There were interesting moments at the Kelowna-Mission all-candidates forum on Tuesday (Oct. 8), including B.C. Conservative Gavin Dew乌鸦传媒檚 comment that he and leader John Rustad are soon to be endorsed by Brad Bennett.
Bennett is the son of former Socred Party Leader and B.C.乌鸦传媒檚 27th premier, Bill Bennett. Speaking about free enterprise Dew said a series of interviews with Brad Bennett will be coming out in the next few days.
乌鸦传媒淎s a reminder that when, as free enterprisers, we stick together, we win, we defeat the NDP and we get this province back on track.乌鸦传媒�
Dew, BC NDP candidate Harpreet Badohal and unaffiliated candidate Ashley Ramsay participated in the breakfast forum hosted by the Kelowna Chamber at the Coast Capri Hotel. Green Party candidate Billy Young was invited but did not attend.
During the forum, Badohal questioned the moderator, CBC Radio host Chris Walker, over Dew mentioning individuals in the audience.
乌鸦传媒淗e has named (Kelowna-Mission MLA) Renee Merrifield and (Mayor) Tom Dyas they are not a part of this discussion,乌鸦传媒� Badohal said.
Dew had referred to reactions from Merrifield and Dyas on the topics of housing and short-term rentals. Walker said that candidates pointing out people they know in the audience did not hurt the debate.
乌鸦传媒淚f you have concerns with the rules of the debate you can take it up with the Chamber afterwards right now we乌鸦传媒檙e going to talk about the issues,乌鸦传媒� Walker said.
Questions were mostly business-focused and covered housing infrastructure, short-term rentals, paid sick leave and the employer health tax. Helping businesses deal with the consequences of crime and drug decriminalization was an important topic for all the candidates.
Bahohal noted that the NDP has hired approximately 100 of the 250 promised RCMP officers and is setting up provincial hubs to deal with repeat property crime.
乌鸦传媒淲here there will be prosecutors, police officers, probation officers to deal with those repeat offenders.乌鸦传媒�
He added that B.C. has the most strict bail rules in Canada.
"The problem is because of federal rules to which judges are bound of those people recommended by the prosecution to be detained until trial only 25 per cent are detained."
Ramsay advocated a preventative approach.
乌鸦传媒淲e need more support in the schools and on the front lines to help with an issue before it becomes an issue,乌鸦传媒� she added. 乌鸦传媒淚t also goes beyond crime, it乌鸦传媒檚 compassion for people who have complex mental health issues and addictions to these drugs.乌鸦传媒�
Dew pointed to the Conservative's recently released crime policy.
乌鸦传媒淭hat includes toughening the charge assessment guidelines乌鸦传媒e乌鸦传媒檝e talked about hiring more sheriffs, judges, crown prosecutors乌鸦传媒s well as fighting for mandatory minimum sentences.乌鸦传媒�
All the candidates spoke of the need to help individuals with mental health and substance use issues with supports to help them put their lives back together.
Throughout the debate, Badhohal urged voters to do their research and not believe what he called Conservative lies about the NDP乌鸦传媒檚 record in government and its campaign promises.
乌鸦传媒淛ohn Rustad and the Conservatives, they think they own you because you are business entities,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淭hey think they will create a mirage of free enterprise and you will come running to buy their false dream.乌鸦传媒�
Dew repeatedly told the audience not to believe NDP messaging around conspiracy theories.
乌鸦传媒淲hat we乌鸦传媒檙e seeing in the final days of this election is an NDP government desperate to distract,乌鸦传媒� he added. 乌鸦传媒淟ook at our economy, it is on the rocks. Look at our healthcare system, it is falling apart. Look at what is happening on our streets.乌鸦传媒�
Ramsay reminded the audience that they had another option.
乌鸦传媒淓verybody here lives in one of the 17 ridings that have an independent (candidate),乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 an unprecedented opportunity for Kelowna to have an untethered representation for you.乌鸦传媒�
The Kelowna Chamber hosts the candidates from Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream on Oct. 9 and Kelowna-Centre on Oct. 10.
