By Khang Nguyen

Federal candidates voice opinions on crime, infrastructure and economy

Sep 25, 2015 | 5:21 AM

Thursday night’s federal candidate forum was a well-attended affair with supporters of all parties in attendance.

Absent from the forum was Green Party’s Byron Tenkink. The forum, organized by the Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce, took place at Carlton Comprehensive High School

After giving their opening remarks, Liberal Party’s Gordon Kirkby, NDP’s Lon Borgerson, and Conservative Party’s Randy Hoback answered a series of questions organized by the Chamber of Commerce. Each candidate was given five minutes to answer the questions ranging from the state of crime and the long-term economic plans for the riding.

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Borgerson was first up to speak. He began by outlining the NDP’s desire to establish a national action plan on violence against women and launching an inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women.

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Borgerson continued by dismissing the Conservative party’s “Tough on Crime” campaign, and said the NDP would reestablish the police officer recruitment fund that expired under the Conservative government.

This, all in an effort to lower the number of crime in Prince Albert which Borgerson said starts from poverty.

“Our goal as a party is to raise people above the poverty line and if we can go do that, it raises the quality of life up for everyone,” said Borgerson.

Hoback began his answer listing off a number of acts the Conservative Party has passed such as: the safe streets and communities act, prevention of terrorist travel act, and the drug-free prisons act among others.

Hoback also expressed the Conservative Party’s opposition against the Liberal Party’s stance on legalizing marijuana.

Better business, said Hoback, will help the community fight crime.

“When you’ve got small businesses growing, hiring people, employing people, that is one of the best social programs you have there,” Hoback said.

Kirkby argued that the biggest contributing factor to crime in the city is related to addictions.

“This question is at the heart of why I entered this election,” Kirkby said, as he began his answer.

As a lawyer, Kirkby said he has seen first-hand the crime that happens in Prince Albert and it stems from addictions.

“We have to have a major effort to go after addictions. Addictions are destroying this community,” Kirkby said.

Kirkby said the federal government needs to engage the school and health boards, and have more mental health professionals readily available.

Bridge debate takes over infrastructure talks

In a question that asked the candidates how their respective parties would help infrastructure projects in their riding, discussions of a second bridge, of course, took centre stage.

“An NDP government will not hold Prince Albert hostage with a P3 requirement,” Borgerson said in response to Hoback’s speech regarding a second bridge.

Hoback said he has made a commitment to work for federal government funding when and if the city moves forward with a P3 program for a second bridge.

“Anyone here who is promising to unilaterally build a new bridge here in the city of Prince Albert is being completely dishonest,” said Hoback.

While Borgerson outright opposed the P3 requirement, Kirkby stood in the middle.

“I doubt we’d be holding the bridge hostage to an absolute prohibition if that’s the only way it could get done. We don’t want to hold the bridge hostage in either case,” said Kirkby.

Long-term economy in P.A.

Each candidate took a different approach in how they would improve the long-term economy in P.A.

Kirkby focused on funding programs that would attribute to a larger workforce.

He mentioned the Liberal Party’s promise of $750 million training program for skilled trade workers and the aboriginal education fund.

Borgerson and Hoback both claimed their parties would reduce small business tax from 11 to nine per cent.

Borgerson went on to say he would restore “valuable programs that don’t cost a lot but make a difference,” such as home delivery of mail and the national childcare program.

According to Hoback, a re-elected conservative party would re-introduce the home renovations tax credit, and continue income splitting for families.

Closing remarks

Although much was said, the candidates were given an opportunity to give their closing remarks.

Borgerson concluded by saying the election is about democracy itself.

“People are finding politics to negative, too embarrassing, and too full of scandals … we deserve better,” he said. “It will be a fresh start … We’re ready for this, I’m ready as well.”

Hoback urged voters to choose a proven leader with Stephen Harper, “who’s focused on creating and protecting jobs, lowering taxes and helping families through this time of global economic uncertainty.”

Kirkby concluded the night by reprising an earlier argument and reminding voters of what matters in the city.

“The growing problems of addictions and crimes in this community is either going to destroy it or we’re going to have to get busy and fix it.”

knguyen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @khangvnguyen