The first of three Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce candidate forums saw a quick-paced debate Tuesday, as candidates scored points, lost points or used points like political weapons to get in their digs.
Four of the five Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke candidates took part in the event, which was broadcast via the Internet: Randall Garrison (NDP), Frances Litman (Green), Shari Lukens (Conservative) and David Merner (Liberal). Tyson Strandlund is running for the Communist Party of Canada in the riding.
A wide range of topics, including corporate taxes, development, employment insurance premiums and immigration, were up for discussion and debate.
Chamber president Bruce Carter, who moderated, said despite some glitches and an evolving debate format, the debate was a success, with candidates able to clearly define themselves.
Lukens was, as expected, the candidate most under fire as the other candidates attacked the Conservative government’s record on everything from the economy to the environment.
Merner used his closing statement to thank Lukens for showing up. Some Conservative candidates on the Island and across Canada have come under fire for not participating in debates and forums.
“It’s really nice to have you here with us — we’ve been missing you at the debates,” Merner said. “I think that’s one of the elements of accountability in a democratic system.” The Liberal, a lawyer with the B.C. Ministry of Justice, appeared to be the only candidate not speaking from notes.
For her part, the Conservative, a former Colwood councillor, directed most of her digs at the New Democrats. She made her points and defended her party’s record within the allotted time.
On the question of how to replace aging infrastructure without burdening municipalities with the costs, Lukens said she would be a “common sense voice” in Ottawa to ensure the costs aren’t off-loaded on municipalities.
Merner said the Liberals’ plan includes a major infrastructure investment that will require federal deficits for three years.
Litman, who struggled to make some of her points, said: “The Greens recognize we have a really golden opportunity here to invest in renewable long-term sustainable jobs and we can invest in our infrastructure by these, corporate money that is being, like I say, not going into, it is being charged at too low of a rate to fund all these things so within a year of getting the Harper government back on track…” Carter interjected and asked her to stay on topic.
Garrison said the NDP promises “stable long-term funding for municipalities with dedicated funds from the gas tax.”
On immigration, Lukens said more than 250,000 immigrants have come into Canada each year since 2006 under the Conservative government, which is “processing applications based on the jobs in the industry … that’s how we are doing it on a Conservative side.”
Garrison, the NDP’s public safety critic and a former Esquimalt councillor, said the Conservative government has chosen to bring in temporary foreign workers who are easily exploited. “We want to turn the immigration policy back to what it’s always been: skilled workers who will help build the future of the country, and family reunification.”
Merner said Canada should “open our doors to immigrants,” allow family reunification and allow 25,000 Syrian refugees to come to the country. “Let’s invest $100 million into security screening and return to Canada’s proud position of welcoming refugees.”
Litman said the Greens are humanitarian by nature. “We need to bring these people in. We believe that we need to, yes, strengthen the security process, but we also need to create a way for people to get here quicker.”
The chamber will hold two more virtual noon-hour forums. Saanich-Gulf Islands candidates are up Wednesday, with Victoria on Thursday. The forums start at 12 p.m.
For more information, to watch live, or to see video of previous debates, go to victoriachamber.ca.
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