Questions about post-secondary fees, the long form census and the wearing of the niqab got the biggest reactions from a crowd of more than 100 people assembled for an all-candidates meeting at the Seaside Centre in Sechelt on Oct. 1.
The meeting – hosted by the Sunshine Coast Seniors Planning Table, the Sunshine Coast Homelessness Advisory Committee, VOICE on the Coast and the Sunshine Coast Affordable Housing Committee – saw the four major-party candidates tackle questions crafted by hosts and audience members.
West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country candidates in attendance were Liberal Pam Goldsmith-Jones, Conservative incumbent John Weston, Green Ken Melamed and New Democrat Larry Koopman.
One person in the audience asked candidates what they would do, if elected, to help post-secondary students struggling with huge debts.
Melamed got thunderous applause when he said his party would get rid of the fees altogether.
“The Green Party is the only party proposing another big idea to abolish tuition fees for post-secondary education,” Melamed said.
Weston said education is critical but noted his government “will not promise things we can’t afford.”
“The government is investing heavily in education – $10 billion a year in terms of transfers and another $300 million in an apprenticeship program,” Weston said.
“Large investment but no, we won’t be promising a chicken in every pot nor will we be promising free education for all students.”
Koopman said he couldn’t see his party paying full tuition for students “but maybe let’s do partial tuition or look at a program to ease the debt for students, absolutely, something sensible, something pragmatic.”
He also said his party had an action plan to help get youth employed through apprenticeships.
Goldsmith-Jones said her party was talking about ways to help, but had no solid plans yet.
“I think it’s a great discussion for Canadians to have,” Goldsmith Jones said.
“Our thinking so far is that if you are working, then could your loan be forgiven so that the fact that you’re working is getting you somewhere rather than the burden of debt being a deflating, de-motivating force?”
A question crafted by the hosts of the all-candidates meeting noted information that used to be found in the long form census was invaluable to local agencies, but it was abandoned under the current government. Candidates were then asked how their parties would collect the data that used to be found in the long form census if elected.
Goldsmith-Jones said money was being spent by the federal government to get information that used to be found in the long form census, so it needed to be reinstated.
“It’s a priority. There’s no doubt,” she said to applause.
“It’s integral to good decision making for government, for business, for non profits, for universities, for health care organizations, and we definitely need to have it back.”
Koopman said his party fought “tooth and nail” to keep the long form census in the first place. “This is where the Liberals and the New Democratic Party will agree 100 per cent,” Koopman said.
“The NDP believes that the long form census must be restored to provide social scientists, governments, communities and businesses that data that’s required to make decisions.”
Melamed said the answer was “so obvious” that of course his party would reinstate the long form census.
Weston defended his government’s decision to get rid of it in the first place.
“The census was removed because it coerced people to reply and there were other ways to get the data, which is what we’re relying on today,” Weston said to boos from some audience members.
“Let me say this, if someone is in an office for some nine years as Prime Minister Harper’s been, everybody will disagree with at least 10 per cent or more of his decisions.”
One question from the floor spoke directly to an issue raised by the Conservative Party while in power – the wearing of the niqab (a facial veil worn by Muslim women) during Canadian citizenship ceremonies.
The federal government appealed a court ruling that said Muslim women can wear the niqab but Ottawa lost that appeal in September, giving Muslim women time to take their citizenship oath before the Oct. 19 election.
One man in the audience was against allowing the niqab and asked candidates, “What do you guys want to do about this kind of situation?”
Weston said it was a “fairly sensitive issue that touches our citizenship and our values.”
“I really believe it’s essential for women to be equal. I think that’s just something we all agree on. I don’t see that being promoted when people are allowed to cover themselves because really the women I know, I can’t ever think that they would want to have themselves covered. I can’t believe that it’s a matter of equality,” Weston said.
“There are other cultures that don’t believe that and have a different view. Cultures where men and women aren’t equal. Those are different, we’re Canadian. I believe the niqab shouldn’t be worn during a Canadian citizenship ceremony or in the offering of services by people who serve the public.”
Once the applause for Weston died down, Melamed said: “Interesting question.”
“Elizabeth May’s observation on this, you may not like, but she believes this is a distraction from really important issues that are facing our country,” Melamed said to loud applause.
Koopman followed on the same path, noting the courts have ruled that women have a right to wear the niqab, and adding that Muslim women in niqabs are still identified before any citizenship ceremony takes place.
“Along with Ken I believe the niqab is really a weapon of mass distraction,” Koopman said to applause.
Goldsmith-Jones noted that a “key aspect of our democratic society is rights about nations and it’s our obligation to infer that right.”
“It is a distraction but it helps us in a way get at what really matters,” Goldsmith-Jones said. “Our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms really matters.”
At the end of the evening candidates mingled with constituents still hoping to get a few questions answered in advance of the next evening’s all candidates meeting at the Sechelt Indian Band Hall.
