KINGSTON, N.S. — Poverty, homelessness, and the economy were addressed, but the climate crisis may have been the hot topic at a candidates’ forum hosted by the United Church in Kingston Oct. 10.
Candidates for the federal riding of West Nova in the Oct. 21 election answered questions pulled from a hat, and while health care wasn’t among them, candidates did acknowledge that issue as being significant. Moderator John Morash gave candidates two minutes each to answer four questions plus two minutes each for opening remarks and three minutes for closing remarks.
We pulled some of the top quotes from candidates’ replies on the climate issue:
Question: What will you and your party do to assist the people of West Nova with the consequences of climate change?
Conservative Chris d’Entremont:
“It’s a great question that we hear quite often now as we knock on doors, and of course we see the effects of climate change I think daily in our area. We see a lot of flooding of course in our lower end. We see lots of flooding that happens up here because the land of course is protected by dyke land.”
“We’re seeing ineffective programs that have that come down to truly affect or fix some of these problems. Funding programs that were supposed to flow from the federal government that have not come to fruition in many areas of our province and I know the province has made a number of requests of the current Liberal government and they’ve gone on deaf ears.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, we need to all be concerned about climate change and we have a number of avenues that we want to address climate change. It’s green technology, not taxes; a cleaner and greener environment; and taking the climate change fight global.”
“Of course, we say technology, not taxes. The Liberal program, the Liberal target will not meet the Paris targets if they continue down their path. We want to make sure that we have a good, environmental excellence and make sure we export that around the world and take that fight globally. Re-enforce the protection against pests and invasive species that are threatening our habitats. Reinstate constructive consultations on protected areas with stakeholders and indigenous groups that were cancelled by the Trudeau Liberals. Reinstate funding for wetland … and fisheries conservation, all revoked by the Liberals. And, ladies and gentlemen, take real action on reducing plastic waste by harmonizing recycling standards across the province and work with industry to cut down on excessive packaging.”
Liberal Jason Deveau:
“I’ve mentioned that our efforts to combat climate change and protect our environment is the one issue in this election where I truly believe we are at a crossroads. It’s one of the reasons I became interested in running for federal politics.”
“That reason is the former Harper Government’s inaction on climate change. I mentioned that I was working for Environment Canada for eight years. It was under the Harper Government, and they didn’t want to have the discussion about climate change with provincial and territorial governments. And when they wanted to introduce austerity measures to balance the budget at all costs, our researchers and scientists, already muzzled, were the ones who bore the brunt of those drastic cuts. That’s why I’m proud to be running for the Liberal Party of Canada in this election.”
“We’ve made the largest investment in Canada’s history, $1.3 billion, in conservation. We put in place a $1.5-billion oceans protection plan, the largest investment ever made to protect our oceans. We’ve made electric vehicles cheaper and electric charging stations more accessible.”
“We’ve invested in renewable energy with a target of having 90 per cent of Canada’s electricity produced from renewable resources by 2030. I’ve already mentioned our net-zero emissions target, our tax cuts for the manufacturers of emissions technologies, making homes more energy efficient, planting two billion trees.”
“For West Nova I’ll take this one more – it’s our commitment to protect 25 per cent of our oceans by 2025. Why? Because we need to protect sensitive marine ecosystems if our oceans are to remain healthy and productive for the long term and to assure that our fishery remains viable for our local communities.”
“This election is critical for the environment because all this progress could be undone if Andrew Scheer and his Conservatives are elected on Oct. 21. We must, and we can, do better.”
Green Party Judy Green:
“We have to be looking at a multi-pronged approach. We need to be mitigating, turning off the taps of oil and transitioning rapidly to clean energy while we are adapting and helping our own communities to prepare for what’s coming.”
“When we have sea level rise – we’re 60, 70 kilometres from ocean anywhere that we live here in Nova Scotia – so sea level rise is the most critical issue for us. And it might not be that it rises and stays there. It may be that you flood three times a year. You’re not going to be able to recover from repeated flooding. It’s not going to happen and there’s only a few things you can do: you can kind of dyke it, you can lift it, or you can pretty much leave. There’s not a lot of options. And those plans need to be in place for low-lying areas like Annapolis Royal, Bear River. Even right now if you get a high tide and a storm surge you’re in trouble there with the bridge.”
“We want to make options available for people because it’s not just the changes that people make. This is why I’m running for federal politics. Because we need to enforce changes on the big companies. We can’t do that as individuals. We have to do that in Parliament. There has to be the political will to do so. It cannot fall on the backs of individuals. We have to be working what we can locally but we have to have people in place in Ottawa that are going to make the hard decisions and get this done and create Mission Possible.”
NDP Matthew Dubois
“The first thing the NDP is going to do is declare we are in a climate crisis. There is a climate emergency going on. Once you recognize you do have a climate crisis, the solutions are there. You have to do those things that the crisis demands.”
“One thing we’re going to do is hit the (emissions) target if not sooner than later for the UN climate change panel, keeping global warming below 1.5C in the next … 10 years. “
“There’s all sorts of different things we can do. We can go to funding for electric cars. We can definitely strengthen our infrastructure. The ferry in Yarmouth is one example. Bring back the Dayliner in the Valley to reduce the amount of traffic on the road.”
