By Bryan Eneas

Candidates come together to answer students’ questions

Oct 13, 2016 | 5:00 PM

After the intensity of last night’s debate, the four Prince Albert mayoral candidates met in a relaxed atmosphere at the First Nation’s University of Canada to answer queries from students.

Greg Dionne, Martin Ring, Conrad Burns and Josh Morrow managed to share laughs as they answered queries from the 30-odd staff and students who attended the forum.

“It’s important that (the students) were able to voice their concerns and find out how each candidate will represent them and bring forward these concerns,” Trevor Dubois said, the student association president of the University. “It’s important to have these types of discussions as it opens up the dialogue for change.”  

Questions ranged from LGBT and two-spirited issues, to food security, accessibility and homelessness in the city.  

Students spent a fair amount of time asking about P.A.’s bus system. Concerns were raised over the hours of operation, particularly that the university offers classes which run until 10 p.m. while busses only operate until 9 p.m.

Event Centre funding

City may hire lobbyist for event centre money

1h ago

International honours

Raiders' Kubiesa to represent Czechia at IIHF U18 Men's World Championship

5h ago

Learn the signs

How often should you change your brakes?

9h ago

“I want (transit) available so people can get out, and go to hockey games, or to the shows. People who don’t have transit, require transit,” incumbent mayor Dionne said.

Ring said the topic is tough to address. The city, so far, has failed to address the changing operational hours of retail, but is in a process of changing.

Josh Morrow asked the crowd if they would rather have new busses with no extended hours or extended hours with a repaired fleet, to which they seemingly agreed to the latter. He compared the idea to detailing an older car.

“It looks good, it smells good… it feels like a new car, and you kind of forget about everything else because your experience is good, for a fraction of the cost,” Morrow said.

Burns acknowledged the current bus system was not meeting the needs of Prince Albert residents. He said when he spoke with bus drivers, he heard they offered their input but it didn’t seem to make a difference.  

“Their voice was not heard,” Burns said. “These are (the city’s) issues, talking to the frontline individuals, and these are not going up the ladder.”

Dubois said it is important students have a relationship with government on any level.

“Whether that be provincial, federal, or municipal… students need to be more active in the elections process and vote,” Dubois said. 

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas