Incumbent MP Blair Wilson out-charmed rival candidates at Tuesday night's (Sept. 30) all-candidates meeting in front of more than 250 spectators at the Raven's Cry Theatre in Sechelt.
While the smooth-talking Green party candidate and Conservative John Weston are known to Coast residents, many in attendance got their first chance to hear from Liberal newcomer Ian Sutherland and the NDP's Bill Forst - a late replacement for resigned candidate Dana Larsen. All are trying to take the majority of more than 93,000 votes available in the West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country riding.
About 54,000 votes were cast in the riding in the 2006 election.
Candidates were each given two minutes to respond to questions posed by Coast Reporter editor and moderator Ian Jacques, who quelled feisty elements of the crowd early on, reminding them to make their opinion known at the ballot box, not through catcalls. Weston led off the night by asking the audience to seek substance over style.
"Those of you who've bought an automobile before will know the slickness of the salesman doesn't indicate the quality of the car," said Weston in his opening remarks, throwing a veiled barb at Wilson. Forst, a teacher on the Coast for 35 years, introduced himself as someone who understands the community.
Current Squamish mayor Sutherland established his willingness to go to bat for his constituents, instead of taking the party line - a dig possibly directed at Weston, who spoke highly of Conservative leader Stephen Harper throughout the night.
Questions were drawn at random from audience submissions, the Sechelt and Gibsons Chambers of Commerce, that co-sponsored the event, and Coast Reporter editorial staff. The 14 questions, asked over two hours, covered climate change, the economy, the war in Afghanistan and many other relevant issues.
"There's no greater issue than what kind of future we want for our children and grandchildren," said a relaxed-looking Wilson, who sought to establish the legitimacy of the Green party's 120-page platform throughout the night.
Questioned on how they would address high gas prices, Weston said holding off on a national carbon tax would be a good start. Sutherland said the competition bureau needs to look seriously at gas prices, "because there's obvious price fixing going on." Wilson remarked he'd work to have government mandate car manufacturers to produce cars with better fuel economy while increasing public transit investments.
On poverty and homelessness, Sutherland said the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation needs to support more shelters and affordable housing. He also supported spending to prevent child poverty, noting studies show every dollar spent on a person before the age of six is worth $58 spent later in life.
Weston took the tangent that Canada is the only G8 nation to have balanced its budget in the last fiscal year and suggested he would be able to get things done in Ottawa, being an MP sitting in the government party.
Wilson noted the Green party's platform calls for one per cent of the GST to be returned to municipal governments each year.
Asked about the forest industry, Forst emphasized the NDP's call for restricted raw log exports and voiced the party's theme of resisting deep integration with the U.S. economy.
"Under that scenario, we'd have as much concern on Howe Street as there is on Wall Street right now," he said. In contrast, Weston endorsed NAFTA and noted the softwood lumber agreement had brought $4 billion back to Canadian forest companies.
Responding to a question on how their party would treat social justice issues (such as same-sex marriage) if forming government, Wilson had the snappiest response. "There's no risk we'll be forming government," he said, drawing laughs, "but we will take a few key seats, and this will be one of them. And I will support the equality of love."
Asked what they would do to increase local food security, Weston revealed his father's agricultural roots - as the 1958 world alfalfa champion. More seriously, he said he'd work to help local farmers export their goods worldwide.
Wilson noted federal oversight "needs to be flexible," for small farms and used the question as an opportunity to invoke criticism of Bill C-51, a federal bill that would change the Food and Drugs Act to put stricter regulations on natural health products.
Forst noted the National Citizens Coalition, a well-funded lobby group led by Harper from 1998 until 2002, is undermining price stability for farmers by trying to get the government out of agricultural marketing boards such as wheat pools.
Forst responded to a question about Canada's role in Afghanistan by telling the audience Canada is "stuck there, because our allies in NATO are not willing to get in there," and vowed the NDP would set about an immediate withdrawal of troops. Wilson drew loud applause by stating he'd already voted twice not to extend the mission, while Weston reminded observers the Liberals sent the troops in 2003 and said Afghani women deserve the right to education.
In closing, Wilson told the audience he was honoured to serve as the local MP and hopes to do it again, while Weston signed off by reiterating the risk involved in choosing Stéphane Dion over Harper. Weston also emphasized the "specific programs, not grandiose visions," he said the Conservative party has to offer.
Sutherland reminded the crowd to think about the prospect of subsidizing ferries in B.C. at the same rate as ferries in Atlantic Canada. While he said he'd support the Liberal party in the House of Commons, Sutherland said his mayoral experience gives him an edge in bringing local issues to the attention of higher governments.
"If you have an issue, which of the four of us can do the best job for you?" he asked rhetorically. "Think about the impact of your vote on Oct. 14." For those who missed the live event, the meeting will be re-broadcast on Coast Cable (channel 11) at the following times: Oct. 7 and Oct. 10 at 5 p.m., Oct. 8 at 11 a.m., Oct. 9 at 10:30 a.m., Oct. 11 at 1 and 7 p.m., and Oct. 12 at 12:30 and 9 p.m.
