It was a full house as a crowd of 500 came out to watch the Bay of Quinte federal candidates go head to head on several key issues including the economy, the military, the Syrian refugee crisis and the environment at the Belleville Chamber debate Wednesday night.
Liberal candidate Neil Ellis and NDP candidate Terry Cassidy who received large rounds of applause and cheers would frequently throw punches at the Stephen Harper government leaving Conservative candidate Jodie Jenkins to defend his party and its track record.
At times Jenkins responses were drowned out by a row of hecklers closer to the front row of the Empire Theatre, with one man even receiving a warning from Belleville police after he hurled a profanity at Jenkins. The debate was delayed for roughly five minutes with one woman shouting that refusing to let the man speak out was a violation of his freedom of speech. No charges were laid.
Here is a highlight of where the three candidates stand on top key election issues:
BOOSTING THE ECONOMY:
Strengthening the middle class by offering tax cuts, getting scientists back to work through the creation of green jobs and switching from oil to fossil fuels were plans raised by Ellis that received large approval from the audience.
“The biggest thing in our community is youth unemployment,” Belleville’s former mayor said. “We’ve invested to create 40,000 youth jobs. We have to concentrate on training to help get the younger generation back to work with skilled trades.”
He touched on the fact Canada fell into recession this year stating there are a lot of issues the federal government has not dealt with adding the economy has taken a hit with oil prices.
Cassidy too pointed a finger at the Harper government for the country’s decline in economic growth over two consecutive quarters. He said, “The Conservatives supported the oil industry unreasonably well. They didn’t get very far with their support.”
Cassidy suggested investing in young people and jobs as a way of building local economic development.
Jenkins agreed oil prices have hurt Canada quickly adding the country’s ‘economic future is in great shape’.
The former Belleville City councillor told the crowd how “under the leadership of the Conservative government we’ve been able to weather this economic instability with our plan of low taxes and balancing the budget. Our low tax approach is working.”
A loud heckler in the crowd called out “Bull shit!” after Jenkins finished speaking.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES:
We have to begin to address environmental issues Cassidy said speaking of the federal cap and trade system.
“It’s an encouragement to do something better than what we’ve been doing. We want to be a leader not a follower and the Bay of Quinte can’t afford to not have a policy or no interest in the environment.”
Jenkins didn’t hesitate at stating the Conservatives don’t support a carbon tax or cap and trade calling it a scheme that is not going to work.
He went on to say how the Conservatives are the first government in history to reduce green house gas emissions while protecting the economy and jobs to which he received a large round of booing from the audience.
Ellis couldn’t help but chuckle at Jenkins’ response. He gathered his composure and said “we have to restore credibility with environmental assessments. We owe it to our kids to have clean air and water.”
Ellis pointed to the environmental issues with Zwicks Park and the Foster Ward coal tar plant on the Bay of Quinte.
“The Liberals will free up money to clean our waterways”
MILITARY SPENDING:
Without any hesitation all three candidates praised Canada’s men and women in uniform.
With 8-Wing CFB Trenton being one of the largest employers in the area, former Quinte West councillor Terry Cassidy said he would “absolutely” continue investing in the air base.
He said he would also want to make it clear when the next round of funding is coming.
Cassidy commended military personnel for all of their hard work in search and rescue efforts and said there needs to be more support in the infrastructure they need to do their jobs.
He also touched on the abysmal state of Canada’s Navy and helping out with the things they need to do their jobs.
Jenkins proudly touted his party’s record with huge investments into the base.
He said the Conservatives have increased military spending from $13 billion in 2005 to $20 billion in 2015, $860 million of which has been committed to 8 Wing Trenton for ongoing and future projects.
Ellis focused his attention to natural disaster relief referring to flooding in Thurlow Ward and on Canada’s western coast last year.
He said the military requires the equipment and expertise to be lifted to help in Canada and all over the world.
Finally Ellis pointed to creating centres of excellence for veterans touching on Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau’s visit with local hospital advocacy group Our TMH recently.
Cassidy said echoed the importance of assisting veterans as his party is working to create centres for care.
“The way veterans have been treated by the current government is disgusting,” said Cassidy. “It’s time we started treating people with fairness, compassion and respect.”
SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS:
“More needs to be done,” said Jenkins when asked of the Syrian refugee crisis.
“Where we differ is that our approach would be to go with a soft heart and a hard head,” Jenkins said. “These two parties would have us go over with C-17’s load up 10’s of thousands of refugees and simply bring them back and not address the problem.”
Jenkins said the Conservative’s priority is to provide aid while continuing the military campaign against terrorist groups like ISIS. Adding his party is committed to aiding persecuted religious minorities.
