis said incineration is going to be the way we deal with garbage because it’s getting too costly to bury it and it’s leaching into our water. He says incineration technology has changed and could last a long time.
Celovsky says he is for exploring it if it doesn’t contribute to carbon emissions, but felt the whole recycling system needs to be looked at from top to bottom because only nine percent of recyclable materials actually are recycled.
Durkin said incinerators make a difference and he is all for it and we need only look to the GTA for proof of that.
Federal election Conservative Party candidate Tim Durkin at the Quinte West Chamber of Commerce all candidates debate at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Trenton on October 1, 2019. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)
When it came to the pipeline, Durkin said he feels we need a national energy corridor while Canada gets the proper green energy infrastructure in place. He said Canadians have spent $4.5 million on a non-existent pipeline so far.
Celovsky disagreed stating protecting the environment and pipelines just can’t co-exist. He said we should use the fossil fuels we currently have, as the country weans off them, but otherwise there is no support from him for pipelines.
Ellis said the pipeline needs to get done and the profits will be used for green projects.
Bell stated her party no longer supports the use of fossil fuels and there are other ways of doing business and the country needs to move away from fossil fuels.
Bordonaro wants to see the oil used within Canada’s boarders.
Supporting the Working Class/Cost of Living
A submitted question asked the candidates what they would do to support those in the lower class.
Durkin said his main concern is for seniors, families and those classified as low income. He said they are looking to make life more affordable as people are living paycheque to paycheque. They are looking at a universal tax cut and it would benefit those who make under $47,000, the carbon tax would be cut, maternity benefits would be tax free and small businesses would also see lower taxes.
Ellis said his party has lifted families out of poverty thanks to an increase in the Child Benefit and have begun to tackle the issue of affordable housing. He said the Liberals will increase the GIS and CPP to raise seniors out of poverty and are on target to hit their 2025 goals.
Federal election New Democrate Party candidate Stephanie Bell at the Quinte West Chamber of Commerce all candidates debate at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Trenton on October 1, 2019. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)
Bell says she calls it the working class because we are dealing with the same struggles and says the working class and middle class are both dealing with the issue of affordability. She says we need affordable housing, good jobs and pharmacare.
Celovsky says a minimum living wage will go a long way to solving some of those problems as everyone has the right for safe, affordable housing, clean water and healthcare.
One question on the floor saw all five candidates in agreement and it had to do with gun control. The candidates were asked if banning military assault style weapons would solve the gun violence issue.
All five candidates said banning those guns would not stop the violence, but they do play a role in it.
The candidates all supported financial literacy being taught in schools, even though it is a provincial issue, not a federal issue.
Chamber of Commerce Manager Suzanne Andrews was very happy with the attendance at the debate and says it speaks a lot to this election.
The candidates are back at it again on October 2 at the Belleville Chamber of Commerce all candidates meeting at the Empire Theatre at 7 p.m.
