Nanaimo-Ladysmith candidates spar over housing, climate change & COVID recovery

Housing affordability:
Candidates were quizzed on how their party would address the rising cost of housing and reintroduce affordability to the market.

Manly pointed to motion M66 he tabled in the House of Commons which he said changed the dialogue on the housing issue in Ottawa.

“We need stronger regulation, we need to end predatory investment, we need to end tax evasion and money laundering by the ultra-wealthy and we need to protect existing affordable housing units.”

Barron countered by saying issues surrounding housing issues were years in the making. She spoke to an NDP plan which would create 500,000 new affordable homes across the country.

“We know it has not occurred overnight. We know [Conservative leader Erin] O’Toole voted against 500,000 affordable units, this has been years of protecting big developers and we’re seeing the result.”

Kronis stated the Conservatives would build 1,000,000 new homes in the next three years. She said more housing in all aspects of the market was needed, not just lower-income, affordable units.

“We need to build housing that families can afford. Not just more rental units, more houses, apartments and strata at all price points. We need to build the infrastructure to support it, hospitals, schools and roads, with overpasses.”

For Welton, the issue boiled down to supply and demand. He offered a tweak to immigration policy as a way to change skyrocketing real estate values.

“When you make it more difficult to build home with excessive regulations and more expensive with carbon taxes affecting the entire supply chain, while at the same time having excessively high levels of immigration driving demand, that’s what you get, higher prices.”

Corfield pointed to the Liberal platform which she said featured “concrete steps to help first time home buyers get into a new home, build more homes and protect your rights.”

Climate change:
The global issue of climate change also forced multiple rebuttals and a vast differing of opinion on where Canada is in its goals and the direction its heading.

Corfield said the major parties climate plans were independently graded by economist Dr. Mark Jaccard, with the Liberals given 8/10.

“The Conservative plan, 5/10. The Green plan, 4/10. The NDP plan, 2/10. We are committed to reaching our 2030 targets and net zero emissions by 2050, creating green jobs and ensuring clean air and water for our kids and grandkids.”

Barron said the NDP is focused on lowering greenhouse gas emissions and ending oil subsidies.

“It’s evident we’re experiences a climate crisis with forest fires and heat waves to extremes we’ve never seen before. While the Conservatives continue to not agree whether climate change is real and Trudeau’s Liberals bought a pipeline instead of actually addressing the target they meant.

Kronis said the Conservatives propose creation of personal low carbon spending accounts.

“So that federal carbon levies stay in your hands and don’t go into government pockets, your household knows best on how to reduce its carbon footprint, not the government in Ottawa.”

Welton said the issue of climate change, while important and valid, wasn’t the emergency it’s being portrayed as. He said potential solutions such as electric cars are “fake solutions.”

“We do not agree with the climate hysteria that is going on. We understand the difference between climate and weather and we do not believe carbon taxes, just transferring money around, is the way to deal with this situation. Yes there has to be research into new technologies, but we’re not about to die.”

Manly pointed to his record of being in the top three of MP’s to speak on climate change in the House of Commons, while chastising Canada for having the worst record on climate among G7 countries.

Vaccine passports & COVID recovery:
The issue of vaccine passports was raised in the final Chamber-sourced question of the debate, with candidates asked to clearly state on one word whether they supported the idea of a national vaccine passport.

Welton was the only clear opponent of the idea, while Barron and Corfield stated they were in support.

Manly did not mention passports specifically while Kronis said she supported a “streamlined system that helps Canadians verify their vaccine status when travelling abroad” while offering rapid tests for unvaccinated people here.

When asked about recovery strategies for business and individuals, Manly said Canada must focus more internally to thrive.

“The pandemic has shown our vulnerability in global supply chains and we need to focus on re-localizing and creating economic opportunities and giving special consideration for small and medium enterprises.”

Corfield said investment into the healthcare system is a clear path forward for Canada as it looks to exit the COVID-19 pandemic.

Welton was a clear supporter of ending all lockdowns and restrictions related to the pandemic.

“COVID recovery? Let’s just go back to work, end the lockdowns.”

What have you done?
Incumbent Paul Manly spent much of the evening defending his record and his work over two and a half years in Ottawa.

Manly pointed to his influence and work behind the scenes shaping policy of the Liberals and NDP.

“I worked across party lines to really get things done in the House of commons, influence debates, influence policies of other parties on things like affordable housing, long term care. The Liberals have copied my private members bill to ban the export of thermal coal, they’re copying my policy on protecting old growth forest.”

Corfield took exception to Manly’s assertion that his campaigning influenced Liberal policy.

“All of our policies come from our annual general meetings and it’s collectively developed. You have not influenced them and I even had a conversation with [Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau] about this two days ago when I raised it about your last debate and he assured me you had no role to play.”

Barron made one of the night’s final comments directly squarely at the incumbent, suggesting he was ineffective in a party with few MP’s, despite having some great ideas.

“When it really comes down to it we need a party with official party status that has the people and the power to push things forward. We need more than talk, we need action and solutions that can actually be achieved with a party that can do so.”

Replays of the debate will air locally on ShawTV in the coming days, while the Chamber of Commerce said it would upload video of Wednesday’s debate to its YouTube channel as soon as possible.

General voting day is Monday, Sept. 20.

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alex.rawnsley@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley

by Alex Rawnsley

Nanaimo-Ladysmith candidates spar over housing, climate change & COVID recovery

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