The three major-party candidates for the Parksville-Qualicum riding squared off over the budget, education, health care and housing during an all-candidates meeting at Parksville Community and Conference Centre Tuesday, April 25.
A full room of several hundred residents filled the main hall to hear B.C. Green Party candidate Glenn Sollitt, B.C. Liberal Party candidate Michelle Stilwell and B.C. NDP candidate Sue Powell answer questions submitted by the audience.
The tone was set as moderator Matt Breedlove opened the meeting and each candidate took four minutes for opening statements. Stilwell, the incumbent bidding for a second term in the provincial legislature, highlighted her party’s fiscal priorities of lower taxes, balanced budgets and balanced operating budgets.
“We will leave an even better province for our children and grandchildren,” Stilwell said. “That’s why it’s so vital for Parksville-Qualicum and all B.C. voters to stay the course in this election.”
Powell, the NDP challenger on leave from Parksville council while running for provincial office, said the course was the wrong one and called for an election of change. Powell’s opening statement was something of a stump speech, with shout-outs to NDP leader John Horgan and a series of shots at Liberal Party leader Christy Clark.
“Making ends meet is harder for all of us,” said Powell. “Christy Clark is working for the people at the top and we are paying the price. An NDP government will make Christy Clark’s millionaire friends pay their fair share and save money for you.”
Sollitt, who previously ran for the Greens in the riding in the 2015 federal election, described a platform emphasizing education, the environment and income disparity. He also highlight his independence, as a Green, from influence by party leaders.
“The entrenched, two-party system doesn’t make for great candidates, because of the control over individual MLAs by their party,” Sollitt said. “Democracy is done by those who show up. Four years ago, I decided to show up.”
The first question came from Wendy Maurer and she asked what is each candidate’s main priority and why?
Sollitt said his main priority would be maintaining the environment. Stilwell said she would focus on the doctor shortage and homelessness. Powell said her main priority would be focusing on homelessness as well as the doctor shortage.
Later on in the meeting, another question, which addressed all of the candidates, asked what each party is going to do to assist students with existing student debts.
Sollitt said while some countries provide free post-secondary education, that would be a long-term goal here. He said the short-term goal would be to provide up to $2,000 of debt relief for a maximum of five years and then find the best path to free post-secondary education.
Stilwell said her party’s platform is to keep education affordable. Stilwell said since 2005, the Liberal Party has capped tuition increases at two per cent. She also said the budget includes a decrease in loans starting in August.
Powell said the NDP would start with capping tuition fees and freezing interest on student loans. She also said the party plans to give $1,000 to students who complete their degree.
As for minimum wage, one person asked how the parties would implement an increased minimum wage and over what period.
Powell said $15-an-hour would be phased in to allow small business to adjust. She also said once the small businesses are adjusted, the NDP would peg additional increases in the minimum wage to inflation every year.
Stilwell said it’s not about minimum wage, but about careers. She said the party needs to find and strike the balance between what’s reasonable for people and small business. She also said her party is expecting another minimum wage increase this fall.
Sollitt said it’s about addressing the less fortunate and not about people who have careers, adding that he’s not 100 per cent convinced minimum wage does that. He also said they need to ensure people are brought up and out of poverty and for people to make enough money to allow families to function.
Following closing summaries from each candidate, Sollitt pointed out advance polling will be available beginning this weekend. To find polling places in your area, visit elections.bc.ca.
The meeting was one of several taking place in ridings across the mid- and north-Island Tuesday evening. They included all-candidates forums in Port Alberni, Nanaimo, Comox and Port McNeill.
The Parksville meeting was co-sponsored by the Parksville &District Chamber of Commerce, the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board, the Parksville Qualicum Beach News and Oceanside Development &Construction Association.