John Reynolds, the incumbent Conservative MP for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast, was on the hot seat during the June 19 all-candidates' meeting in Sechelt. Liberal candidate Blair Wilson repeatedly responded to questions with attacks on Reynolds and the "radical Conservative Party."About 200 people packed into the Seniors' Centre for the forum, the only public forum on the Sunshine Coast that Reynolds attended. Long line-ups formed at the microphones and a dozen people were left standing at the end of the two-hour meeting without having had an opportunity to pose their questions.
Some of the questioners specifically challenged Reynolds.
"You say you've been representing the riding well. Where were you for the Gibsons meeting on Wednesday?" asked one man, referring to an all-candidates meeting Reynolds did not attend.
Reynolds replied that he is spending nine days campaigning for the Conservatives in Ontario.
"My job as a leader of my party is to work for my party," said Reynolds. "I'm a representative not only to my riding but as a Canadian to make sure there's a change of government in this country."
On several policy questions, Reynolds was the odd man out, defending a position opposed by all five of his rivals.
Asked whether they would privatize the CBC, Reynolds drew some boos from the audience when he said CBC TV should be privatized while CBC radio should continue as it is. All the other candidates said the CBC should be publicly funded.
Reynolds was the only candidate to reject the Kyoto accord to limit green house gases.
"Cancel it," said Reynolds, who also described himself as an environmentalist. "It's a lot of money to accomplish very little."
On the question of privatizing health care, again all five of Reynolds' rivals defended the status quo and slammed the idea of private health care. Reynolds, however, said that as long as people can get health care anywhere in Canada using their health cards, it doesn't matter if the provider is public or private.
"I know the unions don't like it," added Reynolds, which prompted both jeers and applause.
Green candidate Andrea Goldsmith said private health care creates an "incentive to keep you sick," while the Greens want to focus on preventing illness, which would also save money.
Anne Jamieson, the Marxist-Leninist candidate, said she worked as a nurse in a hospital, which closed in 1993 "as part of the so-called restructuring."
"Contractors should have no place, private companies should have no place in health care," she said.
Wilson said health care was the Liberals' top priority and said the Conservatives' promises to increase health care funding while cutting taxes "don't add up."
Nicholas Simons, the NDP candidate, said it's difficult to believe Wilson because of the Liberals' past budget cuts to health care. He accused Reynolds of giving attention to issues most people don't care about, such as gay marriage and legalizing marijuana, while giving short shrift to health care, an issue of greater importance to most people.
Free trade agreements were one issue where Reynolds and Wilson largely agreed.
"We will not get you out of NAFTA," said Reynolds. "It's been good for Canada and created jobs."
Reynolds said trade problems with the U.S. have developed because "we don't have good relations with our neighbour," and proposed a parliamentary committee to talk directly with U.S. lawmakers.
Wilson said the Liberals would "negotiate strongly" with the U.S. where necessary and defended NAFTA.
"Free trade agreements may not be perfect, but we're making it better," said Wilson.
The other candidates were sharply critical of NAFTA.
"Chapter 11 is an infringement on Canadian sovereignty," said Simons.
Marc Bombois, whose Canadian Action Party platform emphasizes the scrapping of NAFTA, exploded in fury over the issue. He said the argument that it creates jobs is "just a lie," that the trade agreement has been "terrible for people" and the government was "treasonous" to enter into the agreement.
"Sorry to be angry again, but it just makes my blood boil," said Bombois. "I don't like the U.S. any more. They're warmongers."
