First (Almost) All Candidates Meeting

Friday, 18 September 2015 06:15

4 out of 5 Candidates for Oxford came out for the first all candidates meeting

WOODSTOCK - Residents of Oxford County got a chance to see their candidates in the upcoming Federal election up close and personal at the first all candidates forum.

It was a packed house at the South Gate Centre in Woodstock last night at the debate hosted by the Social Planning Council. Candidates were asked a series of questions based on social programs, the environment, seniors, and the economy and also answered questions from the audience. No clear winner emerged from the first debate. NDP candidate Zoe Kunschner and Liberal candidate Don McKay were able to separate themselves from the crowd. However every candidate has some homework to do when it comes to the next debate as a lot of questions went unanswered and in some cases the candidates did not know their party's stances.

McKay did take a shot at the incumbent MP Dave Mackenzie who couldn't make the evening because of a prior commitment when he was asked about government pensions.

"Well first on October 20th, I would encourage our current MP to start collecting it and enjoying it."

McKay also talked about his plan to lower the deficit.

"A rich country like Canada needs that balance in stimulation, so that we can grow our infrastructure and our capacity and grow the wealth of our middle class so that we can then be able to pay down the debt and be able to balance that budget."

McKay who just joined the race two weeks ago did admit a few times he has some homework to do as he was not completely up to date on his party's policies.

NDP candidate Zoe Kunschner talked about her party's plan to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour. She also talked about how her party will restore health care in this country.

"The NDP are all about a fully funded health care system, we will sit down with the provinces and we will renegotiate our health care accord and we will go back to the Federal funding levels that, as Mike [Farlow] said, made our services much much better."

Christian Heritage Party candidate Melody Aldred spent most of the night talking about her party's pro life stance and says they are the clear choice for families in Oxford. She also laid out her party's tax plan.

"We have a tax plan that is simple and transparent, our policy is based on your right to own private property, a right we strongly defend. Your income belongs to you and the government doesn't have the right to take away a big chunk; the fair tax puts you the taxpayer in control of how much tax you pay."

Green candidate Mike Farlow talked about his party and how they would make life better for the lower and middle class and increase funding for veterans. He also said his party has an extensive plan to combat climate change and praised Oxford County for the green initiatives they have undertaken.

"I think the sustainability plan that Oxford County has come up with, I think that Woodstock Hydro has been way ahead in terms of how they are dealing with our grid system and there is so much going on in this county that is going to put us ahead of the pack in terms of how we deal with climate change."