It was a heated hour of strong argument and verbal jabs - some over top of each other and the crowd - as six candidates vied for the title to represent Prince George-Cariboo in Ottawa.
The hopefuls were the second riding to debate Thursday night, building off the energy of the group.
A standing-room only crowd of more than 350 at UNBC's Canfor Theatre watched as Liberal Tracy Calogheros, independent canadidate Sheldon Clare, Conservative Todd Doherty, Green Richard Jaques, NDP Trent Derrick and Christian Heritage Party Adam De Kroon each made their best case.
With Senate reform off the top, policy differences were quickly on display.
Doherty said he's cautious about opening up the constitution for reform and that it does serve a purpose before highlighting that Prime Minister Stephen Harper stopped appointing senators.
Calogheros was quick to counter that Harper had previously said he would never make such appointments, but did so after becoming prime minister.
"He continued to appoint senators," she said.
Derrick, following the NDP line argued for abolition, while Doherty pressed Derrick to answer whether he wanted to open the constitution for the first sparring match of the night.
"Yes or no," Doherty prodded, and the two talked over each other as Derrick tried to answer the question in his own way.
"It was there to protect a certain population," said Derrick, and that population is the rich minority.
"It still protects that group."
Clare called the conversation "nonsensical."
"We do not need to open up our constitution. What we do need to do is communicate better with our provinces," Clare said.
"Abolishing the senate scares me," added Calogheros, who recommended selecting senators from the Order of Canada as potential non-partisan options.
"We do need a Senate. We have to have a check and balance. We do have some governments that need someone to watch over them."
Derrick and Doherty butted heads the most, and again were at it with the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
"We don't know all the facts," said Derrick, and that despite being in double digits for trade agreements, Canada has lost manufacturing jobs.
"They're not good negotiators."
Jaques said the deal was done in secret and that no party needs to honour the agreement, and the Greens wouldn't.
"We are a trading nation," Doherty said.
"We're creating jobs. We've got the strongest job growth record in G7."
Derrick, meanwhile, referred to the Bank of Canada, and said "the jobs you've created are low paying jobs" before asking if Doherty had seen the details of the TPP deal.
Doherty said that he had, creating a "gotcha" moment for Derrick and Calogheros, who each asked how he's seen the full document when Canadians don't know the details.
Doherty clarified said he's seen a summary document, to laughs from the crowd.
"You answered a question falsely, and then tried to pivot," Calogheros charged.
"That's not right."
Doherty responded that he had read the summary and that it was a good deal.
"There is absolutely no negative impact on the TPP," Doherty said.
Other barbs were passed between Doherty and Clare, who has garnered some national media attention for leaving his original political affiliation with the Conservative Party. Clare said that party, through previous MP Dick Harris, has not had a voice in Ottawa.
"As an independent candidate I'm able to look at things with a critical eye," said Clare.
As an independent, "you're not going to be that effective," Doherty told him to "ooh's" from a very expressive crowd.
"I will tell you I'm not easy to ignore," Clare countered.
Moderator and UNBC political science professor Tracy Summerville asked the group how they see the regional relationship with First Nations after the Tsilhqot'in decision, dealing with Aboriginal right to unceded territory.
All candidates agreed the landmark decision meant First Nations need to be consulted and that Canada had a poor history of including First Nations at the negotiation table.
"The first step of reconciliation is apologizing," said Doherty, who lauded Harper's apology for residential schools and said more needs to be done to foster open and honest dialogue.
"An apology is only as good as the action that follows it up," said Derrick.
Calogheros said too many of the negotiations occur in courtrooms.
"Courts are adversarial," she said.
"That should never have had to go to that route ever."
Calogheros said she appreciated Doherty's comments about being open and honest, but "sometimes I wonder what party you're running for."
Other questions asked candidates to describe their riding to those in Ontario, how they see what they see as their role and responsibilities as an MP, and each candidate had a final minute to sell themselves to the boisterous audience.
The debate was organized by The Citizen, CKPG, the Prince George Chamber of Commerce and UNBC.