“We are going to have to make some sacrifices of our lifestyle but it doesn’t have to cost us.”
Veterans Coalition Party Gloria Cook:
Climate change is a big problem, yes. But also we need to educate the people as to what they can do to help themselves during this time. We don’t know what we’re going to be up against. The thing is, we’ve got to prepare for everything.”
“We need to really re-think how the government can assist the people to manage their own life rather than say this is what we’re going to do. Everybody’s got to be responsible for themselves and the government has got to be responsible for the people too. So this is what we would try to put in place is a plan to help everybody when they needed the help. In the meantime, the people – to train them, teach them, to be self-sufficient for their own selves. Because if you’re not self-sufficient, what have you got? You know, really, nothing.”
What they said …
The hour-long candidates’ forum at the United Church Oct. 10 in Kingston prompted some interesting quotes from candidates for the job of Member of Parliament in West Nova. Here are a few examples:
Conservative Chris d’Entremont
“There’s no real job description for the job on MP. What does and MP do exactly? I think what it means is creating relationships; making sure you find those individuals who can help your constituents with the problems that they have to make sure you can actually provide them with the answers that are important to them.”
“We are the voice of West Nova in Ottawa to make sure we bring their issues to either the caucus table or the floor of the House of Commons. I hope to do that.”
“The reason I decided to run as the Conservative candidate is simple. We need a change before things get worse. Our way of life is under threat by a government who doesn’t understand the challenges of rural Nova Scotia. People don’t have a doctor, work and opportunities are rare, and it’s harder and harder to make ends meet.”
“I was very happy the Conservative Party brought forward the issue of affordability as its main plank, because every time I knock on a door we’re talking about the affordability of living in rural Nova Scotia, the affordability of making ends meet.”
“I’m looking forward to bringing forward the issues of a universal tax cut, increasing the age credit a thousand dollars a year to seniors, and wait times for scans and MRIs, and just basically to put more money in the pockets of Canadians so they can make ends meet.”
Veterans Coalition Party Gloria Cook
“Well, to tell you the truth, anybody that knows me, they know I don’t take no for an answer. And I would certainly stand up for anything the people of the area believe in. I would do my utmost to make it happen.”
“We want you to help us to be your boss.”
“If we get in we’re going to take a 20 per cent pay cut off the top. For every session that’s going to save you about $11 million.”
“The reason I joined the VCP was because they weren’t proposing to create new taxes. They plan to lower some taxes and cut out other taxes totally. The VCP is a party made up of veterans and ordinary people just like you.”
Green Part Judy Green:
“One of the biggest things about having a voice is learning when to listen to people. What I’ve learned is the front-line workers, the people working in the forestry and the fishery and health care – they know what the problems are. And they have some pretty good solutions.”
“One of the problems is that current government tends to be looking at things from a higher level, either scientists or academics. They’re important too but we need all the voices working together. Pulling all the voices together really strengthens the solutions.”
“I would do the same as Elizabeth May does and have regular town halls throughout the riding, reporting back to you what we’re working on, and to be getting feedback from you about what the priorities are.”
Liberal Jason Deveau
“Certainly I want to hear from you in order for me to be that strong voice in Ottawa. Without that relationship, without that discussion I’m not fully able to fulfill that job. So certainly I would see my role more so as a convener, not necessarily who barks the loudest or who has the best soundbite, it’s who’s going to bring people together and work across different parties, work amongst different community groups.”
“I do believe we are the first generation to feel the impacts of climate change. We’re the last ones with the ability to stop it. I do think the Liberal plan is a very well-balanced plan that takes the environment and the economy hand in hand, considers both, and puts ambitious targets like net-zero emissions target by 2050, like giving tax credits to manufacturers who want to produce clean technology, and planting two billion trees, investing in public transit. These are the types of things that we all have to work together and come towards a solution.”
“When out knocking on doors I see a lot of people struggling to make ends meet. With a liberal government I would be a strong voice for things like a national pharmacare program so people don’t have to choose between paying their bills, paying for food, or paying for heating in the winter.”
“Tonight I will do my best to answer all of the questions that you will be asking, however, I’m also quite interested in listening to your concerns and your priorities. That’s why I’m looking forward to the meet and greet portion later on this evening, so I can be your voice in Ottawa, not Ottawa’s voice in West Nova.”
NDP Matthew Dubois:
“Because the party is grass roots we have grassroots solutions. We listen to the people because we are the people.”
“Most of the work of politicians is done in the constituency, looking out for the people falling through the cracks. But in Ottawa the temptation to listen to the corporate lobbyists is very strong, and as an NDP Member of Parliament I would be very reluctant to fall for that trap – to listen to the corporate interests – because it’s those corporate interests that are blocking pharmacare, blocking those environmental changes that we need to fight climate change.”
“An injury to one is an injury to all, and I take that to heart.”
“As a philosopher, one of the things I learned to do was to listen to the arguments, step back to deconstruct the argument, and see what’s best for everyone. That philosophy of looking for the best for everyone is what will drive me when I’m in Ottawa.”
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