Candidates on the Sunshine Coast have been getting out to hear from their constituents in advance of next month’s all-candidates meetings – and while those challenging incumbent Conservative MP John Weston say they are hearing that the public wants change, Weston said he’s getting a very different message at the door.
“I have been knocking on hundreds of doors in the riding and the number one thing that people raise on the doorstep is their desire to defeat Stephen Harper,” said NDP candidate Larry Koopman.
Green Candidate Ken Melamed agreed.
“From what people say at town hall meetings and on the doorstep, the thing that most people on the Coast want is a change in government, because John Weston and the Harper Conservatives have let us down,” Melamed said.
“Our community wants a government they can trust to protect the environment while building an economy that shares prosperity with all Canadians,” said Liberal candidate Pamela Goldsmith-Jones.
All three pointed the finger at Weston and the Conservatives as the number one concern for Sunshine Coast voters. Weston, however, said he has been hearing most from constituents about their “concern over Aboriginal land title and how this is coming into conflict with individual property owners.”
“This is especially the case in Pender Harbour as it relates to foreshore leases,” Weston said.
“As a co-founder of the Constitutional Foundation, I have always believed in equality for all Canadians, guided by one constitution, with equal legal protection for all. While the constitution and our laws require full consultation with Aboriginal communities, no group ought to exercise veto rights over the rights of other Canadians.”
The only other candidate registered to run in the West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky riding is Carol-Lee Chapman for the Marxist-Leninist Party (MLPC) of Canada.
Chapman suggested the number one concern of constituents is “how to overcome marginalization.”
“The MLPC addresses this concern by calling for a new direction for the economy, renewal of the political process and making Canada a factor for peace in the world by electing an anti-war government,” Chapman said.
Weston, Goldsmith-Jones, Melamed and Koopman all plan to continue knocking on doors and talking with constituents right up until the Oct. 19 election.
The four candidates also said they are planning to attend as many all-candidates meetings as possible in October to meet more people and get their platforms out to the voters.
Chapman said she would “encourage people to visit our website” in order to engage constituents.
Find out more about the candidates and their platforms at: Kenmelamed.ca, www.Re-electjohnweston.ca, www.Larrykoopman.ndp.ca, www.Pamgoldsmithjones.liberal.ca and www.mlpc.ca
