Afghanistan to same-sex marriage, all topics were covered during the federal all-candidates meeting at Pauquachin Tuesday night.

The Peninsula News Review and Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce afforded residents the forum to question the federal candidates at Pauquachin Hall. Six candidates, Jeremy Arney (Canadian Action Party), Dale Leier (Libertarian), Gary Lunn (Conservative), Andrew Lewis (Green), Patricia O’Brien (Western Block), Briony Penn (Liberal) — seated in alphabetical order — were asked questions from the audience by moderator Stephen Andrew of A News. Christian Heritage party candidate Dan Moreau did not attend the forum. They were given the opportunity for brief answers and short introductory and closing statements.

The NDP vote

The first question of the evening dealt with the missing face on the panel — Julian West. Residents asked the candidates to explain why NDP followers should vote for them.

Ending the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America is a top priority for the Canadian Action Party. NDP does not like SPP, said Arney.

He added that every man and woman needs to ask themselves, “Do I want to be American in the next couple years?”

Leier said there are too many differences between NDP policy and the Libertarian party. “The typical NDP voter wouldn’t [vote Libertarian],” said Leier. “I’m sorry folks, you probably wouldn’t find a home here.”

Similarities for Lunn included “trying to keep taxes down while making progress on the environment.”

“An important voice is missing,” Lewis said, noting West was a strong voice on electoral reform. “I also have that kind of history.” He added for NDP voters, “You actually hold the keys now to the election.”

“Our party is for electoral reform,” O’Brien said. “We want a triple-e [equal, elected and effective] senate and a voice for everyone.”

“NDP recognize people working in the community,” Penn said. “I carry a lot of their [NDP] values.”

“Julian West had an important message and that was about proportional representation,” she added saying that was a message she too would take to Ottawa.

Afghanistan

A question of cost in Afghanistan was asked directly of Lunn, who received the most individual questions of the evening.

“All the costs are made public,” said Lunn, pointing out it was a war begun by the previous Liberal government. “We are a tremendous difference there,” he said, citing six million Afghan children in schools and 100 more medical facilities opened. “It has an enormous cost. Not only a financial cost but a human cost,” he said. “We need an end date.”

Afghanistan made a reappearance later, offering other candidates a chance to state their positions.

“Our soldiers need to be there under a UN-led mission,” Lewis said. “We believe the conflict cannot be solved until the poppy crisis is solved.” They would sanction and legalize the poppy crop to solve the world shortage of painkillers, he added.

O’Brien said Canada should be peacekeepers and “shouldn’t be fighting a war that’s mostly about the poppy.”

Penn agreed Canada’s role should be as peacekeepers. “I think we’ve lost our way. I think it’s time to reevaluate,” she said.

“We were sort of conned to going, through NATO,” said Arney. “We should have known better. This was not a war, it’s an occupation.” He used the metaphor that a soldier cannot carry both a shovel and a gun in the other, asserting it’s not the role Canadians have held in the past. “They’re in a role that’s not comfortable with Canadians,” he said. “Look at why we’re there … then pull them out. Right now.”

Tanker ban

The crowd asked for a simple yes or no answer to whether each candidate supported a ban on oil tankers along the BC north coast. Many candidates took the time to answer yes or no, then qualify.

“Yes,” said Arney

“Yes,” said Penn. “It’s in the platform.”

“Yes. We believe that is a dead-end future for BC and all of Canada,” said Lewis.

“Yes,” said O’Brien, “we would ban drilling as well.”

“No,” said Leier. “We do believe in protecting the environment,” he added. “The government role is to protect rights and not dictate.”

“No,” said Lunn, who provided the longest answer. “We have tankers there now,” he said noting it was the only way to provide fuel to outlying communities. He added that the current exclusion zone “is monitored and strictly enforced. It has not changed.”

LRT

Four of the six candidates said they would support light rail transit in this riding.

Lewis said the Green Party proposes to fund it through federal transfers from GST or gas tax coffers to implement green transit. Penn agreed green infrastructure is a key plank in the Liberal platform. O’Brien said yes, they would be interested in federal funds for rapid transit for the environmental impact as well as safety aspect. Arney agreed but questioned how the other parties would pay for such a project. He noted the Bank of Canada should be used to build rapid transit.

Leier and Lunn both said no. Leier pointed out that there are private companies to support such a project should they choose, and people have the power to achieve that if they want. Lunn said there simply isn’t the population to support rapid transit and noted funding additions the Conservative government has made to support public transportation in the area.

Marriage and abortion

When asked, all candidates agreed that they personally supported same sex marriage and a woman’s right to choose. Lunn did first answer the question saying the matter is settled, “the law is the law” on same-sex marriage and the prime minister has stated “this is not something we would ever revisit.” However, the public wouldn’t allow that to pass, shouting from the audience. Andrew reiterated that the question was how each candidate felt personally about the issue. “I don’t care what people do in their own homes,” Lunn said. On the right to choose he said simply “absolutely.”

Leier agreed a woman has a right to choose an abortion, but felt the government shouldn’t be funding it. “Don’t ask me to pay for it, I wasn’t there,” he said.

Food safety

In the wake of the listeriosis deaths in Canada, the question of food safety was bound to make an appearance.

“Labeling’s a good start,” said Arney, who would like to see all genetically modified food labeled. He added that overseeing agencies have been “cut to the bare bone.”

“When businesses make mistakes, they should be punished in the marketplace,” said Leier. “There’s not enough government or policemen in the world to make people follow the law.”

Lunn noted that the current government has increased inspectors and created a power for inspectors to hold products at the border. They’ve also brought in Canada’s first certified organic label.

Lewis disagreed, saying the Conservative government has moved toward having businesses inspect themselves. “What we’re moving toward is the wolves looking after the sheep,” he said. Lewis added that Saanich and the Gulf Islands has the opportunity and ability to be self-sufficient and it’s important to support, not push out, small and medium sized farms.

“I don’t think we need government inspectors,” said O’Brien. “I think we need private inspectors.”

“Harper has completely bungled the food safety issue,” Penn asserted. The Liberals would finance changes — by taxing polluters — and create a mechanism for people to make local food choices, she added.

First Nations

All candidates agreed that treaties and land claims with First Nations need to be settled — and quickly.

“We need to settle land claims in a nation-to-nation manner,” Lewis said.

Meanwhile Lunn noted that the current Conservative government has signed three land claims. “I believe we need to settle these once and for all for First Nation people and the people of BC.”

Later, Tseycum chief Vern Jacks addressed the candidates, saying he appreciated Harper’s formal residential schools apology to First Nations people. “It helped my son,” Jacks said. “It won’t help me. The things done to my body will go with me six feet under.”

He chastised the government for not immediately funding recent repatriation of ancestors from New York and not upholding the Douglas Treaty.

“That had to be one of the most moving days for me,” said Lunn, who was on the parliament floor the day of the apology. “There’s still so much to do.”

“The apology was good but we need more than just words, we need action,” Lewis said. He added that the Kelowna Accord should be implemented and First Nations communities given more access to resources.

Penn cited the importance of the Douglas Treaty which includes the right of First Nations to hunt and fish as formerly.

“The critical thing in this region is, no access is going to be worthy unless it’s healthy,” Penn said. “That is fundamentally the heart of the plan … Douglas Treaty rights need to be backed up by a strong commitment to protect the environment.”

Moderator Stephen Andrew finished the night asking the six candidates to commit that, should they be elected, they would come back to the community for town hall meetings.

All six agreed.

reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com