When it comes to the economy and the best way to kick-start it, federal candidates in Thunder Bay-Superior North agreed to disagree on Wednesday night.
Infrastructure spending was an early sore point for three of the four who took to the stage for the first of several Thunder Bay debates ahead of the Oct. 19 vote, this one put on by the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce.
First-time Liberal candidate Patty Hajdu said the Conservative mantra is clear – ridings that have a Conservative MP get the cash.
“We haven’t had a Conservative MP here for as far back as I can find, so we have not seen our share of the pie, and that’s unfair,” Hajdu said. “That’s inequitable.”
NDP hopeful Andrew Foulds, told the packed house at the Valhalla Inn that municipalities are not allowed to run deficits in Ontario, a clear shot at Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, who has promised to keep the federal books in the red to spark the nation’s economy.
That’s not the right approach, Foulds said, adding the NDP would commit an extra cent from the gas tax to community infrastructure projects across the country.
“When you do that, you give the private sector confidence and when you give the private sector confidence, they invest,” said Foulds, a long-time Thunder Bay city councillor in the Current River ward.
“Instead of maxing out credit cards and taking out massive deficits, we are reprioritizing and making sure the right investments go into the right priorities to make sure they benefit Northwestern Ontario.”
It's all about fixing misguided priorities, said the Green Party's Bruce Hyer.
"I think it's very clear ... that Mr. Harper has made large business a priority," he said.
Conservative Richard Harvey, the runner-up in the 2011 election in Thunder Bay-Superior North, said the key to sparking the economy is helping businesses directly.
“We’re looking at, over the next four years, reducing payroll deductions,” said Harvey, Nipigon’s mayor.
The level of animosity between the candidates and their party platforms was evident.
When Harvey said the Conservatives have treated seniors well, Hajdu, the executive director at Shelter House, took issue.
“You’re definitely not talking to the same seniors I’m talking to,” she said.
Harvey, meanwhile, took aim at the Liberal’s economic plan.
“There are times for running small deficits, possibly,” he said, trumpeting his party’s income splitting plan. “(But) you have to have a plan to get out.”
Hyer bristled at Foulds’ claims the NDP will run a balanced budget.
“Those are wildly optimistic predictions by the NDP,” Hyer said.
The candidates also tackled employment insurance, Hyer reminding the crowd the Liberals once balanced the budget by removing $53 million from the EI fund and Foulds saying the program is a social foundation of Canada that needs protection.
That riled up Hajdu.
“I’m so tired of hearing the NDP claim the social-justice mantle,” she said, earlier brushing off Hyer’s attack by saying the country can either look forward or rehash the history of the past.
The debate also hit on the Ring of Fire, the other three candidates challenging Harvey to say why the Conservatives haven't matched the province's $1-billion insfrastructure promise.
It's simple, Harvey said.
"There needs to be a plan in place," he said.
At times the discussion got personal, despite warnings to steer clear of personal attacks.
“What are your core values?” Hajdu asked Foulds.
But it was Hyer who got in the line of the night, at Harvey’s expense, mocking his party’s lack of election success in the city.
“Richard Harvey is one of the bravest people in Thunder Bay, to be running for the Conservatives,” Hyer said.
The next debates are scheduled for Oct. 6 and 7 at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium.
