Candidates vying to become the next MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie put on a spirited debate Tuesday before about 175 voters during an all-candidates forum at the University of Northern British Columbia, tackling a wide range of issues in the process.
Incumbent Liberal Mike Morris and challengers Bobby Deepak of the NDP and Green Party candidate Hillary Crowley were not shy about putting forth their positions when candidates were able to debate each other directly.
At times, Morris and Deepak found themselves trying to talk over each other while Crowley remained vocal, sometimes simply telling the other two it was her turn to speak then launching into her views on the topics.
On education, Morris emphasized training people in the north to stay in the north and highlighted the Liberals' recent promise to add 70 undergraduate engineering seats to UNBC and 20 engineering technology seats to College of New Caledonia.
That prompted Crowley to say she hopes they will also promise to establish a long-sought 20-seat physiotherapy program at UNBC.
Deepak questioned whether young people will be able to afford to participate given the high amounts of debt they will face if the Liberals win the next election.
"When you open up seats, who are they opening up these seats for? That's what you have to look at," he said.
Interest-free loans and $1,000 grants to students who complete their studies are on the NDP platform, Deepak said.
The debate on education veered into one on the state of B.C.'s economy with Morris and Deepak going head-to-head.
Challenged by Morris, Deepak backed away from a statement that B.C. was the poorest performing province in the county but retorted that all the growth has been in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island.
"We lost jobs here last year," Deepak said.
"No, the jobless rate in Prince George, I think it was sitting around seven per cent or so, it used to be 17 per cent back in 2001," Morris said
Deepak said Morris got his date wrong and attributed the trouble the region experienced in the 1990s to external factors.
It continued when candidates were asked to comment on economic development.
Morris highlighted the province's AAA credit rating and the amount of money the government saves on debt servicing as a result while Crowley emphasized a sustainable economy that will pay for such "main needs" as healthcare and education.
"Just chasing the big dollar isn't the end or be-all of our reason for being," she said.
Deepak pointed to the Liberals decision to end a tax on high-income earners with the elimination of the province's operating deficit as proof they're favouring the rich at the expense of the middle and lower classes.
On First Nations, Morris listed off the economic successes many bands across the province are enjoying while Deepak pointed to the number of children in state care who have died or have suffered injury while the Liberals have been in power. Aboriginal children continue to make up a disproportionate number of the kids in care, he added.
All three candidates said their parties support the recommendations of Grand Chief Ed John on improving child welfare in B.C.
Morris confronted Crowley on renewable energy and touted Williston Lake as "that big battery that we need for backup" when the wind is not blowing and the sun is not shining.
Deepak in turn, challenged Morris on the Liberals decision to not take the Site C proposal to the B.C. Utilities Commission before construction began. The NDP will put the project through a "fast tracked" review by the BCUC but the the project going in the interim, Deepak said.
In response, Morris said "no project has been studied more than Site C."
The full hour-long debate will be aired this Sunday on CKPG, at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the NDP would halt Site C while passing it by BCUC.