“If we do not continue with the military efforts, then it will be all for naught,” Jenkins said. “We have to do both we just can’t do one without the other. These parties would pull us out of there and have ISIS continue beheading people.”
The crowd erupted in loud boos hurling remarks in protest at Jenkins.
Ellis took a completely different stance praising a group in Bloomfield who is actively working to help 15 Syrian refugees move to the area. He said more needs to be done to aid efforts such as these with the help of the governments.
Cassidy took aim what he called the Conservatives’ ‘hard head and hard head’ approach.
“The Conservatives were reluctant to respond at all, he said. “Finally some action has happened.”
Cassidy recommended cutting red tape stating people are waiting too long to relocate adding that’s the reason this happened.
SMALL BUSINESS:
Small business is the back bone of our community and our country, Jenkins said touting the Conservatives recent small business tax cut of 11 to nine percent to which the crowd applauded.
Jenkins then wasted no time referring to Trudeau’s statement that small businesses is a way for some wealthier Canadians to evade taxes.
Ellis was even quicker to come to Trudeau’s defence stating the tax can be used as a tax shelter for certain people that have shell corporations that can earn 40,000 and end up paying no tax on it. “We want to give mom and pop shops that create jobs tax breaks.”
Like his counter parts Cassidy explained he too supports small business.
Then he turned to Jenkins congratulating the Conservatives for ‘copying’ the NDP’s policy. “Hats off to you, it’s a good policy.”
Next up was the Ontario Registered Pension Plan, something all three candidates strongly disagree with.
Ellis said his party would fix the ORPP with adjustments to the CPP so ‘in reality’ the provinces won’t need one.
Speaking off the cuff Ellis said, “There is not enough to retire on. Look at our aging population. We are older than any other area. This is the first generation of children that are going to be worse off than we are. We need to make measures now that are going to cost less.”
Ellis suggested rolling back pensions to 65 and indexing them.
“When you have a Prime Minister that won’t talk to the Premier on this issue and calls it a tax. Something has to be done so that you won’t live with your sons or daughters for the rest of your lives and so that they don’t live with you.”
Cassidy agreed with rolling back pensions from 67 and stated they have to deal with poverty and old age security.
Jenkins firmly suggested getting rid of the ORPP stating it doesn’t work that is why he left the NDP.
“The finance department of Ontario estimates 50,000 jobs will be lost, it’s not a good thing.”
SOCIAL ISSUES:
Speaking on major social issues such as prostitution, gay and transgender rights and physician assisted death Ellis said it comes down to tolerance.
“If we can tolerate people because of their differences half our problems will go away,” the former Belleville Pride Parade chair said.
On physician assisted death, Ellis said “We have to make sure it’s being done right and money is put in for depression and expert opinion.”
He said the biggest social issues locally are jobs, poverty and homelessness.
“We have to sit down as a group to solve these problems.”
Jenkins towed the Conservative party line.
“We have to ensure legislation is upheld. “We don’t always agree with the Supreme Court claims of unconstitutionality but we respect their role as it plays in democracy.”
Jenkins was asked the question again on how he feels about social issues to which he said he is proud to be a apart of a party that allows a free vote on the issue other parties don’t allow it.
Cassidy took aim at the Conservatives for what he called disrespect shown to the courts time and time again forgetting civil rights and diversity.
“If they wanted to get it right, they would talk to the people. You have to be a listener and have compassion and helping people from harms way and prostitution.”
LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA:
All three candidates passed around the topic of legalizing marijuana with ease.
Ellis said his party would legalize marijuana and control it as it would create money taken from crime.
“$600 million is spent on locking up people that have been in possession of small amounts of marijuana. We need to look at the United States, it creates jobs, has not caused crime rates to rise and created taxation for the government.”
Then event moderator 800 CJBQ’s Lorne Brooker asked the candidates the ‘Bill Clinton’ question…”Have you ever smoked marijuana?”
Ellis’ rapid response of “Not tonight!” garnered huge laughs from the crowd.
Jenkins refrained from answering if he has ever smoked marijuana and stated it’s not a priority for the Conservative government. “We won’t support measures that make it easier for Canadians to get marijuana. There are far more pressing issues affecting Canadians.”
Cassidy said he hasn’t smoked marijuana but he thinks legalizing it would be the reasonable thing to do as it would save dollars.
“We need to be giving people hope not incarceration,” he said. Adding there is a need for more research on medicinal use.
The next Bay of Quinte candidates debate is being hosted by the Quinte West Chamber of Commerce on September 21 at St Paul Catholic Secondary School in Trenton from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.