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An overflow crowd at an all-candidates’ debate at Ben Franklin Place learned Thursday night that only two of the candidates running in Ottawa West-Nepean actually live in the riding.
All six candidates showed up for the debate, but some were squirming when moderator Abigail Dubiniecki asked whether they lived there.
Only Liberal Anita Vandenbeld and New Democrat Marlene Rivier said they did, both saying they were longtime residents with deep roots in the community.
Conservative candidate Abdul Abdi admitted he doesn’t live in Ottawa West-Nepean but said he has spent 20 years in the community as a police officer and volunteer. “This is the community that I want to serve,” he declared.
Green candidate Mark Brooks lives in Ottawa Centre but said he teaches at Algonquin College, which is in the riding. Rod Taylor, who is national leader of the Christian Heritage party, lives in northern British Columbia, and Marxist-Leninist Sam Heaton said he once lived in the riding but no longer does.
The attentive and orderly crowd appeared evenly divided between Liberal and Conservative supporters, with cheers often greeting statements by Abdi and Vandenbeld.
There was loud applause when Vandenbeld and Rivier attacked the Conservative government for muzzling government scientists and other public servants.
Ottawa West-Nepean candidates (clockwise from upper left) Abdul Abdi (Conservative), Mark Brooks (Green), Sam Heaton (Marxist-Leninist), Anita Vandenbeld (Liberal), Rod Taylor (Christian Heritage), and Marlene Rivier (New Democrat),
“This is the first time in our history that public servants are taking stress relief not for doing their job, but for not being allowed to do their jobs,” Vandenbeld said.
Abdi said he had “a high degree of respect” for public servants, but said government scientists, like all employees must follow “established protocols.”
That prompted Rivier to note there was a difference between protocols and muzzling. “We have a public service that is paralyzed by fear of speaking out on an issue.”
Ottawa West-Nepean candidates (clockwise from upper left) Abdul Abdi (Conservative), Mark Brooks (Green), Sam Heaton (Marxist-Leninist), Anita Vandenbeld (Liberal), Rod Taylor (Christian Heritage), and Marlene Rivier (New Democrat),
National security is the only valid reason to withhold information from the public, she said. “Other than that, we as Canadians have a right to that information that is gathered on our behalf.”
There were groans from the audience when Abdi was asked if he supports Sharia law in Canada.
“Abdul Abdi does not, “ he replied emphatically, noting that he has spent the past 11 years enforcing Canada’s criminal law. ”That’s what I intend to enforce when I become your next member of Parliament.”
Brooks attacked the Conservatives for their environmental record, saying the government has been “incredibly reckless with how they use the natural resources of this country.”
Challenged to explain why people should vote NDP given the party’s policy to recognize Quebec’s independence following a positive vote of 50 per cent plus one, River replied: “Well, that’s the way they do it everywhere else in the world.”
The Liberal party disagrees, Vandenbeld said. “It does take more than a simple majority to break up our country.”
dbutler@ottaweacitizen.com
twitter.com/ButlerDon
查看原文...
All six candidates showed up for the debate, but some were squirming when moderator Abigail Dubiniecki asked whether they lived there.
Only Liberal Anita Vandenbeld and New Democrat Marlene Rivier said they did, both saying they were longtime residents with deep roots in the community.
Conservative candidate Abdul Abdi admitted he doesn’t live in Ottawa West-Nepean but said he has spent 20 years in the community as a police officer and volunteer. “This is the community that I want to serve,” he declared.
Green candidate Mark Brooks lives in Ottawa Centre but said he teaches at Algonquin College, which is in the riding. Rod Taylor, who is national leader of the Christian Heritage party, lives in northern British Columbia, and Marxist-Leninist Sam Heaton said he once lived in the riding but no longer does.
The attentive and orderly crowd appeared evenly divided between Liberal and Conservative supporters, with cheers often greeting statements by Abdi and Vandenbeld.
There was loud applause when Vandenbeld and Rivier attacked the Conservative government for muzzling government scientists and other public servants.
Ottawa West-Nepean candidates (clockwise from upper left) Abdul Abdi (Conservative), Mark Brooks (Green), Sam Heaton (Marxist-Leninist), Anita Vandenbeld (Liberal), Rod Taylor (Christian Heritage), and Marlene Rivier (New Democrat),
“This is the first time in our history that public servants are taking stress relief not for doing their job, but for not being allowed to do their jobs,” Vandenbeld said.
Abdi said he had “a high degree of respect” for public servants, but said government scientists, like all employees must follow “established protocols.”
That prompted Rivier to note there was a difference between protocols and muzzling. “We have a public service that is paralyzed by fear of speaking out on an issue.”
Ottawa West-Nepean candidates (clockwise from upper left) Abdul Abdi (Conservative), Mark Brooks (Green), Sam Heaton (Marxist-Leninist), Anita Vandenbeld (Liberal), Rod Taylor (Christian Heritage), and Marlene Rivier (New Democrat),
National security is the only valid reason to withhold information from the public, she said. “Other than that, we as Canadians have a right to that information that is gathered on our behalf.”
There were groans from the audience when Abdi was asked if he supports Sharia law in Canada.
“Abdul Abdi does not, “ he replied emphatically, noting that he has spent the past 11 years enforcing Canada’s criminal law. ”That’s what I intend to enforce when I become your next member of Parliament.”
Brooks attacked the Conservatives for their environmental record, saying the government has been “incredibly reckless with how they use the natural resources of this country.”
Challenged to explain why people should vote NDP given the party’s policy to recognize Quebec’s independence following a positive vote of 50 per cent plus one, River replied: “Well, that’s the way they do it everywhere else in the world.”
The Liberal party disagrees, Vandenbeld said. “It does take more than a simple majority to break up our country.”
dbutler@ottaweacitizen.com
twitter.com/ButlerDon
查看原文...
