Several subjects discussed at all-candidates forum at City Hall

City Hall was the site for an all-candidates forum on Tuesday night. The four party representatives addressed several issues in Council Chambers, ranging from the city’s unemployment rate to infrastructure and the environment. The relationship between Ottawa and First Nations was also discussed. Liberal Terry Sheehan announced what he described as a ‘signficant’ plan with millions of dollars going to education. In addition to pledging that his party would create a cabinet level committee to respect treaty rights and a national water strategy, Skip Morrison also promised that the New Democrats would also take action regarding Bill C-51…

Conservative candidate Bryan Hayes responded that his party has spent 25 million dollars over five years to address family violence. He adds that a report on protecting aboriginal women and girls is being reviewed right now. Saying the situation has gone on far too long, Green party candidate Kara Flannagin says a commission is needed to look into the cases of missing and murdered aboriginal women. She also expressed support for First Nation self-governance. One of the other questions asked concerned the gap in infrastructure and how the Sault would get its fair share of funding. Flannagin talked about a commitment of 6.4 million dollars a year for municipal infrastructure through the Canadian Infrastructure Bank and an expanded Home Renovation Tax. Sheehan mentioned an additional 60 million dollars would be invested nationally, and confirmed that there would be a resulting deficit…

Morrison mentioned a long term commitment — a 20 year plan with an annual investment of 1.3 billion dollars. Municipalities would get their share based on expenditures. Hayes pointed out that investments made by his party have reached an ‘all-time high’ since 2006. He also mentioned money from the Federal Gas Tax Fund and the Small Communities Fund, with the money from the latter resulting in funding for the Fort Creek Aqueduct Project. The Trans Pacific Partnership was also mentioned with the opposition candidates criticizing the Conservatives’ secrecy regarding any developments. Hayes defended his party’s efforts in getting involved with the T-P-P as well as past efforts to improve Canada’s standing on international trade…

Morrison was the most vocal about the T-P-P. He asked Hayes where the jobs are, stressing that the lack of fair trade is one reason the NDP won’t sign on to Canada’s trade agreements. Flannagin also declared her opposition to the T-P-P, while Sheehan was in favour of free trade. He says his party would conduct an open and transparent dialogue during the process.