All local candidates running in the federal election attended an event at the Calvin United Church in Pembroke Wednesday night. The All Candidates Meeting was hosted by the Upper Ottawa Valley Chamber of Commerce. Here’s some of what each of them had to say:
David Ainsworth of the People’s Party of Canada talked about marketing our natural resources to make life more affordable.
Ainsworth says he’s running to make a change in Ottawa.
People’s Party of Canada candidate: David Ainsworth
Robert Cherrin of the Veterans Coalition Party of Canada says if elected, he would push for pay cuts for Members of Parliament.
Cherrin says they would create green tech jobs with a CO2 capture program.
Veterans Coalition Party of Canada candidate: Robert Cherrin
Independent candidate Dan Criger says creating jobs is important to help boost the economy.
Criger says his years running several businesses will help get the spending problem we have in this country under control.
Independent candidate: Dan Criger
Independent candidate Jonathan Davis wants to redefine the current government system to better serve the people they represent.
Davis says he’s running to create a better future for the next generation.
Independent candidate: Jonathan Davis
Incumbent Conservative candidate Cheryl Gallant talked a lot about repealing the carbon tax to leave more money in the pockets of Canadians.
Gallant says she’s always been the voice of local people to Ottawa, not the other way around.
Conservative candidate: Cheryl Gallant
NDP nominee Eileen Jones-Whyte says the Conservative plan to cut taxes will only benefit the rich.
Jones-Whyte says in order to get different results we need to do things differently and adds the NDP is in it for you.
NDP candidate: Eileen Jones-Whyte
Libertarian Stefan Klietsch says he’s learned a lot about the challenges local residents face.
Klietsch says we should elect more politicians to represent fewer people to improve their well-being.
Libertarian candidate: Stefan Klietsch
Independent candidate Dheerendra Kumar discussed a wide variety of platform issues including lack of health care and mental health care services.
Kumar also addressed the illegal immigration problem, lack of child care spaces, shortage of long-term-care beds for seniors and transparency issues with insurance companies.
Independent candidate:
Dheerendra Kumar
Liberal candidate Ruben Marini says the rest of the country is moving ahead and Renfrew County is being held back due to our current representation in Parliament.
Marini also talked about creating more jobs in the riding and how the Conservative cuts continue to impact the most vulnerable in our communities.
Liberal candidate: Ruben Marini
Ian Pineau of the Green Party says 19 years ago residents in Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke voted for change and he’s hopeful it will happen again.
Pineau talked about transitioning to a green economy by creating jobs and also wanted to encourage young people to vote, as Millennials are now the largest voting group in Canada.
Green Party candidate: Ian Pineau
The last opportunity to meet the candidates takes place tonight (Thursday, October 17th) from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm at the Braeside RA Centre. The federal election is on Monday, October 21st and voters will have the option to pick between 10 candidates in Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke.
