The final all-candidates meeting on the Sunshine Coast saw the riding’s four main-party candidates talk about protecting Canada’s democracy, the country’s role in combating terrorism and their stance on immigration.
Green Party candidate Ken Melamed, NDP candidate Larry Koopman, Liberal candidate Pam Goldsmith-Jones and incumbent Conservative candidate John Weston attended the evening debate on Oct. 8 at Chatelech Secondary School, hosted by the Sechelt and District Chamber of Commerce.
When asked how candidates would protect Canada’s democracy, in light of legislation like Bill C-51, Koopman said his party would repeal the controversial bill.
“We have opposed Bill C-51 along with the Green Party, Elizabeth May, and we will repeal C-51, repeal it because it is not just. It erodes our democratic rights, our freedoms and our liberties. It is an ill-conceived bill,” Koopman said to loud applause.
Goldsmith-Jones said Bill C-51 is “classic Stephen Harper.”
“There’s a couple of things in there with regard to our security that are important – they should have been debated, it should have been open, we should have understood why, we should have insisted on oversight and we should have insisted on a sunset clause,” Goldsmith-Jones said.
“Certainly the Liberal party is bringing it back most fundamentally to allow Canadians to understand what’s there, what we don’t need and what we should keep for our security.”
Melamed said Bill C-51 was “an act of desperation” by the Conservatives.
“C-51, C-24, the niqab issue – these are all attempts for the Conservative party to take our minds off their mismanagement of the economy,” he said to applause.
“They can’t run on the economy, what’s left? Try to scare us into doing things irrational, which compromise our democracy.”
Weston defended his party’s acceptance of Bill C-51.
“When I heard these concerns I was prepared, as I’ve done on many other occasions, to oppose my own party and look at what was in the bill. It’s a 40-page bill,” Weston said, adding that it updates the legislation of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, helps parents stop their children from joining terrorist groups and allows law enforcement agencies to share information.
“It’s a very modest step forward to protect us in a difficult time.”
On the topic of terrorism, candidates were asked if Canada should be engaged in combating terrorist groups such as ISIS in the Middle East.
Goldsmith-Jones said Canada had an important role to play “as a moderate, trusted middle power.”
“We have a strong role to play in training troops, obviously in mediating and negotiating in tense situations and also in humanitarian aid. And as the world becomes a more volatile place, there may be a role for military action. But with regard to the particular question, we don’t think we have that role to play,” she said.
Melamed said the Greens hold to a principle of non-violence.
“So it wouldn’t surprise you to know that we don’t advocate military intervention,” he said.
“It doesn’t seem to have done anything to quell terrorism. Terrorism has been ongoing despite bombs and killing and the creation of refugee crisis around the world. We prefer diplomatic solutions.”
Weston said ISIS is destabilizing the Middle East and creating the refugee crisis.
“When barbaric people move towards a village to terrorize people based on their religious belief, beheading people, selling girls, doing the things that they do, Canadians have to take a role – and we are,” Weston said.
“We will continue to work with our international allies to degrade ISIS. We will continue the bombing mission, as reluctant as I am saying that. It’s our duty to those people in those places.”
Koopman said his party “is committed to bringing our troops home and standing up for peace,” noting the NDP would stop the bombing mission the Conservatives have put in place.
“What about taking action on ISIS to stop the flow of arms? Let’s look at that action,” he said.
On the topic of immigration, candidates were asked what they would do to fix the refugee and immigration system in Canada.
Melamed said the entire system needed a fix, pointing to the fact that Citizenship and Immigration Canada has privatized the immigration application process in South Africa as an example.
“We used to have consulates to deal with that and you used to be able to call your MP and ask for help,” Melamed said.
“It’s really appalling. We need to fix government and we need to bring back the services that Canadians rely on.
Weston said immigrants are becoming “a backbone of our labour force,” and noted his government has been working to make it easier for immigrants to come to Canada.
“We have consistently upgraded things like biometrics in order to improve the screening of people who are coming in from abroad,” Weston said.
Koopman said there were many issues with immigration in Canada but that one “serious issue” was Canada’s inability to accept credentials of foreign workers like doctors who come here to practice.
“We are committed to a $30-million foreign credential recognition program. This would help speed up and make it easier for people who are qualified, who have the skills to contribute to our society and our economy, get the jobs and be active members,” Koopman said.
Goldsmith-Jones said her party would repeal Bill C-24, which creates “two classes of Canadians,” and “make family reunification the centre piece of our immigration policy.”
“It’s been a very destabilizing period under the immigration policy of this government and we have an opportunity to change that on Oct. 19,” she said.
Polling places are open on Oct. 19 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
