Peggy Revell
The four candidates vying to capture the Thunder Bay-Rainy River riding in the May 2 federal election laid out their thoughts on tourism, pension reform, the forest industry, the economy, and, well, pizza at last night’s debate Fort Frances.
About 50 people came out to the Civic Centre for the debate, organized by the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce, to hear each candidate’s pitch on why they should be the ones to represent Thunder Bay-Rainy River in Ottawa.
Both incumbent John Rafferty (NDP) and Liberal candidate Ken Boshcoff, a former two-term MP, stressed their records in Parliament when it came to why electors should vote for them.
“I hope that I worked hard enough to see us through this hard times, and the next House of Commons to do the exact same thing,” said Rafferty, thanking the public for their support since being elected in 2008.
Rafferty used the debate to stress the three areas he’s focused this election: affordability, retirement security, and health care—along with all the other issues and duties that constituents have said are important to them.
“This election is about electing an MP who will work for and with you,” Boshcoff noted in his opening remarks, pointing to his own history as MP and his time on Thunder Bay city council, as mayor, and leader of municipal organizations.
Throughout the debate, Boshcoff stressed there is hope in the future, and that this area is on the “verge” when it comes to mining, agriculture, forestry, and tourism.
“As your MP, I will work with your town council, your provincial member of Parliament, Métis, First Nations, young people, educators and community organizations, and you, the citizens, to ensure those opportunities become the reality we’ve all been hoping for,” he pledged.
Meanwhile, first-time Conservative candidate Maureen “Moe” Comuzzi-Stehmann stressed her dedication and ties to the region as a businesswomen and employer.
She also cited the “proven leadership” of the Stephen Harper and the need for a Conservative majority government.
“In this election, Canadians will choose between principled leadership and opportunism,” she said.
“Between a stable government and a reckless coalition between the NDP, Liberals, and Bloc Quebecois; between a lower tax plan for jobs and grown and a high-tax agenda that will stall our recovery, kill jobs, and set you and your family back.
“It’s a clear choice, a real choice, and it couldn’t be more important,” Comuzzi-Stehmann stressed.
Newcomer Green Party candidate Ed Shields pledged “jobs, jobs, jobs” at last night’s debate as he asked electors to send him to Parliament, where he would be the only Ph.D. scientist.
“I’m someone who has 21st-century knowledge,” Shields said, stressing the potential in this region for biotechology, “green” jobs, and a “green” economy—and how his background can help establish more of these jobs here.
The candidates then fielded questions from media and local organizations on topics which had been pre-selected by the Chamber, including the international border crossing here, pension reform, the forest industry, maintaining Canada’s economic position, and economic development.
With each candidate given three minutes to respond to each question, there wasn’t much straying from party platforms and what they already had stated in the past.
Eliciting some chuckles, and to get candidates to think on their toes, the Fort Frances Times asked the candidates what their favourite type of pizza was—and how it relates to their party’s platform as well as Canada’s economic prosperity and place in the world.
“It would have to be a Canadian pizza, seems to me—and the answer is because it’s all our own,” replied Rafferty, who was first in line to tackle the question.
“If we’re going to have economic stability, if we’re going to move forward, it’s going to be Canada’s choice,” he stressed.
“It’s not going to be forces from outside of Canada that determine what we do—and there are ways to do it.”
“What Canada has an advantage over almost any other country that I’ve lived in, and I’ve lived in many, is creativity“ said Shields, talking about a “green pizza.”
Local entrepreneurs in Canada can use this “new pizza” the Green Party has come up with to “outdo the big box pizza stores,” he added, stressing the importance of the government supporting these new ideas—like biotechnology.
“I’m a supreme and I think our government is a supreme government,” answered Comuzzi-Stehmann as she focused on the Tory platform of creating jobs, training, trade, low taxes and family tax credits, plans to eliminate the deficit through cutting spending and eliminating waste, making “streets safer,” and supporting the military through new jets.
Boshcoff, meanwhile, said his preferred pizza of choice is a “tried and true recipe”—citing the economic management of past Liberal governments under Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin.
He noted their debt reduction program “made us able to afford a pizza” by creating a safe banking system and balanced budgets.
He added the current Conservative government turned a $13-billion surplus into a $56-billion deficit, and “put us in a position where we can’t afford any more pizza.”
