It was standing-room only at the largest all-candidates forum for both Prince George ridings held in the University of Northern British Columbia’s (UNBC) Canfor Theatre.
Moderated by UNBC political science professor Dr. Gary Wilson, the second forum of the evening saw all five Cariboo-Prince George candidates participate.
Some of the big questions candidates had to tackle centred around climate change, post-secondary education, Indigenous issues and spending and taxation.
The first question out of the gate, however, dealt with one of the biggest issues in this year's election: climate change.
“According to incontrovertible scientific evidence, climate change is the single biggest challenge currently facing humanity. If elected, what would your party do to tackle the looming climate crisis?” asked Wilson.
People’s Party of Canada (PPC) candidate Jing Lan Yang was the first to answer, denying the existence of a climate crisis.
“Maybe you already know People’s Party is the only party who is not on the climate change, climate emergency or climate catastrophe bandwagon,” said Yang.
She also noted it’s important to have clean, air, water and soil before saying the climate crisis was a “plan to kill our industry and change our way of life.”
All other candidates were in agreement that climate change is an important and real issue including Conservative candidate and incumbent MP Todd Doherty, who noted the impact the previous wildfire seasons have had on the region.
“We want to work with the worst emitters and get them to contribute to a green investment fund which will develop new carbon capture technology so that Canada can become a leader on the world stage,” said Doherty.
Liberal candidate Tracy Calogheros said climate change was intensely personal, noting her experience in the 2018 wildfires.
“It was like watching the apocalypse,” said Calogheros. “Looking at the Liberal platform this time around, I was very happy to see the commitments to net zero by 2050, exceeding our 2030 targets and deep and real investments in clean technology and clean research.”
NDP candidate Heather Sapergia began by acknowledging the NDP believes climate change is human-caused.
“One of the other things we want to do is make sure we don’t lose our economy in the north,” said Sapergia.
She added that NDP platform would do is to create 300,000 clean energy jobs and end subsides to the oil and gas industry.
Mackenzie Kerr said the Green Party has targets of 60 per cent carbon reduction below 2005 levels.
“Sixty per cent is the only target that allows us to hit the 1.5 C temperature limit that we do not surpass,” said Kerr, noting “The technology is here we just need the political will and these are the targets we need to hit to have a livable future for our planet and we can’t afford not to take action.”
It’s the all-candidates forum at @UNBC tonight, where both Prince George ridings will be here. Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies is first tonight #elxn43 #cityofpg @PGMatters pic.twitter.com/bMfpiiaJ1Z
— jess fedigan (@jj_fedigan) October 10, 2019
Another big topic the candidates faced later on in the forum was regarding Indigenous issues.
“How would your party address the issues facing Indigenous communities in Canada?" asked Wilson.
Calogheros, who was the first to answer, spoke about her work with Indigenous communities, especially the Lheidli T’enneh, throughout her time as the CEO of the Exploration Place Museum and Science Centre.
“True reconciliation is one of the most pressing issues we need to deal with in this country,” said Calogheros. “There is a huge brain trust sitting there in our Indigenous neighbours. We need to get them to the table with us so that not only are they able to negotiate for themselves in a fair and equal way, but so that they can contribute to something that is going to be able to give all of us a better tomorrow.”
Sapergia began by speaking about her experience living on a First Nations reserve on Haida Gwaii.
“Then I came here to Prince George and it’s a whole different culture,” said Sapergia. “I’m on a learning streak and we are all on a learning streak.”
She then noted the NDP really believes First Nations need to be full partners in government and would institute the recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as well as recommendations from the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls report (MMIWG).
“As a white person, I cannot tell my First Nations friends and constituents what to do, but I can sit down and listen.”
Kerr also affirmed the Green Party would institute the recommendations from both reports, but noted the Green Party wants to appeal the Indian Act.
“We really believe that it is a very colonial, racist piece of legislation,” said Kerr. “If we repeal that with Indigenous people at the helm, we can really move forward as a country.”
Kerr also noted she was very disturbed by a comment in the previous Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies forum made by PPC candidate Ron Vaillant, who said he wanted to privatize reserves.
“We need to be talking about a better way forward with everyone at the table.”
Yang, who took the mic after Kerr, acknowledged Indigenous Canadians faced injustices in the past.
“We want to replace the Indian act and treat aboriginal people the same as Canadians - the same opportunities and the same responsibilities.”
She also said the PPC would look into giving First Nations private property rights on reserves.
Doherty spoke about how reconciliation has become a buzz word.
“The one thing I think we all need to do is figure out what reconciliation really means,” said Doherty. “True reconciliation is making sure we have the right people around the table so that we can move forward and mitigate the stumbles of previous governments before us.”
After an hour of discussions, the forum concluded with each candidate having a minute to provide closing statements.
While the Cariboo-Prince George forum saw a lively discussion involving all five candidates in the riding.
The previous Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies forum included just three: Liberal candidate Mavis Erickson, Conservative candidate Bob Zimmer, and Vaillant.
