Climate change was the main focus of the first of a series of debates in the Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing riding.
The focus of most of the Meet the Candidates Night in Espanola last night dealt with the climate, carbon tax and the price of gas.
Four of the five candidates concurred that there must be policies put in place to fight climate change.
However, People’s Party candidate Dave DeLisle, says the issue is a hoax and people have to focus on removing the gas tax at the pumps and investing in attracting small factories to the North.
Senior housing, autism, and job security were just some of the homegrown issues raised at the debate.
A local resident, Gord Hipel, asked about how each candidate would help with senior housing.
All the candidates advocated for improvements of the Canadian Pension Plan, Old Age Security and other programs to improve the lives of not only seniors but veterans.
Affordability to be able to sustain seniors in their homes was a key promise from all five candidates.
Other issues included handgun control and border security.Some 100 people took in the debate at the Espanola Legion, the first of several to be held across the riding.
Tonight, the Manitoulin Expositor will host the second debate at Manitoulin Secondary School at 7:00 pm.
There are five candidates vying for the federal parliamentary seat: NDP incumbent Carol Hughes, Liberal candidate Heather Wilson, Dave Williamson of the Conservative Party of Canada, Green Party candidate Max Chapman and Dave DeLisle of the People’s Party of Canada.
